According to PwC’s 2024 Global AI Jobs Barometer, sectors that benefit from AI are experiencing almost five times (4.8x) higher growth in labor productivity. Postings for AI jobs are growing 3.5x faster than average, meaning that for every AI job posting in 2012, there are now seven job postings. AI skills are becoming more important than job experience [WEF].
But where does that come into play with an MBA degree? At the core of all successful businesses is the need to make informed decisions—which require data. Today, the sheer volume of data exceeds human capacity to comprehend, making AI a necessity to parse it into meaningful insights. It’s the future of all complex decision-making. And those who can make the best and most informed decisions will command that future.
Business managers are already being challenged with tough AI questions—question that will only continue to grow in number and scope. Does your business have a use case where AI would add value? Should we buy an AI solution—and if so, which one? Should we be hiring someone with AI skills—and what should we look for in that candidate? These questions are really hard to answer without literacy in AI, and when you gain that literary, you’ll set yourself apart from your peers. PwC’s 2024 AI Jobs Barometer report shows a 25% wage premium for workers with AI skills. For almost every outcome that any graduate MBA would have, an AI specialization would increase the value of and help make them stand out.
Strategic and Managerial Focus: Rize’s AI program teaches MBA students to bridge the gap between technical teams and business stakeholders, ensuring successful AI adoption and implementation.
Accessibility and Impact: Rize’s asynchronous three-to-four-course AI specialization is designed to be low-code and accessible, giving students literacy in the technical subjects they’ll need to successfully manage AI projects. AI is a diverse field with impact across almost every industry. While those who code and develop AI models obviously play a huge role, it is equally important to have leaders who can ethically select, scope, manage, and maintain AI projects, identify opportunities for AI in various sectors, and take on the herculean task of keeping updated on this field which is literally changing by the day (almost a full-time job in itself). Rize’s MBA AI specialization prepares graduates to be those leaders.
Cutting Through The Hype: Foundational technical literacy equips graduates with the skills to critically evaluate technical solutions. They can identify when something isn’t working as expected and ask the right questions, or detect inaccuracies or inefficiencies in data analysis, ensuring high standards of accuracy and reliability.
Future-Proof Skills: When we look to the future, as AI continues to evolve, it’s not far-fetched to envision AI coding itself [1] [2]. Future-proof skills in problem-solving, technical literacy, and strategic management will ensure graduates can adapt and thrive in changing environments.
Dr. Risto Miikkulainen is a Professor of Computer Science at the University of Texas at Austin and VP of AI Research at Cognizant Advanced AI Labs. He received an M.S. in Engineering from the Helsinki University of Technology (now Aalto University) in 1986, and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from UCLA. His current research focuses on methods and applications of neuroevolution, as well as neural network models of natural language processing and vision. He has published hundreds of important works for AI and was selected by the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI) as one of just 11 fellows—a very prestigious fellowship—for 2023.
| ID | Program Learning Outcome |
|---|---|
| PLO-1 | Drive business innovation, efficiency, and ethical decision-making by leveraging an understanding of AI technologies. |
| PLO-2 | Critically assess the limitations and capabilities of AI technologies to make sure AI-driven business solutions align with organizational objectives. |
| PLO-3 | Ensure responsible and compliant AI implementation in business setting by applying governance frameworks and ethical guidelines to AI projects. |
| PLO-4 | Communicate AI concepts and solutions effectively to diverse stakeholders. |
| PLO-5 | Assess career opportunities and key sectors relevant to AI. |
| PLO-6 | Manage the complete lifecycle of machine learning projects, ensuring successful implementation and alignment with business objectives. |
Recommended CIP Code: **11.0102** (AI) or 52.0201 (Business Administration and Management, General)
Note: The MBA AI Program is a four-course concentration within an MBA degree. Courses provided through the LCMC are shown in blue text.
AIMBA I - Generative AI for Managers