Can Machines Make Us Better Problem-Solvers?

Can artificial intelligence make us better creators, innovators, and problem-solvers? This spring, CMU’s Tepper School of Business Executive Education is hosting Design Thinking with AI, a new course that explores how human ingenuity and machine intelligence can combine to tackle today’s most complex challenges and create groundbreaking human-driven solutions.

What if artificial intelligence didn't just automate tasks but helped us think more creatively, solve problems, and uncover insights we struggle to see? The potential of AI and human collaboration to reshape how we tackle challenges is extraordinary. Harnessing this potential requires a new mindset that embraces innovative thinking beyond solely relying on tools.

Over two days, Design Thinking with AI teaches professionals the empathetic, user-focused approach of Design Thinking with the data-driven power of AI.

Why Design Thinking and AI are the Perfect Pair

Imagine using AI to uncover hidden customer pain points in a sea of data, then applying Design Thinking to craft solutions that truly resonate. Picture rapid prototyping with AI-powered tools that provide real-time feedback, allowing you to refine and improve your ideas faster and open up new possibilities for innovation.

The future of global competition will hinge on creative talent rather than access to AI. This underscores the growing need to pair AI's capabilities with human-centered approaches like Design Thinking to remain competitive.

What You’ll Gain

This course is designed to be both actionable and thought-provoking. Through hands-on sessions, you will:

• Uncover Root Causes: Use AI-driven data analysis to explore challenges at a deeper level.
• Generate Breakthrough Ideas: Get creative and pair brainstorming with AI tools.
• Prototype and Test Smarter: Leverage AI for rapid iteration, predictive feedback, and evidence-based adjustments.
• Overcome Bias and Expand Perspectives: Use AI to surface hidden biases and incorporate a wider range of insights, ensuring solutions reflect diverse perspectives—not just those in the room.

This course challenges you to balance individual creativity, team collaboration, and machine intelligence. Individual thinking sparks bold ideas, collaboration refines them, and AI uncovers patterns, generates insights, and highlights hidden biases. By learning when and how to integrate these approaches, you will develop a hybrid thinking practice that drives innovation and ensures inclusive, meaningful outcomes.

Why Now?

Whether you are an executive navigating organizational transformation or an entrepreneur seeking an edge, understanding the intersection of human-AI collaboration is no longer optional—it’s essential.

By the end of this course, you will leave with more than new skills; you will leave with the know-how to apply Design Thinking and AI to your unique challenges and be equipped to lead innovation with confidence.

Are You Ready?

If you are ready to lead human-AI collaboration, Design Thinking with AI at the Tepper School of Business Executive Education will change how you think, create, and solve problems.

Course Dates: February 27-28, 2025
Location: Tepper School of Business Executive Education, Carnegie Mellon University

Explore our program page to learn more and secure your spot.