AdGazer, co-developed by Michel Wedel at the University of Maryland’s Smith School, uses AI and eye-tracking data to predict ad attention. It outperforms leading vision models by analyzing ads and context to optimize placement and increase brand engagement.

In competitive workplaces, implementing AI by replicating the skills of top-performing employees can demotivate those star performers, potentially leading to lower overall firm productivity unless managers “dumb down” the AI or roll it out selectively.

AI-powered “vibe coding” is reshaping business education, enabling app development through natural language prompts. At the University of Maryland’s Smith School, marketing professor Wendy Moe taught MBA students to use AI tools to build near-launch-ready applications in fall 2025.

A new Smith course at Universities at Shady Grove equips undergraduates with practical AI skills through simulations and free Google Coursera training, blending marketing, accounting and management to prepare students for data-driven decision-making and the future job market careers nationwide.

Smith associate professor Sean Cao, co-founder and director of the Smith AI Initiative for Capital Market Research, received two best paper awards for research showing how humans and artificial intelligence work together to improve stock analysis and corporate disclosure in capital markets.

The University of Maryland’s Smith School of Business renamed four graduate programs to emphasize artificial intelligence and human ingenuity, highlighting experiential learning and responsible AI. Leaders say the changes strengthen curricula, prepare graduates to lead innovation, and reinforce Smith’s role.

UMD’s MSIS capstone linked 20 student teams with 17 clients across industries, advancing AI-powered solutions. Projects like food-rescue and microloan platforms showcased hands-on innovation, mentorship, and purpose—proving the program’s power to transform students into impactful technology leaders.

A student-led team at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business created STRATPATH AI, an experiential learning platform that uses artificial intelligence to simulate interviews, automate case grading and provide real-time feedback to better prepare students for careers.

The Robert H. Smith School of Business hosted AI Lightning Talks on Oct. 23, 2025, featuring 15 faculty and PhD presenters sharing fast-paced insights into recent AI research topics, from healthcare and entrepreneurship to generative AI and visual design.

University of Maryland professors Dave Waguespack and Evan Starr developed “Making Better Business Decisions with Data,” a course teaching undergraduates causal inference and AI-aided data analysis for strategic decision-making, preparing them for graduate studies, internships, and data-driven careers.