FAIRFIELD — Business professors from Fairfield University’s Dolan School of Business have launched a podcast designed to help listeners make sense of artificial intelligence.
The AI4U Podcast, hosted by Jie Tao, associate professor of business analytics and director of the AI and Technology Institute at Fairfield University’s Charles F. Dolan School of Business, provides listeners with an ongoing guide to mastering AI for real-world results.
Guided by the Jesuit Catholic values of Fairfield University, the AI and Technology Institute focuses on “AI for the Greater Good,” striving to deliver socially impactful AI and analytics research while expanding opportunities for students and faculty to learn, apply, and innovate.
In Tao’s first episode, “The End of Prompt and Pray,” produced alongside Philip Maymin, PhD, associate professor of analytics at Fairfield Dolan, the hosts discuss how to transform AI from a novelty into a reliable, high-performing professional assistant. They introduce the concept of the “AI job brief” framework and examine how structured prompts can lead to more effective outcomes.
Upcoming guests will highlight powerful AI applications shaping the future of work and everyday life.
AI4U is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. To listen to current and upcoming episodes, visit AI4U on Podbean.
Upcoming AI and Technology Institute Events
Nov. 8
In addition to the podcast launch, Fairfield Dolan’s AI and Technology Institute will host a two-part AI Workshop Series, beginning Friday, Nov. 8, which is open to the public. The workshop — Stop Getting Generic Results: A Leader’s Playbook for Mastering AI – A Two-Part Workshop Series — will offer hands-on opportunities to explore emerging AI tools and applications for both business and everyday use. Learn more or register at: events.fairfield.edu/event/dolanaiworkshop.
Nov. 13
Community members are also invited to attend AI Unpacked: Understanding the Technology Transforming Our World, part of the University’s Campus Connect speaker series, on Thursday, Nov. 13, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Fairfield University Store, 1499 Post Road, Fairfield. This event is free and open to the public.
Hosted by Anca Micu, PhD, senior associate dean of the Dolan School of Business, and Tommy Xie, PhD, associate professor in the College of Arts and Sciences, this interactive event will demystify AI, exploring:
- What AI is and how it extends beyond tools like ChatGPT
- How it can be applied to daily life and business
- Ethical considerations around AI governance and data collection
Micu will also discuss her new book, AI Made Simple: Copy and Paste Guides for Everyday Tasks, which provides ready-to-use prompts to make everyday AI applications accessible and efficient.
The Campus Connect series brings together Fairfield’s campus and local community for monthly topical conversations led by university and town experts in the newly renovated second-story gathering space at the downtown bookstore.
