NYU Stern
Executive Summary
NYU Stern has developed a comprehensive AI ecosystem leveraging its NYC location and cross-NYU collaborations. Key elements include a STEM-designated Tech MBA, MS in Business Analytics and AI for working professionals, Business Analytics MBA specialization, and the Fubon Center's Data Analytics and AI Initiative led by renowned faculty. The school's GenerativeAI@Stern initiative (2023) trains the entire community on AI best practices.
1. AI Integration into MBA Curriculum
Core Curriculum
- Statistics & Data Analysis — Required core course for all full-time MBA students.
- Data Science — One of 5 "Menu Core" elective options.
Business Analytics Specialization
MBA students can select Business Analytics (up to 3 specializations allowed).
AI Electives
- Data Science for Business (TECH-GB.2336) — Hands-on Python, data-analytic thinking, predictive models, ML applications. Foster Provost.
- Analytics and Machine Learning for Managers — ML concepts for business applications.
- Data Driven Decision Making — Data-informed business decisions.
- Dealing with Data — Data wrangling and preparation.
- Databases for Business Analytics — Database design and querying.
- Digital Marketing Analytics — AI in marketing analytics.
- Financial Statement Analytics Using Python — Python for financial analysis.
Andre Koo Technology and Entrepreneurship MBA
1-year accelerated program (May to May), 52 credits, STEM-designated. Tech Core includes Dealing with Data, Applied Technical Foundations, Business Analytics, Technical Product Management, DevOps and Software Engineering. Experiential learning through NYC Immersion, Tech Solutions consulting, West Coast Industry Immersion, and Venture Launch capstone.
MS in Business Analytics and AI (MSBAi)
Part-time 1-year program for experienced professionals with 6 on-site modules (NYC + global). Four core areas: Descriptive Analytics, Predictive Modeling (ML), Causal Inference, Prescriptive Modeling (optimization). Advanced topics include Deep Learning, Reinforcement Learning, and Generative AI.
GenerativeAI@Stern Initiative (2023)
School-wide program training students, faculty, and staff on AI best practices, particularly generative AI.
2. Career Placement
MBA Class of 2024:
- Tech/Telecom: 9.1% of class
- Average Total Compensation: $199,492 ($166,148 base + $33,344 signing)
- Finance sector (majority placement): $164,382 average
Tech placements distributed across mature tech companies, startups, and consulting firms with AI practices. NYC location provides access to major tech companies (Microsoft, Google, Meta, Amazon), financial institutions with AI/ML teams, and consulting firms (McKinsey, BCG, Bain). Recent internship postings include Point72 AI Engineer roles and Qualcomm ML Engineering positions.
3. Centers and Labs
| Center | Year | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Fubon Center for Technology, Business and Innovation | Established | Increases Stern's reputation in technology/innovation research; funds research in technology and innovation |
| Data Analytics and AI Initiative (within Fubon) | Active | Director: Foster Provost; connects scholars/industry/students; advances AI research; hosts fireside chats and major conferences including "AI and the Future of Collaborative Innovation" (Sept 2025) |
| NYU AI Innovation Accelerator Program | Active | 8-week program for AI startups; Fall 2025 cohort: 10 Korean AI startups; mentorship, VC connections, showcase events |
| Stern Center for Research Computing (SCRC) | Active | Computational facilities supporting AI/ML research; enables researchers to leverage computational resources |
Cross-NYU Affiliations: Strong ties to NYU Courant Institute, NYU Center for Data Science, and CILVR Lab (Computational Intelligence, Learning, Vision, and Robotics)
4. Key Faculty in AI/ML
| Faculty | Primary Focus | Notable |
|---|---|---|
| Foster Provost | Data science, ML for business, predictive modeling, AI strategy | Director, Data Analytics & AI Initiative; Data Science for Business textbook (O'Reilly 2013); 2020 ACM SIGKDD Test of Time Award |
| Vasant Dhar | AI/ML, trust in AI, governance, finance applications | Robert A. Miller Professor; brought ML to Wall Street in 1990s; founded SCT Capital Management hedge fund (1998); author Thinking With Machines (2024); host "Brave New World" podcast |
