To keep our balance, we must keep on moving, to keep our hope still alive we must keep on adapting with the changes, keep on learning, keep on dreaming, and keep on working hard to achive our goal. In order for us to be able to keep on "dancing" to the rhythm of the music of time, we must continue learning to follow the direction of technological development which continues to develop rapidly.

AI, or Artificial Intelligence, is currently being discussed almost everywhere and is a topic of widespread interest by everybody because of its impact on society, the economy, ethics, and technology. It refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think and learn like humans. AI involves the development of computer systems and algorithms that can perform tasks typically requiring human intelligence, such as understanding natural language, recognizing patterns, solving problems, and making decisions.

AI's applications continue to expand as the technology evolves. AI has the potential to transform many industries by automating tasks, improving decision-making, and enhancing productivity. However, it also raises ethical and societal concerns, such as job displacement, bias in AI algorithms, and privacy issues, which need to be carefully addressed as AI technologies advance. Therefore, understanding AI is increasingly important and essential for each of us because it impacts various aspects of our lives, from our careers to our interactions with technology.

To bring this knowledge of AI, on Saturday 14 October 2023, THM Business School Alumni association, which is led by Stefano Cevenini, organized an alumni event, which was attended not only by the alumni of THM Business School but also the current THM MBA Students as well as the MBA students from University Bergamo Italy who are very interested in listening and learning from the speakers who have been working actively with AI in their profesional career. 

How can the spirit of AI be connected to Business School (MBA alumni and MBA students)? And why do we need to know about AI? The answer is: We need to know about AI because it is increasingly integral to business operations and strategy. Staying informed about AI is essential for success in the modern business landscape. Not only that, but it is also essential to strike a balance between technology and the human touch, as personal connections and relationships remain vital in business education and career development.

Moreover, the spirit of AI (Artificial Intelligence) for MBA school alumni, students, and the MBA school as an institution is centered around the idea of continuous learning and growth to stay relevant in the rapidly changing business landscape, for example:

For THM MBA school alumni, the spirit of AI encourages them to adopt a growth mindset and recognize the importance of keeping up with AI advancements. Alumni need to understand how AI technologies can be utilized to enhance business strategies, improve decision-making processes, and drive innovation. By continuously learning and staying updated on AI trends, the THM MBA alumni can remain competitive in their careers and contribute to the growth of their organizations. This has been confirmed by Stefano Cevenini, the Chairman of THM MBA Alumni, after listening to the explanation from the speaker he is now very motivated to keep on eyeing on AI in order for him to be able to increase his creativity at his work.

For THM MBA students like us, the spirit of AI emphasizes the need to integrate AI-related knowledge and skills into our education. We as MBA students should be equipped with a solid understanding of AI concepts, applications, and ethical considerations. By actively learning about AI and its implications for businesses, we as students can develop a competitive edge and become future-ready professionals capable of leveraging AI to drive organizational success.To get a quick feeling on how AI has already been implemented at THM Business School, after listening to the speaker we also had AI workshops, which were demonstarated by Professor Jan Freidank, Professor Sven Keller, Professor Simon Kiesel, Doktorate Student Martin Haupt and Master Student Julia Peter.

For THM MBA business-school as it was explained by Professor Freidank, the Director of the MBA, that THM MBA Business School as an institution is currently fostering an environment that promotes AI education and research. THM MBA Business School will also equip students with the necessary skills to navigate the AI-driven business world and encourage faculty members to engage in AI research and collaborations, so that he THM MBA business school can ensure its graduates are well-prepared to tackle the challenges and opportunities presented by AI.

The event already started on Friday 13 of october with a dinner networking. It connected the Alumni and the students to exchange information (personal and professional support). The dinner networking allowed individuals to contribute to the success of our almamater and the broader business community. Having studied at the same almamater, we do all believe that the degree is important (but that is not enough). We need to improve our skills through lifelong learning. Behavior, flexibility, and creativity also matters. Staying connected with fellow alumni and being a member of MBA Alumni association can also offer a wide range of benefits, both professionally and personally. It provides a valuable support system and access to a network of like-minded individuals who can help us in our career journey and personal growth.

The activities continued on Saturday 14th of October, at the Evangelische Akademie Frankfurt were opened by Professor Freidank and Stefano Cevenini followed by excellent AI speakers:

The first speaker was Dr. Tristan Behrens, AI expert, AI composer, AI Trainer. Dr. Behren`s focus are deep neural networks for music composition. He has released several music albums which he composed on the computer. Since January 1, 2023 he is Artist in Residence at the AI Salon Heilbronn. The key message from Dr. Behrens was about the different being creative with AI and being creative by AI, where the "Creativity with AI" involves humans using AI as a tool or collaborator in their creative endeavors, whereas "Creativity by AI" involves AI systems independently creating creative content without human intervention. Although we invent something with the help of AI, the condensity of our creativitness will count.

Dr. Christian Rieck, Professor of Finance and Economic Theory, University of Applied Sciences, Frankfurt/Main completed the expert speaker list. Professor Rieck studied economics and business education at the Goethe University in Frankfurt, where he also obtained his PhD. In 1993, Professor Rieck published a textbook on game theory. His research focus is the digital future of the financial sector. Professor Rieck has been an author for the liberal-conservative online magazine Tichys Insight since 2016. In 2019 he started the YouTube channel Prof. Dr. Christian Rieck with topics of game theory. Most of the videos deal with game-theoretical interpretations of political issues. This is how the Wirecard scandal was interpreted with the prisoner's dilemma. His key message during his speech was how to predict the future and cheating with chatGPT.

After listening to the valuable speeches from the above speakers, all attendances (who are basically having different professional backgrounds) understood better how to start working with AI. Afterwards, the THM Business School had complemented the Alumni day with an AI Workshop, which provided us a quick insight and a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience and knowledge with AI tools, frameworks, and datasets that can be immediately applied in one's work or future research. Stefano Cevenini, the chairman oft he MBA Alumni association, concluded the afternoon by taking us to the Frankfurt Main River to go for a Boat Trip. Lastly, the night was ended with the wonderful dinner at a traditional Appelwoi Kneipe in Sachsenhausen.

To reflect on the weekend, AI is not just a technology; it has become a transformative force that has the potential to reshape various aspects of work and life. AI serves as a reminder of the necessity of lifelong learning, not just in terms of AI itself but also in understanding its applications and implications. Embracing a mindset of continuous learning is crucial for both personal and professional development in a world where AI is increasingly integrated into various aspects of our lives. We would like to thank to THM Business School and THM MBA Alumni Association to provide such useful event for all of us to keep us learning and to keep us growing.

//Aticle by Ketut Adnyana
//Photos by Jan Freidank