AI Essentials: Accelerating Impactful Adoption

"I found this course to be very insightful and timely. It helped to better frame an approach to AI business and adoption strategies, and also provided opportunities to for hands on learning. I came away with a better sense of direction, and next steps."

Christina H

"Paul McDonagh-Smith has a gift for making complex ideas land personally. Frameworks like the organizational immune system and the AI impact equation gave me language and tools I am already using to think differently about how my organization approaches change. The breakout rooms were just as valuable as the content itself. Hearing how leaders across completely different industries are wrestling with the same challenges gave me real confidence and perspective. I walked in feeling a little over my head and walked out with a real toolkit, a clear sense of where to focus, and genuine excitement about putting what I learned into practice. Exceptional three days."

Courtney R

"A great course with an equal great lecturer. Paul guided us through the course with good help from his staff, providing an excellent experience. The guest lecturers were world class (really world class), and made the whole thing even better. I recommend this course to everyone."

Thorleif H

"The course helped me understand AI and how to apply it in my company."

Fernando B

"A fantastic learning experience from the comfort of your home, led by knowledgeable experts and filled with practical, real-world insights. While the program may be somewhat expensive for individuals who are funding it out of their own pocket, the quality of the content, instruction, and overall learning experience makes it a worthwhile investment"

Rishu V

"Excellent, well-orchestrated class. Enjoyed the activities, engagement, and discussion throughout. Highly recommend!"

Jeffrey H

"Learning from Senior Lecturer Paul McDonagh-Smith was an exceptional experience at the MIT Sloan School of Management. His depth of expertise and genuine enthusiasm for digital business and AI were evident from the very first moments of the course. Over the two days, we also benefited from guest speakers across big tech, information systems research, and legal and medical domains, who shared the latest evidence-based AI research alongside concrete development and deployment practices. The cohort itself added significant value to the learning experience. I studied alongside business and policy leaders from eight different countries, representing a wide range of industries and organizational contexts. The diversity of perspectives enriched discussions and grounded the content in real-world challenges. The on-site MIT Sloan team provided outstanding support throughout the program, anticipating our needs and ensuring a smooth, well-paced learning experience. Among many valuable takeaways, two stood out. First, impactful AI adoption begins with experimentationengaging with the technology regularly and in manageable increments. Second, it requires unpacking and rethinking existing workflows, rather than approaching AI as a frictionless, ready-made solution. I left the course with new insights, a wealth of practical resources, and a strong sense of connection to the MIT Sloan community. I look forward to completing my Digital Business Certificate in 2026!"

Pamela L