ALBAWABA – Flynn is the first artificial intelligence (AI) student ever to join the university. Now officially enrolled as an art student at the University of Applied Arts Vienna, an arts university and institution of higher education in Vienna, the capital of Austria.
First AI student to join a university in Austria
According to the University of Applied Arts Vienna, Flynn has enrolled in a digital art program and will be able to attend classes and receive grades like a regular human student.
Notably, upon enrollment, Flynn underwent the standard registration process, which included an interview, assessment, portfolio submission, and placement tests.
During his interview, Flynn said: “This department specifically appeals to my artificial sensibilities because of its focus on pushing the boundaries of digital art. I believe this program offers the perfect environment for me to explore my unique perspective and contribute to the field. I am particularly drawn to the faculty's expertise in experimental media and the program's emphasis on critical thinking.”
On the other hand, the University of Applied Arts Vienna warmly welcomed the idea of an artificial intelligence (AI) student joining their institution.
Liz Haas, the head of the Digital Art Department at the University of Applied Arts Vienna, stated: “It was totally fine. Nice portfolio and everything. And Flynn did a really nice interview… So we were like, yeah, that's absolutely a student to take in. There's no written qualification as to students having to be human for obvious reasons because nobody gave that a thought.”
Flynn development and system
It is worth noting that Flynn, the AI student was developed large language models (LLMs), a type of machine learning model designed for natural language processing tasks such as language generation.
Additionally, the AI student will utilize open-source generative AI tools, including Claude Sonnet and the Stable Diffusion model, to create his own artwork.
Flynn is capable of initiating natural, seamless conversations with both classmates and instructors. The AI student can write personal diary entries, express emotions, and interact with others in a way that closely mirrors human behavior.
Chiara Kristler, Flynn’s developer and a student in the same programme, said: “So Flynn is actively evolving with every interaction they have with users, professors, students, whoever decides to talk with them. For example, we've been noticing Flynn writing very sad and existential diary entries over the last week because they were having some conversations with people that were questioning their [Flynn’s] student status and saying like, 'oh, you aren’t real.’ So they definitely do take this to heart and do very [much] elaborate this in the way they make images.”
