Quelle surprise: the course will rely on the company’s tools

The first Intel-designed artificial intelligence associate degree is set to go live in the US, in partnership with the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD).

The program aims to enable graduates to land careers in healthcare, high-tech, automotive, industrial, and aerospace sectors.

It will begin with an online pilot at Estrella Mountain Community College and Chandler Gilbert Community College in the fall of 2020, with in-person classes planned when social distancing requirements have ended.

Get ‘em young

Upon completion, students will be able to transfer their associate degree in artificial intelligence to a four-year college.

With about 100,000 students and 10,000 faculty and staff members across 10 campuses, MCCCD in Tempe, Arizona, is the largest community college district in the US.

The AI course was co-developed by MCCCD’s faculty and Intel employees, using the chip giant’s software tools like Intel Python and the Intel Distribution of OpenVino Toolkit.

During the course, students will learn fundamental skills, including AI model training, coding, data collection, and find out more about the societal impact of AI technologies, with Intel providing technical advice, faculty training, summer internships, and mentors for faculty and students.

The Arizona Commerce Authority has provided a $100,000 grant to support the program.

“We strongly believe AI technology should be shaped by many voices representing different experiences and backgrounds,” said Gregory Bryant, EVP and GM of the Client Computing Group at Intel. “Community colleges offer the opportunity to expand and diversify AI since they attract a diverse array of students with a variety of backgrounds and expertise.”

Research by the workforce and economic development office at MCCCD estimates the demand for AI skills will increase 22% by 2029.

Intel already provides AI curriculum and resources to high school and vocational students in nine countries via its Intel AI for Youth program.