AI @ Cox

Tap into forward-thinking curriculum, research and programming at the SMU Cox School of Business.

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Research
In The News
AI Programs
Employment in AI
Cox School AI Operations

Our Philosophy

Artificial intelligence is reshaping every industry. Our responsibility is to guide students, business leaders, and partners through this transformation, by evolving curriculum, research, and operations ahead of the marketplace.

SMU Cox is exceptionally well positioned for this moment. AI is embedded in our curriculum, research, student experience, operations and industry engagement. Our location in the heart of Dallas deepens our advantage. Here we partner with businesses and those who lead it to build relevant business education, talent pipelines, innovative partnerships, and talent development.

AI will not replace business leaders with sound judgement. However, business leaders who use AI wisely will outpace those who do not. At SMU Cox, our goal is to prepare those leaders.

The systems are dynamic, unlike traditional information systems and applications. Even after they’re deployed, they’re changing.

Amit Basu, the Carr P. Collins Chair in Management Systems


Research That Shapes Industry

Our faculty are national leaders in understanding the impact of AI on business. Their research influences business practices and deepens the connection between SMU Cox and industry.
Brain scan via MRI machine

What Makes Them Click: Neuroscience at Scale Paves a Path to Image Effectiveness

Gijs Overgoor's recent NeuroAI research combines fMRI data with machine learning to predict how consumers respond to images, resulting in companies being able to design better digital experiences.
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NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD SMU

Using AI for Smarter Healthcare Decisions

Cox School Professor Vishal Ahuja advances healthcare AI research, strengthening our role in one of the region’s most important industries. 
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photo of a computer screen with analysis of mutual funds

Are AI and Big Data Creating Competitive Advantages in the Asset Management Industry?

Recent research out of the Finance department, led by Xiaowen Hu, shows that the best firms are using strategies of AI alongside human expertise. Vast amounts of data can be expertly and quickly analyzed like never before.
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photo of students in a Cox classroom

In the News

"AI expertise is no longer optional. In addition to AI centric type courses, whether it’s our M.S. degree program or it’s an AI marketing course, we’ve integrated AI platforms in all of our presentation skills courses, which every undergraduate and graduate student has to take."

William Dillon, Senior Associate Dean and Herman Lay Professor of Marketing in a recent Dallas Business Journal podcast

Listen to the Podcast Episode

Degree and Program Development: From First-Year Students to Executives

We are developing programs that cater to the needs of learners at every level, from undergraduates to graduate students and non-degree-seeking professionals. New and emerging programs include:

 

These programs combine technical literacy with critical reasoning as graduates who understand both AI tools and business judgment are positioned for extraordinary impact. 

In the Classroom: Teaching Both the Tools and the Thinking

Every student who walks through our doors, regardless of major, will graduate into an economy that expects them to navigate AI confidently. That is why our approach is twofold: we teach how AI works and we teach how to question it.

We emphasize critical reasoning, transparency, and responsible use. And we bring this to life through hands-on learning.

Example in Action

A Cox School professor gives his students identical datasets and asks them to run the same AI-enabled analysis. The results? Each student gets something different.

Why? Because the model makes hidden assumptions. The class then works together to “debug” the AI. Students see firsthand, that AI can be powerful but not infallible. They learn that leadership requires understanding what’s happening inside the black box. This is how we build business thinkers who can use AI and not be misled by it.

If you look at AI like a black box, it seems to be able to do amazing things. And then errors will surface and you'll wonder 'what happened?'. That's why we believe in really training students to understand how it works.

Amit Basu, the Carr P. Collins Chair in Management Systems

What Employers Need: Strategic Thinkers, Not Just Technicians

Our corporate partners are clear about their expectations: They need professionals who are literate in AI tools, can challenge them, troubleshoot them, and make decisions with them.

This is where SMU Cox stands out. Our relationship with Dallas companies is symbiotic:

  • Students get hands-on experience with real projects and applied AI learning.
  • Companies gain insights, analysis, and talent that are ready to contribute immediately.
  • Experiential learning ensures our students graduate with both technical fluency and business judgment which is exactly what employers are asking for.

Businesses want people who are familiar with the tools and applications. But they also want the strategic thinkers and reasoners who can go beyond the AI tools with critical reasoning — and help the firms lead.

photo of a woman in front of computer using AI

Operations: Preparing Our Own House for AI

We’re not just teaching AI, we’re using it.

SMU Cox has built a robust internal AI infrastructure including:

  • A network of secure, private GPTs
  • A dedicated technology lead coordinating AI adoption across the Cox School
  • Integration of AI into faculty workload, classroom management, marketing, recruiting, and administrative operations

This is more than efficiency. It’s about modeling responsible, innovative use of emerging technology for our students and partners.