By Nicole Gregory, contributing writer
Mention artificial intelligence and augmented reality and many people react by assuming these technologies will only negatively impact humans and their jobs. But students in two classes at Cal State Fullerton are learning to use AI and AR in an interdisciplinary project that is practical, positive and fun.
Professor Chen Wang, an award-winning artist who teaches graphic and interactive design, and associate professor Wenlin Han, who teaches computer science, brought their students together to create an app that is a complex virtual environment of the Fullerton Arboretum. With the help of whimsical avatars, the app’s users are guided along the pathways of the 26-acre botanic garden in a lively journey of discovery and learning.
Wang’s art students were enthusiastic about figuring out the elements of the immersive virtual garden. “When I introduced AI technology to my students, I emphasized that it represented both an opportunity and a challenge, underscoring the critical importance of fostering their capacity for critical thinking,” Wang said. “I stressed that we were at the dawn of a new era in which AI tools had the potential to either be a powerful force for creation or destruction.”
Students embraced this challenge.
“Their response was overwhelmingly positive,” Wang said. “They astutely recognized the potential biases inherent in AI data sources, grappled with the complexities of defining design copyrights, pondered the tendency for design to become stylistically homogenized, and grappled with the ethical challenges posed by AI.”
The more his art students worked on the project, the more they saw its creative potential.
“As we ventured deeper into the domain of AI-assisted tools and techniques, students became increasingly engaged,” Wang said. “The notion of seamlessly integrating artificial intelligence into the realm of design captivated them, unlocking fresh avenues of design…
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