A new academic program developed at MIT aims to teach U.S. Air and Space Forces personnel to understand and utilize artificial intelligence technologies. In a recent peer-reviewed study, the program researchers found that this approach was effective and well-received by employees with diverse backgrounds and professional roles. The project, which was funded by the Department of the Air Force–MIT Artificial Intelligence Accelerator, seeks to contribute to AI educational research, specifically regarding ways to maximize learning outcomes at scale for people from a variety of educational backgrounds. Experts in MIT Open Learning built a curriculum for three general types of military personnel -- leaders, developers, and users -- utilizing existing MIT educational materials and resources. They also created new, more experimental courses that were targeted at Air and Space Forces leaders.

How do we leverage AI and intelligent tools to make better decisions? How can we utilize intelligent technology to upskill our workforce and increase AI fluency? In our latest AI Ignition episode, Cynthia Breazeal, associate director of the MIT Media Lab and dean for digital learning at MIT Open Learning, shares the implications of social robotics in business and applying AI at scale. We're understanding a lot about what it takes to build technologies that can really deeply and meaningfully engage people of all ages to help them achieve deeply important goals in their lives. Cynthia Breazeal is the professor of media arts and sciences at MIT Media Lab where she founded and directs the Personal Robots group.

Cynthia Breazeal has joined MIT Open Learning as senior associate dean, beginning in the Fall 2021 semester. The MIT professor of media arts and sciences and head of the Personal Robots group at the MIT Media Lab is also director of MIT RAISE, a cross-MIT initiative on artificial intelligence education. At MIT Open Learning, Breazeal will oversee MIT xPRO, Bootcamps, and Horizon, three units focused on different aspects of developing and delivering courses, programs, training, and learning resources to professionals. With experience as an entrepreneur and founder of a high-tech startup, Breazeal has a nuanced understanding of the startup spirit of MIT Open Learning's revenue-generating business units, and of the importance of connecting MIT's deep knowledge base with the just-in-time needs of professionals in the workforce. "I appreciate the potential educational and training impact of exciting new innovations in the business world. Each of these programs addresses a specific market opportunity and has a particular style of engaging with MIT's educational materials," says Breazeal.