Charles Esther
Musician, entrepreneur, and FYI.Ai founder will.i.am shared his thoughts on artificial intelligence during the CMO Insider breakfast at Cannes.
The event, hosted by Jamie Heller, editor in chief of Business Insider, provided a platform for will.i.am to speak on AI’s potential, its current state, and its role in shaping the future of education and data privacy.
During the discussion, will.i.am made a bold analogy comparing AI’s development stage to the early days of video games like Pac-Man.
He emphasized that AI is still young, far from being as advanced as modern systems like Halo.
This metaphor highlighted how today’s AI needs creativity and imagination from its users, just like early games needed players to imagine storylines and experiences beyond simple graphics.
How FYI.Ai Aims to Empower the Next Generation
Will.i.am introduced FYI.Ai as a tool to enhance learning and future readiness, especially in higher education.
He explained how FYI.Ai recently partnered with Arizona State University to integrate AI tools into the learning environment.
According to will.i.am, students graduating by the end of the decade will not only compete with human peers but also with intelligent agents that perform high-level tasks.
That’s why FYI.Ai is helping students create their own AI agents that evolve with them throughout their academic journey.
By the time they graduate, these students won’t be alone.
They’ll have a digital assistant—an AI agent—ready to join them in the workforce.
This partnership, he said, will help level the playing field and ensure that humans remain competitive in a tech-driven job market.
William’s Vision for Ethical AI and Brand Alignment
Beyond education, FYI.Ai is forming strategic partnerships with globally recognized brands like Formula 1, Mercedes, and Qualcomm.
However, will.i.am stressed that shared values—especially concerning data privacy—are critical in choosing which companies to work with.
He cautioned against following the path taken by some social media platforms that he described as having “parasitic” data practices.
Will.i.am voiced concern about the lack of regulation in the digital space and warned that AI could repeat the same mistakes without proper governance.
He emphasized that FYI.Ai is committed to ethical data usage and will not collaborate with companies that compromise user privacy.
AI as a Creative Partner, Not a Replacement
Despite common fears, will.i.am believes AI will not diminish human creativity but rather expand it.
He said that instead of replacing artists or workers, AI should be seen as a tool that amplifies human capabilities.
This view aligns with FYI.Ai’s mission—to make AI accessible, ethical, and empowering for creators, students, and professionals alike.
In his words, “Humans have to be able to compete with the marketplace.”
And that marketplace, filled with intelligent systems, should not overshadow human potential but inspire us to evolve alongside technology.
Conclusion
Will.i.am’s insights at the CMO Insider breakfast offered a hopeful yet realistic outlook on the future of artificial intelligence.
From education to business partnerships and digital ethics, FYI.Ai is setting a bold example of how AI can be developed responsibly.
As AI continues to evolve from its “Pac-Man” days into more complex forms, leaders like will.i.am are pushing to ensure that innovation is guided by values, imagination, and long-term vision.
