Ateneo - UPO

The course focuses on the application of Artificial Intelligence to business strategy, with the aim of promoting sustainability and generating a positive social impact. Through a series of interactive lessons and case studies, students will gain an in-depth understanding of the challenges and opportunities of using AI to develop sustainable, social impact-oriented business strategies.

De Baggis M., Puliafito A (2023), In the beginning it was ChatGPT: Artificial intelligence for texts, images, videos and what will come , Apogeo.
Penco L., Profumo G. (2023), Corporate strategies and governance. Writings in honor of Pietro Genco , Giappichelli.
Ferilli S et al. (2021) Artificial intelligence for sustainable development , CNR Edizioni.
Further possibilities for further study will be indicated during the first lesson

- Understand the crucial role of AI in modern business strategies, focusing on sustainability and social impact.
- Increase the ability to translate AI opportunities into practice, with specific reference to corporate realities.
- Increase the ability to identify any critical points with respect to the use of AI, with specific reference to corporate realities.
- Innovate business processes through AI, with an approach consistent with the logic of value generation and current challenges
- Analyze how AI can be used to align business activities with the SDGs and manage business relationships effectively and ethically.
- Explore the potential of AI to improve sustainable value creation and promote social innovation within organizations.

None

Lessons, meetings with experts, exercises, presentation of case studies, interactions during classroom meetings.

Attendance at the course is optional but strongly recommended.

At the end of the course you will be asked to write a position paper on the topics covered in class. An oral interview will follow to present the works and explore the contents learned.

1. History of artificial intelligence
During this first meeting the contents of the course and the related lessons will be presented. The lesson will then focus on exploring the technological advances that have led to the discussion of new forms of artificial intelligence to date. Furthermore, some emerging ethical challenges and philosophical debates regarding the development of AI will be presented.

2. Sustainable value creation
During the lesson the concept of management will be explored in depth, explaining the visions evoked by this concept, both in the present and in the past. It will deal with management and how the perspectives linked to it are moving towards increasingly green directions, thanks to the attention paid to the needs and values of which workers and companies are the bearers.

3. Socially oriented enterprise and SDGs
During the lesson, the ways in which companies can align their activities and corporate strategies with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will be explored in depth, in order to contribute to achieving a positive social, environmental and economic impact. . Business strategies that promote social innovation and positive community impact will also be analyzed.

4. Stakeholders and business relations
This lesson highlights the importance of identifying who are those for whom value is produced within organizations. The stakeholders with which an organization can come into contact will be defined, as well as their position with respect to the central core of the company itself. Furthermore, we will try to understand how the value produced can be distributed appropriately among the stakeholders and the various actors involved.

5. Cognitive economics and the impact of AI
This lecture will seek to examine the economic implications of AI on structural change in the economy, including opportunities for economic growth, redistribution of resources, and challenges in adapting to new labor market dynamics. We will also delve into the public policies and regulatory strategies needed to effectively manage the impact of AI on the economy and society.

6. AI and Public Administration
The lesson aims to highlight the fundamental importance of AI in process optimization, in the same way, the risks and ethical challenges in the use of AI in public administration will be presented. Among these, topics such as data security and transparency will be covered. Finally, governance models and public-private partnerships that can facilitate the responsible adoption of AI in public services will be explored.

7. AI and healthcare (with testimony)
The class will delve into the benefits and challenges of implementing AI in healthcare, including issues of data privacy, equity in access to healthcare services, and ethics in the use of patient data. We will also examine new research and development opportunities in personalized medicine and early diagnosis provided by AI.

8. AI and communication (with testimony)
The lesson intends to explore the role of AI in the transformation of media and communication strategies, with specific reference to the corporate area, highlighting the importance of correctly interpreting data and managing any risks that may be incurred. The topic relating to the automated creation and distribution of content will also be covered.

9. AI and marketing (with testimony)
The lesson aims to examine the implications of AI on consumer behavior and branding strategies, analyzing new opportunities for customer engagement through the automation and personalization of marketing experiences. We will also examine some new business models based on the use of AI in the marketing sector, as well as some adaptation strategies necessary for traditional companies.

10. AI and management
During this final lesson we will define how AI can support managers in strategic and operational decisions, emphasizing the importance of ethical leadership and change management in the implementation of intelligent technologies within organizations. Finally, there will be a moment of comparison and synthesis with respect to the previous lessons.

NOTE: the sequential numbers of the lessons are indicative and subject to change during construction

At the end of the course students will be able to analyze how AI can be used to integrate economic, environmental and social objectives, generating a positive long-term impact. In this way, course participants will be able to identify and design business strategies within which the use of AI can be enhanced, paying attention to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Finally, they will be able to apply the knowledge acquired through case studies and practical simulations, demonstrating the ability to critically analyze the challenges and opportunities related to the use of AI in corporate strategies for sustainability and social impact.