The Master of Management in Artificial Intelligence: Breaking into an industry with endless potential

Schulich School of Business designed its Artificial Intelligence program after noticing the distinct lack of business leaders who understood the potential of AI. As Schulich alumna Tina Yao confirms, “The MMAI (Master of Management in Artificial Intelligence) was advertised as kind of a mix between a business and tech degree. It was like a bridge between the business world and the tech world.” (00:28)

General master’s degrees are a great option that help you turn your skills to a range of sectors. However, laser-focused programs like the Schulich MMAI give you a head start in a specific area you want to move into. 

Artificial intelligence is set to shift our entire perspective of humanity, as well as seriously transform how businesses are run. We can already see how it will streamline job processes and help aggregate business data. 

Uses for artificial intelligence in business today include:

  • Understanding user preferences through machine learning.
  • Scraping the web for data and presenting it in a user-friendly way.
  • Recognizing and defending against cyberattacks.
  • Continuously unlocking new best practices through deep learning.
  • Digital personal assistants and CRM organization.

Understanding the limits and dangers of AI

Artificial intelligence certainly has huge potential, but with great power comes great responsibility. That’s why Schulich goes further than subjects like natural language processing, computational methods and modeling, and core business skills. You’ll also get a good understanding of the ethical, moral, and existential risks that AI brings.

Hollywood does a good job of highlighting the extreme areas, such as AI gaining autonomy and mass hacking. However, there is also a range of more immediate dangers, like algorithmic bias and data privacy. 

Schulich addresses artificial intelligence as a whole, giving students an understanding of the potential use cases, limitations, and dangers of AI applied to business challenges. 

Learn real-world skills you can instantly apply to companies

With the Master of Management in Artificial Intelligence, you get a practical education that is easily compatible with tasks you’ll have in your future career. 

The end goal of the course – the capstone Artificial Intelligence Consulting Project (AICP) – gives students the opportunity to solve business issues in the Deloitte Cognitive Analytics and Visualization Lab. They collaborate with managers from the industry and technical experts to create an experience that mirrors their future careers. 

On the capstone, Tina says, “With the AI Consulting Project, it definitely showed me how the business and the technical side really came together. From the beginning, defining what the business problem was and before any analytics or even touching the data, you have to define what there is to solve.” (00:36)

Tina’s work experience in the field started with an internship at Loblaw, a role that became permanent upon graduation. It was specifically how well she translated her learning into the working world that led to her success. In Tina’s words, “Loblaw loved our work so much, they gave return offers for everybody in the group.” (01:30)

Becoming fluent in the languages of business and data

The relationship between technical and managerial profiles has long been a difficult one, with each side focusing on different priorities. Communication, in particular, is a sticking point, as CEOs often don’t understand the language their tech teams use. However, courses like the Master of Management in Artificial Intelligence at Schulich School of Business are quickly uniting these siloes.

Students learn top coding languages for data, such as Python and R, and how to apply them to solve business problems. At the same time, they develop the skills needed to manage teams and run a business. This combination means graduates can bring both areas together and successfully lead tech-centric businesses. 

Reflecting on her experience, Tina highlighted the importance of learning both coding and business language. She says, “After you come up with these analytics and these codes that run and present you with the result, you have to not just be done with it, but put it into this presentation to show the VP or the manager or the senior manager to explain to them what you have done.” (00:59)

Mixing with pioneering minds

As you might expect in such a disruptive sector, Schulich’s Master of Management in Artificial Intelligence attracts innovative minds. Students on this course have carefully analyzed the state of business today and chosen AI as the path to make the biggest impact. 

But, it’s not just the drive for success that makes the student body so appealing. Tina pointed to the social side too, saying, “My favorite thing was definitely the people. That was one of the best things. I feel like I’ve made so many lifelong friends through this program.” (01:35)

Professors provide a second outlet of inspiration. As experts in their field, they are always on hand to guide each student through their journey. They play a significant role in shaping the Artificial Intelligence Consulting Project, offering their wealth of experience at every stage. 

Be a pioneer with the Master of Management in Artificial Intelligence

Schulich’s Special Advisor on AI and Business Analytics predicts exponential growth in demand for expert artificial intelligence profiles. However, for every demand, there needs to be a supply. Through this master’s, you can be at the forefront of this booming industry and play a decisive role in the future of business as a whole.