will.i.am: How AI Is Powering a New Era of Creativity | Artificial Intelligence | YAPClassic
Timestamps are as accurate as they can be but may be slightly off. We encourage you to listen to the full context.
Podcast Summary
In this episode, Hala Taha sits down with will.i.am, the seven-time Grammy-winning founding member of the Black Eyed Peas, who reveals how he's evolved from music legend to tech visionary and AI futurist. Growing up in East LA's projects, will.i.am discovered early that creativity was his currency, using imagination and authenticity to navigate between worlds—from his predominantly Mexican neighborhood to wealthy white schools to soulful black churches. (01:04) He shares how this diverse upbringing shaped his understanding that creativity transcends boundaries and became the foundation for his relentless pursuit of global success. (04:59)
- Main theme: How creativity, futurism, and AI are converging to empower underserved communities and redefine human collaboration in the digital age
Speakers
will.i.am
will.i.am is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, producer, and entrepreneur who has achieved remarkable success across multiple industries. He is a seven-time Grammy award-winning founding member of the Black Eyed Peas and has produced songs for superstars including Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Shakira, and John Legend. Beyond music, he is a dedicated futurist and technologist who has invested in and advised major companies like Intel, Apple, Tesla, and Twitter in their early stages, while founding FYI.AI, an AI-powered platform designed to optimize collaboration for the creator economy.
Key Takeaways
Design Your Own Door When Others Close
When faced with rejection or closed opportunities, will.i.am advocates for creating new pathways rather than waiting for doors to open. (07:00) He explains that "people would rather see you fail as entertainment" and that there are countless societal tripwires designed to derail dreams—from peer pressure to the necessity of taking jobs that serve others' dreams instead of your own. The key is building a strong support system and being willing to sacrifice immediate comfort for long-term vision. His success came from never settling for immediate local success but constantly reaching for broader audiences, expanding from his neighborhood to colleges across California and eventually worldwide.
Creativity Is Currency in the AI Age
Growing up across diverse communities, will.i.am realized that authenticity, creativity, and imagination were valuable regardless of economic circumstances. (04:25) This insight becomes even more critical in the AI era, where he predicts a rise in demand for "organic human-made music"—similar to how people seek organic produce despite its imperfections. He believes that as AI becomes better at creating algorithm-optimized content, humans will crave raw, authentic expression that comes from genuine emotional experience and vulnerability that machines cannot replicate.
Future-Casting Requires Lived Experience and Strategy
will.i.am defines being a futurist as having "plausible future casting" combined with strategic thinking to manifest dreams into reality. (14:24) He learned this skill growing up in the projects, where escaping poverty required imagining and strategically planning a different future. This same methodology helped him identify investment opportunities in companies like Twitter, Pinterest, and Tesla before they became mainstream successes. True futurism isn't just dreaming or wishing—it's using intuition and imagination after "sponging up the world" to anticipate what comes next.
Build Your Manifestation Network
Success requires assembling the right team of people who actively help bring your vision to life. (60:09) will.i.am emphasizes that "any dream that you have, you have to have a manifestation squad" and if your dreams aren't materializing, someone in your network isn't contributing effectively. This goes beyond networking—it's about finding people who genuinely invest in your success and can provide the specific skills, resources, or connections needed to turn ideas into reality. The process flows from ideation to strategic planning to team building to manifestation.
Profit Should Benefit Communities, Not Extract From Them
will.i.am advocates for a "bee theory" approach to business success—like bees whose work benefits entire ecosystems while they accomplish their goals. (61:32) He warns against the extractive "fat cat" model where individuals profit while destroying communities and environments. Instead, he champions purposeful, inclusive success where your profit enables others to benefit as well. This philosophy aligns with Gen Z values and represents the future of sustainable business, where companies must demonstrate positive societal impact to earn consumer loyalty and long-term viability.
Statistics & Facts
- will.i.am started with 65 kids in his robotics program and now has over 13,000 students in LA learning robotics, technology, computer science, and engineering. (18:59)
- In 2012-2013, will.i.am built a smartwatch with Android fork, custom OS, Snapdragon chipset, wraparound battery, and camera—years before smartwatches became mainstream. (19:17)
- Black Eyed Peas tour more outside America than within the United States, reflecting their global reach strategy from the beginning. (13:50)
