In an era where artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping industries and defining the next generation of technology, understanding AI's fundamental principles and applications has become both crucial and urgent for everyone. The influence of AI extends beyond technical fields, impacting business strategies, social science research, creative pursuits, and humanity's understanding of ethics and society. Students need to understand how to efficiently and responsibly leverage AI technologies in order to be more effective in their careers, regardless of their major.
According to ManpowerGroup's 2026 Talent Shortage Survey , AI Literacy now ranks among the top two hardest-to-fill skill sets globally, and yet the survey's most sought-after employee attributes are still human ones: communication, collaboration, and adaptability. The real demand is for workers who can combine sound judgment with an informed understanding of AI tools, particularly as AI reshapes governance, policy, ethics, and institutions across every sector of society. By integrating AI literacy into business, humanities, and social science curriculums, students will be better prepared to engage critically with these issues and contribute to AI development that is socially responsible and aligned with human values.
Rize’s AI Literacy Program is a non-technical program designed to be accessible to everyone and does not require any coding experience or AI background. It prepares students to become informed leaders, policymakers, and citizens in an AI-infused future. By fostering an understanding of AI's capabilities, limitations, and impact, we empower students to navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by AI technology in their respective fields.
There is a growing demand for professionals who understand not just the technicalities of AI but also how to apply this groundbreaking technology across various sectors. AI Literacy is a flexible four-to-six-course minor or concentration designed to integrate with any academic program, providing students from diverse academic backgrounds—from business to humanities to sciences—with the opportunity to acquire one of the most relevant skills in today’s job market.
This program emphasizes practical applications of AI, rather than mathematics, theory, and coding. AI Literacy equips students with the knowledge and skills needed to leverage AI tools and solutions in real-world contexts, preparing students for a multitude of roles. Each course is designed to offer hands-on, project-based learning opportunities, enabling students to develop applications that demonstrate their understanding and capabilities of AI. This approach ensures that graduates are not only theoretically knowledgeable but are also adept at applying AI solutions in a variety of settings.
Dr. Risto Miikkulainen is a Professor of Computer Science at the University of Texas at Austin and VP of AI Research at Cognizant’s Advanced AI Labs. Risto was elected as a Fellow for the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence in 2023 in recognition of his significant, sustained contributions to the field of artificial intelligence. He received an M.S. in Engineering from the Helsinki University of Technology (now Aalto University) in 1986, and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from UCLA in 1990. His current research focuses on methods and applications of neuroevolution, as well as neural network models of natural language processing and vision; he is the author of over 500 articles in these research areas.
James Groeneveld is a seasoned research engineer at Character.ai with a rich background in software engineering, having contributed significantly to companies like Google and BCG Digital Ventures. Notably, as a founding member of Endpoint, incubated within BCG Digital Ventures in partnership with NYSE: FAF, he excelled as the venture CTO. There, he was instrumental in defining the system's architecture, making pivotal technology decisions, and leading a team of 13 contractors to develop the engineering framework while contributing to product specifications.
Ben Lynton was the Head of Data Science at Blackbook.ai, an Australian consultancy specializing in automation and artificial intelligence development. He has been involved in discussions and presentations on Amazon Web Services' natural language processing (NLP) stack, including Amazon Kendra and Amazon Lex, which are tools designed for enterprises to efficiently manage and utilize large volumes of natural language data.
| Member | Organization | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Risto Miikkulainen | University of Texas at Austin | Academic representative |
| James Groeneveld | Character.ai | Industry representative |
| Ben Lynton | 10ahead.ai | Industry representative |
If you have any questions about technology requirements for Rize courses, please see below:
Technology requirements for Rize courses - AY 2025-2026