Public Events Calendar

Artificial intelligence promises major advances in productivity, innovation, and business performance. Yet for many firms, the key challenge lies in how to use and implement it.

This challenge is particularly relevant for many successful firms in Switzerland and throughout Europe, where established routines, proven business models, and long-standing organizational strengths can make the adoption of AI difficult.

In his public lecture, Dr. Andrew McAfee from the MIT Sloan School of Management will discuss why AI matters for firms and how its successful application depends on more than technological capabilities alone. Drawing on his research on the digital economy and his recent book The Geek Way, he will argue that firms benefit most from AI when they combine new technologies with organizational cultures built on science, ownership, speed, and openness. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to exchange ideas and learn from one of the world’s leading experts in the field.

Program

• 18.15: Welcome and Introduction: Prof. Rolf Weder
• 18.20: Keynote: Andrew McAfee
• 19.15: Discussion with Andrew McAfee, Rolf Weder and audience
• 19.45: Apéro

Registration

Free entry and free seating. Registration is appreciated but not mandatory.

Speaker

Andrew McAfee is a Principal Research Scientist at the MIT Sloan School of Management and co-founder and co-director of MIT’s Initiative on the Digital Economy. He studies how information technology affects business and the economy — particularly the ways companies perform, organize themselves, and compete. He is the co-author of the New York Times bestselling books The Second Machine Age (2014) and Machine Platform Crowd (2017), both written with Erik Brynjolfsson (Stanford). His most recent book, The Geek Way: The Radical Mindset That Drives Extraordinary Results, was included in The Economist’s “Best Books of 2023”, Forbes’ “Top 10 Business Books of 2023”, and the Financial Times selection “Best Business Books of the Month”. Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt describes the book as “a handbook for disruptors”.

He regularly writes for publications including the Harvard Business Review, The Economist, and The New York Times. He has appeared on CNN and spoken at the WEF, TED, and many other high-profile events. He has advised some of the world’s largest corporations and organizations, ranging from the IMF to the Boston Red Sox and the US intelligence community. He is also the founder of the generative AI company Workhelix. Andrew McAfee has been included in the “Thinkers50” list of the world’s leading management thinkers..

Lecture Series on Innovation in the Global Economy

The Lecture Series provides a platform for renowned researchers in Business and Economics to present their research results and thoughts on “Innovation in the Global Economy” to a broad audience. The events tackle the challenges of globalization and new technologies for society, policy makers and companies. They also focus on the determinants of innovation in open economies. The discussion plays an important role in the Lecture Series. We are grateful for the support by the Claudine and Hans-Heiner Zaeslin-Bustany-Foundation.