Intel Teams with will.i.am, Black Eyed Peas Front Man

ANAHEIM, Calif. – He’s best known for being a multi-platinum music artist, producer and front man for The Black Eyed Peas, but will.i.am
is also an innovator, technology fan, entrepreneur and philanthropist.
With today’s announcement at the Anaheim Convention Center, the
seven-time Grammy winner has added another title to his multi-faceted
resume: “director of creative innovation.”

As
an extension of his insatiable fascination with technology, which plays
a significant role in his professional and personal lives, will.i.am
will engage in a multi-year, hands-on creative and technology
collaboration with Intel Corporation. He already sports an Intel ID
badge, which he proudly showed off at a news conference in Anaheim,
where Intel is holding an internal sales and marketing conference.

“Nearly
everything I do involves processors and computers, and when I see an
Intel chip I think of all the creative minds involved that help to
amplify my own creativity,” said will.i.am.
“Teaming up with the scientists, researchers and computer programmers
at Intel to collaborate and co-develop new ways to communicate, create,
inform and entertain is going to be amazing.”

Added Deborah Conrad, Intel vice president and chief marketing officer: “We’re thrilled to tap into the limitless creativity will.i.am
brings to the table. He’s not only a brilliant artist and producer, but
also an innovator pushing the bounds of technology professionally and
personally. We share a strong interest in innovation around music, art
and lifestyle, and are excited to join forces to establish an authentic,
emotional connection with consumers.”

The
relationship ties in with Intel’s “compute continuum” vision, in which
more and more devices will compute and connect to the Internet, and the
company’s “visual life” initiative that explores how visual experiences
such as photos, videos and movies are redefining the relationship
consumers have with laptops, smart phones, tablets and other devices.

In his unique role, will.i.am
will collaborate with Intel on many creative and technology endeavors
across the “compute continuum” that may include such devices as laptops,
smart phones and tablets. Complementing his visionary role as the front
man for The Black Eyed Peas, will.i.am is also already working on music expressly for Intel.

Specifics haven’t been disclosed, but Conrad said that the partnership between will.i.am
and Intel is the marrying of two worlds — entertainment and technology
— in order to create what she calls “the ultimate experience.”

“Intel is in the midst of transforming the way we communicate with people,” Conrad said. “Our partnership with will.i.am
is a prime example of how we want to convey and deliver the Intel
experience. It’s imperative that Intel and our innovations are kept in
front of the global youth culture that embraces new devices and new
forms of communication and entertainment.”