Technology & Innovation Certificate
Artificial Intelligence in the Economy
Location
Online Live
Certificate = 4 classes
Class Duration: 3.5 hours per class
Fee: $1,250.00
Course Description
Insightful thinkers believe that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is “the new electricity” or “driving a fourth industrial revolution.” We will explore the history and evolution of AI including several downturns known as “AI Winters.” We will determine the potential impact of AI on GDP and jobs, and analyze the role of AI in national-level industrial policy and global competitiveness. We will examine how AI leads to transformations of existing industries and creation of new ones. We will analyze potential pitfalls of AI such as accountability, bias and privacy. Finally, we will examine the recent emergence of so-called “foundation models” and their likely impact on the future evolution of AI.
Topics include:
- Defining AI. The history and timeline of AI and AI winters. Why is AI so important anyway? The role of healthy skepticism – the AI cartoons
- The economic tools to measure AI impact – GDP, productivity, real wages, labor force participation, the U’s – unemployment measures, monthly employment reports and the CPS, job openings – JOLTS. Economic trends in developed economies
- The emergence of Machine Learning (ML) and the potential impact on jobs. Jobs vs. tasks. Which things are more suitable for ML?
- The transition to the platform economy and the role of AI. The emergence of Gig work. The Winner take all economy. Are we using the right measurement tools for GDP and productivity for a transformed economy?
- The development and importance of Data Flywheels
- The forecasters – various forecasts have been made of coming GDP changes and jobs impact driven by AI. What are they and how have they worked out so far? People, people everywhere – some surprising results so far.
- National AI policies – many countries realize that AI is to important and strategic to be left “to the market” and have endeavored to develop National policies akin to Industrial Policy of the past. What are the key directions and components of these policies? The competition between the USA and China. Is it really a 2-way battle between the USA and China or do others matter?
- Big Company AI and the battle to stay relevant. The case of InsuranceCo. Big company industry transformation.
- The emergence of Digital natives – companies built as AI-centric and datacentric from the ground up. Case studies of Digital natives driving industry transformation – Uber, StitchFix, Lemonade, Peloton. How are they really doing?
- AI in Manufacturing – can this be the driver of a domestic manufacturing renaissance, reshoring and supply chain repair? The role of robotics and the emergence of digital twins.
- AI in Healthcare – the cases of Radiology and drug discovery.
- The role of Venture Capital in AI development. The march of the unicorns.
- The recent emergence of “foundation models” such as GPT3 and their potential impacts.
- What can go wrong? – e.g. privacy, security, bias, lack of explainability. The so-called “dark secrets” of AI. Some issues raised by facial recognition and “enhanced security”.
Intended for:
Aimed at those needing to understand the impact of AI on the broad economy and national competitiveness as well as those needing to understand the ongoing transformation of existing business as well as the creation of new industries – in other words, all aspiring MBAs and early career/mid-career managers seeking keen insights.
Instructor: David Powell
David is a technology professional whose career has included stints in algorithm design, software development, and product management and marketing at a number of startup and established Silicon Valley companies, including Cisco Systems.
He also has extensive classroom teaching experience at UC Berkeley, UC Berkeley Extension, Diablo Valley College’s Continuing Education program and Berkeley City College.
Interseted in this certificate?
Email us at certificates@ndnu.edu for more information.