Artificial intelligence is transforming the way organizations research, analyze information, develop content, and make decisions. But knowing AI exists isn’t the same as knowing how to use it effectively.

This immersive Pitt Business workshop moves beyond AI hype to practical application. Through expert instruction, live demonstrations, and collaborative exercises, you will learn how to use AI to solve real business challenges and build reusable workflows that improve productivity and decision-making.

Working in a ready-made browser environment with mock business data, you will gain hands-on experience without worrying about software installation or technical setup. By the end of the workshop, you will build a working Brand-to-Market Co-pilot and leave with practical AI workflows you can immediately adapt to your own organization.

Register today and discover how AI can help you work smarter—not just faster.

Choose the Format That’s Right for You

Both workshops feature the same curriculum, demonstrations, and hands-on learning experience.

Live Online Workshop

Thursday, October 29, 2026
3:00–8:45 p.m. (ET)

Join from anywhere for a live, instructor-led virtual workshop featuring AI fundamentals, practical demonstrations, and real-world business applications.

Register for the Online Workshop →

In-Person Workshop

Friday, October 30, 2026
8:00 a.m.–3:45 p.m. (ET)

Spend the day learning alongside Pitt Business faculty and AI experts through interactive presentations, collaborative exercises, and hands-on problem solving.

Register for the In-Person Workshop →

Is This Workshop Right for You?

If you’ve ever thought…

• I have research but struggle to turn it into strategy.
• I know AI can generate content, but I want it to improve my thinking—not replace it.
• My organization wants to use AI, but I’m looking for practical applications rather than hype.
• We’re spending too much time recreating work that could become repeatable.
• I need to make faster marketing decisions without sacrificing quality or credibility.
• I want to leave with a working solution—not just another list of prompts.

You’re in the right place.

This workshop is designed to help professionals move from AI experimentation to practical implementation.

What You Will Learn

Throughout the workshop, you’ll discover how AI can support every stage of the decision-making process—from research and analysis to messaging, content creation, and automation.

You’ll learn how to:

• Understand the fundamentals of Large Language Models (LLMs) and AI automation.
• Use AI to support research, analysis, decision-making, and content development.
• Explore practical AI tools through live demonstrations.
• Build reusable workflows for audience research, positioning, messaging, and AI-ready content.
• Develop a working  Brand-to-Market Co-pilot with your team.
• Apply repeatable AI workflows to future business challenges.

What Makes This Workshop Different?

This isn’t another AI presentation.

It’s a hands-on experience that moves from AI fundamentals to practical application.

Throughout the day, Pitt Business faculty and industry experts will demonstrate AI in action while participants work collaboratively to build reusable AI components for:

• Audience research
• Positioning and messaging
• AI-ready content
• Repeatable business workflows

These components are then combined into a functioning  Brand-to-Market Co-pilot, giving participants both a practical AI tool and a portfolio of workflows they can continue using long after the workshop ends.

Who Should Attend?

This workshop is ideal for:

• Business leaders
• Managers and directors
• Operations professionals
• Marketing and communications professionals
• Analysts
• Researchers
• Faculty and staff
• Professionals looking to integrate AI into everyday business processes

No programming experience is required.

In-Person Workshop Agenda

Friday, October 30, 2026 | 8:00 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.

8:00–9:00 a.m.

AI Fundamentals & Tools for Discovery

Speaker: Akshaya Murthy

Understand the foundations of artificial intelligence and the rapid evolution of Large Language Models (LLMs).

Topics include:

• AI fundamentals
• The current AI landscape
• Discovery tools and emerging technologies
• Challenges and limitations of AI
• Global trends shaping AI adoption
• Selecting the right tools for the right business problem

What you’ll unlock: The skill concept itself plus a working reconciliation skill built from scratch, live, on the real stack.

9:00–9:30 a.m.

AI Agents & Custom Solutions

Speaker: Hongjun Ye

Learn why organizations are moving beyond chatbots toward AI agents and customized AI solutions.

Topics include:

• Why AI agents matter
• Choosing the appropriate AI tools
• Building customized workflows
• Practical demonstrations focused on “What’s In It For Me?” (WIIFM)
• Real examples of using AI to accomplish meaningful work

What you’ll unlock: When a skill should act vs. assist and how to make your skills agentic.

9:30–10:30 a.m.

Foundations of Data-Driven Marketing

Speaker: Kate Monoskey

Discover how AI is transforming the way organizations move from data to decisions.

Topics include:

• Data-informed decision making
• AI-supported marketing strategy
• Turning information into business insights
• Best practices for using AI in data-driven environments

What you’ll unlock: The Audience-Research skill — Co-pilot Step 1.

10:30–10:45 a.m.

Coffee Break

10:45–11:45 a.m.

AI Personas & Simulation

Speaker: Elena Rokou

Explore how AI can simulate a real audience, pressure-test your messaging, and sharpen your positioning before it ever reaches a customer.

Topics include:

• Creating AI personas that stand in for your target audience
• Multi-persona simulation to see how different segments react
• Testing positioning and messaging against synthetic audiences
• Forecasting how complex audiences respond at scale
• Packaging it all into a skill

What you’ll unlock: The Positioning & Messaging skill — Co-pilot Step 2.

11:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m.

AEO/GEO Optimization for AI Search

Speaker: Amy Mrazek

As search evolves beyond traditional SEO, learn how websites and content must adapt for AI-powered discovery.

Topics include:

• Foundations of AI-ready websites
• Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)
• Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)
• Content strategies for AI search
• Creating content that performs for both people and machines

What you’ll unlock: The AEO/GEO Content skill — Co-pilot Step 3.

12:45–1:45 p.m.

Working Lunch & Case Project Kickoff

During lunch, participants will:

• Review the day’s case project
• Discuss practical AI implementation strategies
• Form collaborative teams
• Prepare for the afternoon development session

You’ll receive the co-pilot scaffold and case brief, then assemble your three skills into a working co-pilot.

1:45–3:45 p.m.

Development of AI Solutions

Participants will work in teams to develop practical AI solutions using the concepts introduced throughout the workshop.

Teams will:

• Apply AI tools to real-world scenarios
• Solve practical business challenges
• Collaborate on AI implementation strategies
• Develop a working solution
• Present their proposed approach

The final deliverable is designed to demonstrate practical AI skills while creating a solution participants can adapt to strengthen their own organizations—or even their personal brand.