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Here are details on four new courses added to MIT Sloan’s curriculum this year — and reflections on why those topics matter to business leaders.
AI Foundations for MBAs
Whether they’re workplace coworkers or members of a student cohort, people have responded unevenly to the rapid rise of artificial intelligence in business. For every enthusiast, there’s a colleague who’s stayed warily on the sidelines.
distinguished professor of global economics and management, designed the AI Foundations for MBAs workshop to level the playing field for students with varying expertise and experience working with generative AI.
“It’s an opportunity to demonstrate the enormous potential of AI for enhancing productivity, creativity, and learning through hands-on applications,” said So, who serves as lead faculty for the MIT Sloan Generative AI Hub for Teaching and Learning.
Incoming MBA students are strongly encouraged to attend the workshop to be fully prepared to tackle the AI applications and opportunities that have been integrated into the MIT Sloan MBA curriculum. Topics covered include:
- Cutting-edge technologies for enhancing productivity.
- The integration of AI into a daily workflow.
- Ethical considerations surrounding AI use.
- How to choose the right AI tools for various applications.
Climate and Energy in the Global Economy
In this course, former deputy assistant secretary for climate and energy economics at the U.S. Treasury, offers students a comprehensive understanding of the challenges, opportunities, and policy responses to the global climate and energy crises.
Students will first discuss the role of energy in economies around the world, paying particular attention to low- and middle-income countries and how climate change is affecting those economies.
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The class examines different features of energy systems — including access, cost, reliability, and environmental harm — and how they drive or hinder economic growth. “Many major industries, from steel to tech and more, rely heavily on energy inputs,” Wolfram said, “so understanding the forces influencing the energy sector around the world, especially climate change, provides a crucial perspective for business leaders.”
Also under discussion: the political influences on the energy sector and the role of energy in mitigating future impacts of climate change.
The second half of the course will include discussions on global climate solutions, including the role of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, climate finance, business, and trade.
Generative AI for Managers
Whether they’re leading developer teams or setting strategy at the executive level, managers and founders need to understand their generative AI options.
Associate professor of information technology will lead the class in exploring tools that can help leaders excel in a future dominated by generative AI. “The course digs into the details of the technology so managers understand the capabilities and limitations, but it also takes a high-level perspective to help students think about the implications these technologies will have for businesses and organizations,” said Horton, who is a research group lead with the MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy.
The class will cover large language models, emerging generative AI use cases, prompt engineering, fine-tuning, business case analysis, and the business, economic, and strategic implications of generative AI, including the venture capital/startup landscape.
A related offering, Generative AI Lab, is being taught by Horton and PhD ’20, a senior research scientist at Google DeepMind who is joining MIT Sloan this fall. This course gives students the opportunity to take on semester-long corporate projects related to generative AI. Projects may include:
- Developing AI prototypes.
- Writing strategy memos on the implications of generative AI developments.
- Analyzing and assessing deployments of generative AI systems.
- Developing AI usage policies for a marketplace business.
- Performing value-chain analysis and creating an investment memo for venture capital firms that are making AI investments.
Real-Time Analytics for Digital Platforms
Five of the 10 largest companies in the world by market capitalization are digital platforms, and enterprises in health care, utilities, and other traditional industries are embracing them as well.
Tapping the power of real-time data on digital platforms allows companies to make data-driven decisions continuously and automatically, as when Uber matches demand with supply in real time, said an associate professor of operations management.
“Real-time analytics are reshaping the landscape of modern business by enabling unprecedented levels of efficiency and insight,” she said. “It is crucial for students and business leaders alike to understand the power of these technologies, as they provide the tools to anticipate trends, optimize operations over time, and adapt to changes. Mastering these tools is not just about keeping up with trends; it’s about leading the charge in an increasingly data-driven world.”
Toward that end, Golrezaei will lead students in:
- Exploring the power of real-time data to drive e-commerce success through platforms like Google Analytics.
- Examining personalization and inventory management on digital platforms through case studies.
- Understanding key analytical techniques, such as Gradient Descent and Q-learning, and applying them to real-world scenarios, such as developing online marketing and pricing strategies.
