In a bold move that blends education with cutting-edge AI, Campus, the online college startup backed by Sam Altman, Shaquille O’Neal, and Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund, has announced Jerome Pesenti, Meta’s former VP of AI, as its new Chief Technology Officer.
As part of the deal, Campus has also acquired Pesenti’s company, Sizzle AI, an interactive learning platform powered by artificial intelligence and already trusted by more than 1.7 million users. The acquisition is expected to fast-track Campus’s technology roadmap by two to three years, according to founder and chancellor Tade Oyerinde.
“This is a game changer,” Oyerinde told CNBC.
Reimagining Higher Education
Campus was created with one goal in mind: to disrupt the traditional community college model and make world-class education accessible to everyone. The platform offers accredited associate degrees taught by adjunct professors from top-tier schools like Stanford, Princeton, and NYU.
Students at Campus pay around $7,320 per academic year, and the platform accepts Pell Grants. Each student is provided with a laptop, mobile Wi-Fi pack, a personal success coach, and 24/7 tutoring support — ensuring no one gets left behind.
Meanwhile, professors benefit too, earning upwards of $8,000 per course, creating a win-win environment that prioritizes both educational quality and accessibility.
AI at the Core of the Future
The integration of Sizzle AI’s technology will allow Campus to deliver personalized learning experiences, adapting content and pacing to match each student’s individual strengths and challenges. This is exactly where AI can transform education — turning static coursework into dynamic, responsive learning journeys.
Campus’s approach aligns perfectly with the growing movement toward AI-assisted education, where algorithms can identify gaps in understanding, recommend targeted lessons, and even simulate one-on-one tutoring at scale.
Big Names, Big Vision
Campus’s investors read like a who’s who of innovation: OpenAI’s Sam Altman, NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale, Figma CEO Dylan Field, and Founders Fund. With over $100 million raised, the startup is positioning itself at the intersection of technology, education, and social impact.
As AI continues to reshape industries, Campus is proving that higher education doesn’t have to lag behind. With Pesenti at the helm of its AI strategy, the company is betting big that the future classroom will be powered not just by great teachers — but by great technology.
