Course Catalog
AI Strategy
94-804
Units: 6
Description
This course is for Heinz students in the AIM degree program.
This course aims to understand the business applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI), with a strong emphasis on generative AI and large language models (LLMs). Recognizing that new technologies are often either overhyped or undervalued, our overarching goal in this class will be to separate the wheat from the chaff when it comes to AI applications. We will uncover where AI is truly creating value—and how business leaders can maximize this value, and where it is likely to be at best overkill, or at worst, downright harmful. To do so, we will use a mixture of lectures, guest speakers, and group projects to provide a comprehensive introduction to the new evolving AI landscape. This course is not meant to provide an in-depth technical study of AI, but instead to explore its potential business impacts, especially for new business and enterprise innovation.
In the lectures, we will explore the foundational concepts of technology strategy, with an emphasis on AI. In the guest lectures, we will then dive into specific business applications of these technologies in various industries. We conclude with a group project in which students apply AI tools to develop a business product powered by generative AI. As we progress through the class, we will also try to theorize together about when these technologies will have transformative value. Ultimately, our goal is to transform you from someone with a vague understanding of AI systems to an informed business leader with a practical understanding of how AI works, where it is valuable, and how one should apply it for maximum business value.
Prerequisites Description
None