Professional Certification in AI for Business Leaders with faculty Professor Shien Jin Ong and Professor Sanjay Sarma.
Videos are available beginning August 19, 2024.
After watching the required videos, first live session starts on Sept 7, 2024. Followed by Sept 21 and Oct 5, 2024.
Course Credits: 1.5 Credits
(HRDCorp Course Series No:10001443279) ACE Professional Certification course fee is 100% HRD Corp claimable, subject to full program attendance. Please note that the grant application and claimable amount are still subject to HRD Corp’s approval.
Course Overview
This course is designed for forward-thinking business leaders who seek to understand Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its transformative impact on the business world. You will embark on a journey through the history and evolution of AI, gaining insights into how these technologies have shaped and will continue to revolutionize various industries. We will explore the ethical considerations and societal implications of AI, ensuring you are equipped to make responsible decisions in a technology-driven future.
Diving deeper, the course offers a primer on foundational AI concepts, including neural networks, convolutional neural networks, text embeddings, clustering, transformers, and large language models (LLMs). While the technical aspects are simplified for a business-oriented audience, you will gain enough understanding to effectively communicate with technical teams and leverage AI in business contexts. A significant focus will be on the application of LLMs to solve real-world business challenges.
By the end of this course, you will not only have a thorough understanding of AI technologies but also possess the strategic mindset to lead AI initiatives and drive innovation in your organization. Whether you are aspiring to be a C-suite executive, an entrepreneur, or a business strategist, this course will equip you with the knowledge and skills to succeed in the AI-augmented business landscape.
The course integrates pre-recorded video lectures with interactive live sessions to provide an engaging and hands-on learning experience, making it accessible and enjoyable for non-technical beginners in AI.
Course Outline
Through a combination of videos, quizzes, and coding exercises during our live sessions, you will achieve the following:
History and Evolution of AI Acquire a comprehensive understanding of the development and progression of AI technologies, recognizing their transformative impact on diverse industries.
Foundational AI Concepts Attain insights into core AI principles, including neural networks, convolutional neural networks, text embeddings, clustering, and large language models (LLMs), tailored specifically for a business-oriented audience.
Practical AI Applications Master the application of AI concepts to address and solve real-world business challenges effectively, including developing custom GPT models tailored to specific business problems.
Strategic AI Leadership Cultivate a strategic mindset necessary for leading AI initiatives and fostering innovation within your organization.
Ethics and Societal Implications Delve into the ethical considerations and societal ramifications of AI, equipping yourself to make responsible and informed decisions in a technology-driven landscape.
Communication with Technical Teams Develop the capability to articulate AI concepts and requirements effectively, ensuring clear and productive communication with technical teams.
Course Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course, you will be able to:
Evaluate the effectiveness of different AI models for solving real-world business problems.
Analyze the ethical considerations and societal implications of AI technologies in various business contexts.
Adapt an AI-based solution to optimize a business process.
Duration
The course is delivered over 6-7 weeks, including time for learners to watch videos before the first live session.
Class Structure
Video Learning
Before the live sessions, you will watch short video lectures lasting 5 to 15 minutes and complete quizzes to cement your understanding of the videos.
Live Sessions
The live-sessions are held in hybrid format, beginning with a review of the video lecture, and followed by a discussion of the case of the day.
Before each live session, please complete the pre-class videos and quizzes. Come prepared with questions!
Live-session
Date
Time
First Live-session (half day)
Saturday, September 7, 2024
9:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. (Malaysia Time)
Second Live-session (half day)
Saturday, September 21, 2024
9:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. (Malaysia Time)
Third Live-session (full day)
Saturday, October 5, 2024
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Malaysia Time)
Participant Profile
Who should take this course?
Business leaders and executives seeking to understand and leverage AI for strategic decision-making
Entrepreneurs aiming to incorporate AI technologies into their business models.
Aspiring C-suite executives who want to lead AI-driven initiatives.
Professionals in non-technical roles who need to effectively communicate with technical teams.
Individuals interested in gaining a foundational understanding of AI and its applications in the business world.
Business strategists looking to drive innovation and competitive advantage through AI.
Requirements/Prerequisite
No technical background is required; however, it would be good for participants to have basic familiarity with Python.
Basic Python knowledge
For beginners, we recommend that you watch introductory Python videos on YouTube.
Software
We will be using the following software for our course. Most are available for free, though some, like ChatGPT Plus, require a subscription:
Ong Shien Jin is a Professor of Practice at the Asia School of Business (ASB). His research interests are in AI and Analytics. Shien Jin’s background spans finance, technology and academia. He started his career as a Quantitative Strategist at Goldman Sachs Asset Management Fixed Income, specializing in mortgage-backed securities.
After Goldman Sachs, he joined the tech industry as Special Assistant to the CEO at JobStreet.com, the #1 online job portal in South-East Asia. Prior to ASB, he was a Visiting Senior Research Fellow at the National University of Singapore (NUS). Shien Jin holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from MIT.
Sanjay Sarma, distinguished leader in academia and business, is CEO, President, and Dean of the Asia School of Business. He is also a professor of Mechanical Engineering at MIT and has a courtesy appointment at the Sloan School of Management. He co-founded the Auto-ID Center at MIT, pioneering the technical concepts and standards of modern RFID. Today, the suite of standards developed by the Auto-ID Center, called EPC, has become a global standard utilized by over a thousand companies. Sarma also previously chaired the Auto-ID Research Council, establishing six labs worldwide. He co-founded OATSystems, later acquired by Checkpoint Systems, and serves on the boards of several companies including Aclara Resources (TSX:ARA) Rekor Systems (NASDAQ:REKR) and GS1.