Duke's AI program is spearheaded by a professor who is not just teaching, he also built his own AI model.
Professor Jon Reifschneider says we've already entered a new era of teaching and learning across disciplines.
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He says, "We have folks that go into healthcare after they graduate, go into finance, energy, education, etc. We want them to bring with them a set of skills and knowledge in AI, so that they can figure out: 'How can I go solve problems in my field using AI?'"
He wants his students to become literate in AI, which is a challenge in a field he describes as a moving target.
"I think for most people, AI is kind of a mysterious black box that can do somewhat magical things, and I think that's very risky to think that way, because you don't develop an appreciation of when you should use it and when you shouldn't use it," Reifschneider told WRAL News.
Student Harshitha Rasamsetty said she is learning the strengths and shortcomings of AI.
"We always look at the biases and privacy concerns and always consider the user," she said.
The students in Duke's engineering master's programs come from all backgrounds, countries, even ages. Jared Bailey paused his insurance career in Florida to get a handle on the AI being deployed company-wide.
He was already using AI tools when he wondered, "What if I could crack them open and adjust them myself and make them better?"
John Ernest studied engineering in undergrad, but sought job security in AI.
"I hear news every day that AI is replacing this job, AI is replacing that job," he said. "I came to a conclusion that I should be a part of a person building AI, not be a part of a person getting replaced by AI."
Reifschneider thinks warnings about AI taking jobs are overblown.
In fact, he wants his students to come away understanding that humans have a quality AI can't replace. That's critical thinking.
Reifschneider says AI "still relies on humans to guide it in the right direction, to give it the right prompts, to ask the right questions, to give it the right instructions."
"If you can't think, well, AI can't take you very far," Bailey said. "It's a car with no gas."
Reifschneider told WRAL that he thinks children as young as elementary school students should begin learning how to use AI, when it's appropriate to do so, and how to use it safely.
WRAL News went inside Wake County schools to see how it is being used and what safeguards the district is using to protect students. Watch that story Wednesday on WRAL News.