28.11.2024 | School of Business

Generative AI for Business – a great module that perfectly combined theory and practice

The module “Generative AI for Business”, which is open to all business students, introduces generative AI technologies and their application in the business world. Students learn how generative AI can contribute to solving real business problems, from automating tasks to creating new business models.

We talked to Polina Kröning and Sara Afzalinia, two students who joined the module and absolutely loved it.

Sara Afzalinia

What did you like most about the Generative AI for Business module?

Sara: I liked the most how the module was structured, it combined theory and practice. After short inputs we were able to try it out by ourselves and create what we personally wanted. It wasn’t just listening but active doing.

Polina: Exactly. We gained useful insights into what generative AI means for the business world and got to work on a real project at the same time. We also had the chance to interact with a Google Cloud expert, Simon Paradissis, who told us about his work in this area and gave us advice for our projects.

Polina Kröning

Can you tell us about the project you worked on in this module?

Sara: Our assignment was to build an AI agent that could be used in a business case of our choice. Polina and I decided to build a healthcare AI assistant (that we called WellBee) for our project. It would evaluate symptoms and suggest a possible diagnosis in the form of a conversation. We also set out to make WellBee a useful resource for patients, providing information about diseases and medications, helping them manage their medication schedules and doctor's appointments, and acting as a location finder.

Polina: For me, the most exciting part was the creation process. We had the freedom to choose any content for our agents and we really built something of our own, putting a lot of care into the project. At the end of the module, we were even sad that it was over so quickly because we really enjoyed the process and wanted to keep working on it.

Other groups also completed amazing projects, including an agent to assist with language learning, an AI food advisor for individuals with dietary restrictions, an insurance agent, and more. I was impressed by the quality of the projects and the fact that they were completed in a single week. I believe it demonstrates that we were all very enthusiastic about working on such a project.

How will what you learned in this module help you in the future?

Polina: Generative AI is a huge topic nowadays. Businesses around the world are investing in AI development, and this is a trend that is here to stay. I am certain that the insights from this module will be of great use to me in the future. Furthermore, it showed me how I can use this new knowledge in practice.

Sara: I learned exactly how companies and organisations use generative AI. I finally understood how it works, how it’s built and how to teach it what you want it to do.

How did this module show you the use of AI in business?

Sara: Using exactly the same platforms as they do in the industry and talking to a Google employee, it was very easy to understand how it’s being used in the business field.

Polina: This module is practice-oriented and showed me an effective way of using AI in business. It demonstrated how I can be a creator, not just a consumer.

What advice would you give to future students considering enrolling in the Generative AI for Business module?

Polina: Just do it. If you are interested in AI, you will definitely enjoy this module. And most importantly: have no fear. I personally also had my doubts about taking this module since I didn't have any experience with AI and had very limited knowledge about it. But it turned out to be one of my favourite modules so far and I can only recommend it further.

Sara: I agree. I would also suggest thinking about what kind of AI agent you would like to create in advance. This saves you time and enables you to start quicker with your project!