| Anindya Ghose | Digital transformation, AI in marketing, mobile economics | Heinz Riehl Chair; Academic Director MSBAi; research on AI Advertising Paradox and GenAI effectiveness; author Thrive: Maximizing Well-Being in the Age of AI |
| Robert Seamans | AI/robots/automation impact on strategy and labor markets | Director, Center for Future of Management; Non-resident Senior Fellow, Brookings; $400K Smith Richardson Foundation grant (2024); "How Will Language Modelers like ChatGPT Affect Occupations?" |
| João Sedoc | ML/NLP, conversational agents, algorithmic bias in hiring | 2024 Best Undergraduate Professor (Poets & Quants); Best Paper Award AOM 2022 on gendered algorithmic hiring bias; ChatDS project |
| Panagiotis Ipeirotis | Human computation, crowdsourcing, human-AI collaboration | Merchants' Council Professor; 2015 CRT Foundation Lagrange Prize; $1.5M Google grant for crowdsourcing ML integration |
| Xi Chen | ML in operations, dynamic pricing, online recommendations | Affiliated with NYU Courant Institute and Center for Data Science |
Research Distinction: Stern faculty are pioneers in business applications of AI, with particular strength in human-AI collaboration, AI ethics and governance, and practical business implementation. Multiple faculty hold appointments across NYU's data science and computer science departments, creating strong interdisciplinary connections. Faculty have founded AI-driven companies (Dhar's SCT Capital) and conduct policy-relevant research (Seamans' Brookings affiliation).
5. Partnerships
| Partner | Type | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft | Corporate Projects/Education | Student consulting projects (Dec 2024: AI tool ethics assessment); Microsoft Copilot integration in startup contexts |
| Workshops/Research Grants | "Powering Your Startup with AI: Deep Dive Into Gemini" (Oct 2025); $1.5M research grant to Ipeirotis; $250K Google.org gift to Seamans (2019) | |
| Industry Engagement | Tech Leadership Lab with COO Jen Wong | |
| Point72 | Recruiting | AI Engineer internships for MBA students |
| Consulting Firms | Recruiting/Projects | McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte, Accenture - AI practices and tech consulting |
| Major Tech | Recruiting | Amazon, Meta, on-campus recruiting and career fairs |
6. AI Programs/Competitions/Clubs
Student Organizations:
- Stern Technology Association (MBA) - Tech career development, on-campus recruiting with tech firms and startups
- Business Analytics Club - Hands-on projects, workshops, technical skills
- Blockchain & Fintech Club - Founded March 2019; DeFi, NFTs, blockchain technology
Competitions:
- NYU Entrepreneurs Challenge - 5-month accelerator/competition; 100+ students from 19 NYU schools; multiple AI-focused startups in recent cohorts; integration with AI Innovation Accelerator
Unique Programs:
- IGNITE Program (Tech MBA) - Day-one career engagement with industry panels, mock interviews, networking
- SPUR (Undergraduate) - Student-faculty research program; undergrads work with faculty on AI/ML projects (e.g., NLP with João Sedoc)
7. Competitive Context
Rankings:
- U.S. News 2025: Tied #7 (with Harvard Business School and Dartmouth Tuck)
Key Strengths:
- NYC Location Advantage - Access to financial services AI adoption, major tech NYC offices, active startup ecosystem
- STEM-Designated Tech MBA - Only 1-year program offering extended OPT with deep tech integration
- Cross-NYU AI Ecosystem - Strong collaboration with Courant Institute, Center for Data Science, CILVR Lab
- Practitioner-Scholar Model - Faculty with industry experience (Dhar's Wall Street/hedge fund background) and active consulting
- GenerativeAI@Stern Initiative - School-wide 2023 launch demonstrates early GenAI adoption
- Multiple Degree Pathways - Undergraduate concentration, MBA specialization, Tech MBA, MSBAi (working professionals), Executive MBA courses
- Business Applications Focus - Emphasis on AI strategy, ethics, and human-AI collaboration rather than pure technical development
- Established AI Research Center - Fubon Center Data Analytics & AI Initiative with regular industry events and research funding
Competitive Note: Stern operates in a landscape where 78% of business schools have integrated AI (GMAC 2025), competing directly with MIT Sloan, Stanford GSB, Wharton, and Kellogg.