Ideas Made to Matter
What executives need to know about AI
To truly reap the benefits of artificial intelligence, executives need an understanding of how AI systems operate and what they do well.
Oct 21, 2024
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Eric So
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Eric So is the Sloan Distinguished Professor of Global Economics and Behavioral Science and Professor, Global Economics and Management at MIT Sloan, where he studies how human nature and technology interact with incentives to shape decision making and market outcomes. A tenured full professor, he is a member of both the Global Economics and Management group and the Behavioral and Policy Sciences area at the MIT Sloan School of Management.
So leads several AI-focused initiatives at MIT, serving as Faculty CoDirector for the AI Executive Academy and Lead Faculty for the MIT Sloan Generative AI Hub for Teaching and Learning. His current research portfolio spans interconnected topics including artificial intelligence (AI), behavioral economics, human-computer interactions, and regulatory policy. Across these roles and domains, his work seeks to bridge the gap between academic research and real-world application, combining rigorous scientific analysis with practical observations from the field.
So joined MIT in 2012 after earning his PhD from Stanford University's Graduate School of Business and master's degree in economics from Cornell University. His earlier work on information processing and market efficiency is documented in his book Alphanomics: The Informational Underpinnings of Market Efficiency. An award-winning educator recognized for excellence in teaching and leadership, he currently teaches courses on AI applications in business and investment decisions and serves as Faculty Chair of MIT Sloan's PhD program.
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Featured Publication
"Box Jumping: Portfolio Recompositions to Achieve Higher Morningstar Ratings."Cohen, Lauren, David S. Kim, and Eric C. So, Working Paper. November 2024.
"Conflicts of Interest in Subscriber-Paid Credit Ratings."
Bonsall, Samuel B., Jacquelyn Gillette, Gabriel Pundrich, and Eric C. So. Journal of Accounting and Economics. Forthcoming. SSRN.
"The Fiscal Frontier: Projecting AI’s Long-term Impact on the US Fiscal Outlook."
Harris, Ben, Neil R. Mehrotra, and Eric C. So, Working Paper. October 2024. Brookings Center on Regulation and Markets Working Paper.
"Odd Lots & Optics: Manipulation in Response to Scrutiny."
Charles Downing, Bradford (Lynch) Levy, Matthew A. Phillips, Eric C. So, MIT Sloan Working Paper 7070-24. Cambridge, MA: MIT Sloan School of Management, July 2024.
"Flight-to-Earnings: The Role of Earnings in Periods of Capital Scarcity."
Guest, Nicholas, M., S.P. Kothari, and Eric C. So. Management Science Vol. 69, No. 8 (2023): 4908-4931. SSRN Preprint.
"Losing is Optional: Retail Option Trading and Expected Announcement Volatility."
de Silva, Tim, Kevin Smith, and Eric C. So, MIT Sloan Working Paper 6944-22. Cambridge, MA: MIT Sloan School of Management, June 2023.
Recent Insights
Ideas Made to Matter
MIT Sloan’s new courses focus on AI, analytics, climate
MIT Sloan students have the opportunity to study generative AI management, analytics for digital platforms, and global energy economies in 2024 – 2025.
Sep 11, 2024
Media Highlights
Press
The Washington Post
Why your job may face a double threat if the economy sours
With new reports suggesting that the U.S. economy will probably slow this year, economists and AI experts say more businesses may speed up AI use to cut costs, generate revenue and boost worker productivity. That could lead to more-rapid adoption but also downsides, including job losses and consumer harms. "Economic downturns spur you to do more," said professor Eric So. "There's a lot of focus on what we can do and not enough questions like 'Should we do that?' and 'Is it being done in a safe way?'"
Press
The Washington Post
Americans worry AI is coming for these jobs
"Once you get a sense of agentic AI's capabilities and where they're heading, this is truly a profound societal change."
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Financial Times
Business schools ease their resistance to AI
"It's quite difficult to design assignments that can be done without AI. I suspect much of our curriculum will be redesigned from the ground up."
Press
Fortune
How much do aspiring CEOs really need to know about AI? More than they think
"There is no substitute for hands-on experience," said professor Eric So.
Executive Education
Executive Education Course
AI Executive Academy
An exciting collaboration between MIT's Sloan School of Management and Schwarzman College of Computing, this immersive, two-week program on campus dives deep into both the technical and business aspects of artificial intelligence, providing a comprehensive understanding of AI's impact across industries. The program will bridge the gap between AI technology and business leadership through practical, hands-on learning experiences, ensuring participants can apply AI strategies effectively in their organizations.
- Oct 28-Nov 8, 2024
- Sep 8-19, 2025
- Apr 7-18, 2025