Penn State Prepares Students for Innovation with New AI and NLP Course
In this course, students will build AI systems tackling real-world language challenges.
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Penn State is offering an entirely new course in spring 2025 to prepare students to lead change in the application of AI and NLP.
Designed by the College of Information Sciences and Technology, the class, called, "Understanding Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Human Language," is DS 402, which addresses the ways that computers interpret and interact with human language.
NLP is a key pillar of AI technologies such as chatbots, translation apps, and search engines. In the course, Penn State reported that students will learn to develop and analyze these systems to understand the potential that AI can bring to communication transformation, process automation, and user experience improvement across all industries. The course focuses on practical applications and critical thinking, making it engaging for undergraduate students. Practical Projects for Real-World Impact
Features of Penn State's NLP Course
A notable feature of the course is its hands-on approach where students will work on semester-long projects to build NLP systems. These systems in question, will address real-world challenges, such as targeting and locating misinformation, analyzing internet memes, or solving challenging linguistic puzzles. These activities will help students connect AI research with practical applications that impact daily life.
Shomir Wilson, assistant professor in the College of IST, wants to push conceptual reasoning and the broader impact of NLP over the technical complexity.
Through this approach, students will be adequately prepared to address pressing problems in technology and ethics through a deep understanding of real-world use cases and societal impacts of AI, which the University Herald previously reported.
This course signals Penn State's commitment to preparing the next generation of AI leaders. The university empowers students to innovate in ways that shape the future of communication, business, and beyond by focusing on the intersection of technology and human language.
