19-652 ST: Real World AI: Creating, planning, and building AI in the real world

6 units, Carnegie Mellon University

This class utilizes the Professor’s experiences — good and bad — as a serial entrepreneur and as an adviser building multiple, practical applications of AI that solve big and ‘boring’ everyday problems. Whether in business, government, or mission-driven organizations, all face a common dilemma: the need to adopt AI amidst unclear expectations, technical complexity, and hype-fueled vendor noise. These organizations that students will soon be either starting or joining don’t need another abstract primer or sci-fi prediction. They need Working AI. That is why the class focuses initially on a new emerging wave of issues arising from the application of AI across physical and digital worlds and manifests in the challenges and opportunities in ‘physical AI, ‘embodiment,’ and ‘agentic AI.’ The class then focuses on AI as a common practical appliance, analogous to the first practical small electric motor. We explore a growing array of everyday, real-world AI applications across the physical and digital worlds and draw lessons that students can use to build their AI solutions.

Prerequisites: none listed

Offered: Fall 2026, Fall 2025

Courseweave needs JavaScript to show sections, workloads and planning tools.