Operations & technology

Smart technology will completely change both your way of life and your way of working. We will live in the most disruptive time for the workforce since the Great Depression. What does this mean for millions of lives, for the public school system and for society at large? And what is to be done about it?

From the explosion of Generative AI to the evolution of the hybrid workplace, disruption has become the “norm” for business. How will business and society be shaped by disruption in 2024?

Is Silicon Valley the next Detroit? Despite layoffs in Big Tech, there are reasons to remain optimistic that the Bay Area can continue to avoid the fate of so many communities that have seen their prospects dim as their once hot new industry faded. The key is to avoid stagnation by encouraging vigorous competition.

If you are a business practitioner — or own a smartphone — you likely understand the battle marketers, content creators and digital platforms wage over your attention. You are also perhaps conscious of the toll this competition takes on your attention span and mental well-being. How can we change this toxic “attention economy” for the better?

Trends and predictions for the AI world. The importance of careful communication. Groundbreaking research using neuroscience to predict human choices. Employee disengagement and what to do about it. The importance of generalists in a tech-driven working world. Darden Ideas to Action insights draw from faculty expertise, books, research and cases.

The proliferation of AI has given rise to fear of job replacement across many industries, including entertainment. The WGA and SAG-AFTRA went on strike, including in their demands protection from the use of AI by studios. Is this a real or perceived threat, and what is the potential impact on the consumer experience?

Leverage the potential of artificial intelligence, the value of first-party data and the power of stickers: Darden Professor Raj Venkatesan discusses the importance of personalization and data-driven marketing — and offers his blueprint to navigating the marketing revolution.

We are in a new era — the Era of Smart Technology — that is going to transform how we live, how we work and how we educate people. Our current education system was built upon principles necessary for the industrial age, and that age is over. This is an existential societal issue, and this new era will require a different type of public education.

Many challenges in the world could best be addressed if anticipated. Lucky for us these days, Prediction = Machine Learning + Data. Lucky because we’re in a gold rush of data, and our machines can learn with it. Ultimately, across the operations that define a functional society, predictions drive how organizations treat and serve an individual.

Remote work comes with emotional, societal and environmental benefits. Employees aren't tied to city centers with high costs of living, and reduced travel will lower greenhouse gas emissions. There are also benefits to firms, with research suggesting that remote workers are more productive. Yet challenges exist. How do we navigate this new normal?