Brad Smith knows a thing or two about the rise of new technologies.
Having worked at Microsoft for over thirty years, he saw the company grow through the information age and the birth of the modern Internet to become the giant it is today. Now the company’s president and vice chairman, he’s turning his attention to what he—and many like him—believes is the next great technological advancement.
Prior to his visit to American University earlier this month, Smith likened artificial intelligence to the invention of the printing press and the widespread adoption of electricity. Within the discussions around AI, he sees the potential for new jobs and industries, streamlined solutions to problems in business, technology, and beyond, and learning opportunities across disciplines. As he explained to a packed room in the university’s McKinley Building, he believes that artificial intelligence is the next significant general purpose technology, or GPT—a technology that serves many functions, much like electricity.
It only follows that Smith would come to AU to talk about the future of AI. The Kogod School of Business was one of the first schools in the country to integrate AI education and training into its curriculum and remains one of the only business schools to do so. Students are already utilizing AI in their projects, experimenting with new tools, and networking with experts in the field, an approach that Smith says is key to making it more widely accessible.