A Signal Processor Teaches Generative Artificial Intelligence [SP Education]

Abstract

How did an “old dog” signal processing professor approach learning and teaching the “new tricks” of generative artificial intelligence (AI)? This article overviews my recent experience in preparing and delivering a new course called “Computational Creativity,” reflecting on the methods I adopted compared to a traditional equations-on-a-whiteboard course. The technical material is qualitatively different from traditional signal processing, and the types of students who took the class and their approach to learning were different too. I learned a lot from the experience but also came away with bigger questions about the role of educators in the age of generative AI.