AI Takes Center Stage at Rutgers Business School with Google Partnership

In a bold move to stay at the forefront of business education, Rutgers Business School has teamed up with Google to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) tools into its undergraduate and graduate curricula. This partnership aims to equip students with the skills necessary to navigate an industry increasingly dominated by AI technologies.

As part of the collaboration, Rutgers will provide students and faculty access to Google Cloud AI, a platform that houses over 150 AI and machine learning models, including notable tools such as Meta’s Llama, Anthropic’s Claude, and Google’s Gemini. The initiative will offer hands-on experience with generative AI, enhancing the learning environment while maintaining a strong commitment to data privacy. Information inputted into the cloud will not be used for model training, ensuring that privacy concerns are addressed.

Rutgers Business School has already started weaving AI into its curriculum. For example, in one accounting course, third- and fourth-year students are learning to leverage generative AI to analyze financial statements, assess company performance, and predict profitability. Another course focuses on marketing, where students use AI tools like Gemini to create content such as text, videos, and images.

Beyond individual courses, Rutgers has embedded AI into its degree programs. The Master of Accountancy in Accounting and Analytics already offers an AI specialization. Starting in spring 2025, the MBA program will introduce a concentration in AI, covering areas such as AI business management strategies, data mining, and algorithmic machine learning. Additionally, core undergraduate courses are being revamped to include AI tools and concepts, ensuring that students are well-prepared for an AI-driven future in business.

Lei Lei, Dean of Rutgers Business School, emphasized the importance of this shift: “Our ambition is to prepare graduates with the skills and talent most in demand by industry. Today, that requires revamping the learning experience and creating innovative, disruptive content to ensure our students understand the emerging technologies, including AI, that companies are eager to adopt.”

With this partnership, Rutgers continues its commitment to delivering cutting-edge education that not only aligns with industry trends but also equips future leaders to thrive in an AI-powered business landscape.