When did ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) become popular?
Before you ask whether a specialization MBA or Master's in Machine Learning is important, understand where it all began. Over 140 AI companies have been acquired since 2011 with the momentum on Mergers & Acquisitions peaking in 2016 resulting in 40 acquisitions, among which Google, Yahoo, Intel, Apple, and Salesforce, lead the pack.
Google with 11 acquisitions is leveraging technology to improve the search experience, new media technology, targeted advertising, and digital assistants for the Android OS.
The next wave of innovation is only restricted to tech giants as mid-sized companies and Businesses have yet to find value from AI to solve real-world problems.
The real value of AI would be in FinTech
The authenticity of the founding story, the security risks, and the mass adoption of Bitcoin may be up for debate, but the technology behind the FinTech revolution – BlockChain as an alternative to the current cumbersome payment settlements is closer to reality. 15% of the 200 global banks has tested the technology in some capacity in 2017.
By 2020, 65% of banks would incorporate the payment settlement technology at production capacity.
Although most of the FinTech funding is centered in New York, Ripple - the San Francisco Global Financial Settlement provider has already raised over $93 million from star VCs - Google Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, IDG Capital Partners and AME Cloud Ventures.
Investment Banks/Financial Services Providers - Standard Chartered, Accenture Ventures, Siam Commercial Bank and SBI Holdings also have a sizable stake in the company.
Ripple has already spearheaded a new category of services - Internet of Value (IoV), to convert payment settlements as real-time information.
Should I focus on an MBA in Machine Learning?
Now back to the question.
There is no MBA program specialization in Machine Learning although there exists Data Analytics, Business Analytics and Decision Sciences courses as a major or part of individual course selection that some of the top MBA programs in the US offer.
What would I work on with AI/Data Science as a specialization?
As a Management professional, you will be working on evangelizing, lobbying, or managing AI products/services or guiding companies in integrating AI technology.
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