Michigan Ross
Executive Summary
Michigan Ross launched an AI concentration for Full-Time MBA students in October 2025, joining Wharton, Darden, and Booth in formalizing AI curricula. The school's "AI@Michigan Ross" initiative integrates AI across curriculum, research, and student experience.
Key Initiatives:
- AI Concentration with three pillars: Fundamentals, Business Models, Society (12 elective credits)
- Virtual Teaching Assistant developed with Google Public Sector (April 2025)
- 10+ AI-focused courses across business functions
- AI Business Group student organization (established 2025)
- Technology sector placement: 15.1% of Class of 2024
- Business+Tech Initiative (established 2021)
1. AI Integration in MBA Curriculum
AI Concentration (October 2025)
Minimum 12 elective credits across three thematic categories: AI Fundamentals (min 4.5 credits), AI and Business Models, and AI and Society (ethics, policy, societal implications).
AI Electives
- Empowering Business Decision Making with Generative AI (TO 538) — GenAI tools and LLMs for business applications.
- Artificial Intelligence for Business (TO 633) — Conceptual introduction; no technical background required.
- Advanced Big Data Analytics (TO 628) — Large-scale data analysis techniques.
- AI and Strategy: Lead in the Age of Intelligent Machines (STRATEGY 699) — Hands-on workshops and case studies.
- Digital Marketing: Applications and Analytics (MKT 642) — AI applications in marketing analytics.
- Customer-AI Value Creation (TO 6741) — Designing AI-enhanced platform offerings.
- AI and ML in Investment Strategies (FIN 427) — AI applications in finance and investing.
- Legal Knowledge for Values-Driven Leaders (BL 536) — AI ethics and regulatory frameworks.
2. Career Placement & AI Job Opportunities
Class of 2024 Key Metrics:
- Technology sector: 15.1% of placements
- Consulting: 36% (may include tech consulting)
- Median base salary: $170,000
- Median signing bonus: $30,000
- Job placement rate: 84.6% within 3 months; 90.8% within 6 months
Top Tech Employers: Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Apple, Meta, Dropbox, Uber, Tesla, Salesforce
FAANG Placement: Ranked #2 among business schools for FAANG placements (2022 Menlo Coaching data)
Tech Trek: Annual Professional Development Week visits to Bay Area (Google, Facebook, Tesla, Salesforce) and Seattle (Microsoft, Zillow, Boeing)
3. Centers and Labs
AI@Michigan Ross. Mission: Explore how AI transforms business models; generate insights, tools, and learning experiences for ethical AI adoption.
Business+Tech Initiative (2021). Faculty Director: M.S. Krishnan. Prepares students for careers at intersection of business and technology. Hosts annual +Tech Forum with Google, IBM, Oracle. Focus areas: FinTech, HealthTech, Digital Operations, Product Innovation.
Tauber Institute for Global Operations. Joint Ross/Engineering venture. AI integration in operations, supply chain, manufacturing. Partners on GenAI forums.
Michigan Ross Fintech Initiative. Faculty Co-Director: Andrew Wu. Focus on AI applications in finance and financial technology.
4. Key Faculty in AI/ML
| Faculty | Primary Focus | Notable |
|---|---|---|
| M.S. Krishnan | Business model innovation with AI, N=1 personalization | Business+Tech Director, Accenture Professor |
| Puneet Manchanda | AI in marketing, human-AI collaboration | Study: Human-AI coaching boosts weight loss |
| Eric Schwartz | ML for social impact, NLP, customer analytics | Co-founder BlueConduit (Flint water crisis), Best 40 Under 40 |
| Felipe Csaszar | AI and strategic decision-making | Research: AI augmentation of strategy in firms |
| Andrew Wu | NLP, GenAI applications, text analytics | FinTech Initiative co-director, early GenAI adopter |
| Sanjeev Kumar | AI, ML, Big Data Analytics | Teaches TO 433/633 AI for Business courses |
Research Distinction: BlueConduit (co-founded by Eric Schwartz) uses ML to identify lead water pipes, joined White House Partnership, serves 400+ cities in 25+ states. Liketropy tool detects AI-generated text with 96% accuracy.
5. Partnerships
| Partner | Type | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Google Public Sector | Virtual TA (April 2025) | Gemini-powered AI teaching assistant, piloted in 4 courses |
| Michigan Engineering | CDAIO Program | Chief Data and AI Officer exec ed (5 months, with Emeritus) |
| Google/IBM/Oracle | +Tech Forum | Annual sponsors for GenAI conference |
| Amazon, Microsoft, Meta | Recruiting | Top tech employers, tech trek visits |
Ann Arbor AI Startups: Featured through Business+Tech: CircNova (RNA research), JustAir (air quality), Genomenon (genomics), FirstIgnite (business development)
6. AI Programs, Competitions, and Student Clubs
AI Business Group (ABG) - Established 2025. "The bridge between AI and business impact at University of Michigan." Affiliated with Ross and College of Engineering. Offers AI internship opportunities through joint recruitment pipelines.
+Tech Forum 2025: Generative AI
- Date: December 5, 2025
- Partners: Google, IBM, Oracle
- Format: One-day conference with hands-on workshops on GenAI applications
Competitions
- Hack the Case - AI implementation strategy for startups
- FinTech Challenge - AI/ML applications in finance
- Michigan Business Challenge - Business plan competition (AI ventures welcome)
MAP Projects (AI-Related)
- Rocket Companies: Leverage AI in HR operations
- SingularityAIX: AI + Industrial IoT market ecosystem
Student-Led AI Projects. Accessibility app for visually impaired (2024 hackathon) - AI analyzes and describes surroundings for navigation.
7. Competitive Context & Key Strengths
- Structured AI Concentration (Oct 2025): Three-pillar structure ensures technical understanding plus ethical/societal awareness
- Google Partnership: Virtual TA described as "one of the largest AI agent rollouts in higher education"
- Faculty Research with Impact: BlueConduit addresses real-world infrastructure challenges; Liketropy tool for academic integrity
- Cross-School Student Organizations: AI Business Group affiliated with both Ross and Engineering
- Business+Tech Infrastructure (2021): Dedicated organization with corporate partners, forums, competitions
- Strong Tech Placement: #2 for FAANG placements (2022 data); 15.1% tech sector Class of 2024
- Action-Based Learning: 25+ year MAP tradition adapted for AI era with company projects
- Ann Arbor Ecosystem: Local AI startup engagement, Innovation Conference in San Francisco