UCLA is pioneering the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into academia by announcing a comparative literature course that will utilize materials and resources developed by its own AI system, named Kudu. Set to be offered in the winter of 2025, this course represents a significant milestone as it will be the inaugural class in the university’s humanities division to implement Kudu’s capabilities. Under the guidance of Professor Zrinka Stahuljak, the course will focus on literary analysis and expository writing, examining selected texts from the Middle Ages through to the 17th century. This innovative educational approach aims not only to enhance the learning experience but also to streamline the material preparation process for instructors.
Kudu, the AI platform, was created through collaborative efforts by UCLA physicist Professor Alexander Kusenko and his former doctoral student, Warren Essey. Although Stahuljak’s course will mark Kudu’s debut in the humanities, the AI system has already been successfully utilized in an introductory history course within the social sciences department during the current quarter. This suggests that Kudu is already proving its potential in a diverse range of subjects, laying the groundwork for broader applications across various disciplines at the university.
The development of course materials using Kudu is designed to be efficient. According to Elizabeth Landers, a doctoral candidate in history at UCLA, preparing a course can typically take three to four months, but Kudu simplifies this process considerably. Professors are expected to contribute about 20 hours towards material development, with the AI system and its support team managing the bulk of the work. This allows instructors to focus more on engaging with students rather than getting bogged down in administrative tasks related to course design.
For Stahuljak’s comparative literature course, the development steps involved providing Kudu with her existing resources, such as lecture notes, PowerPoint presentations, and YouTube videos. This digital repository allowed Kudu to generate a comprehensive textbook that serves as the foundation for lectures and discussions, ultimately freeing up the professor and her teaching assistants to devote time to more interactive, student-centered activities like writing and critical analysis. This pedagogical shift from content delivery to more personalized educational support is intended to cultivate deeper learning experiences.
One key aspect of this course is how Kudu will be employed as a learning tool for students. Unlike general AI tools such as ChatGPT, which can provide information from a wide array of sources, Kudu will be programmed to respond exclusively based on the course materials provided by Stahuljak. This means that students can seek assistance regarding class content directly from the AI, reducing the temptation to use more general but less controlled AI resources for homework or assignments. Stahuljak emphasizes that this focused approach improves academic integrity while enhancing the learning environment.
Overall, UCLA’s initiative to incorporate AI into the curriculum represents a forward-thinking approach to education, particularly in the humanities. By developing a course with materials tailored specifically to the needs of the subject matter and its learners, the university is actively reshaping how educational content is created, delivered, and experienced. This innovative use of Kudu not only aims to facilitate a better learning experience for students but also presents a sustainable model for other educational institutions to follow in the future. The integration of AI in academia is poised to revolutionize traditional teaching methods and enhance academic outcomes across various fields of study.
