“Introduction to AI Entrepreneurship” Lecture in the First Half of the Fall Semester

2023.07.01　　written by　AIC Office

The “Introduction to AI Entrepreneurship” lecture was offered in the first half of the fall semester.

In recent years, startups utilizing generative AI, as exemplified by ChatGPT, have made a huge impact on society. As these technologies are expected to change society in the future, it can be said that we are now in the era of “AI entrepreneurship,” which would involve not only learning AI but also its real-life implementation.

In this course, as an introduction to AI entrepreneurship, participants listened to anecdotes of successful entrepreneurs and student entrepreneurs, and groups broke off to discuss what kind of business opportunities exist by utilizing AI. In addition, participants were given points to keep in mind when starting a business and the pitfalls to avoid. Although time was limited, the participants seemed to enjoy the brainstorming of new business ideas.

A reception was also held for the participants of the course, where they were joined by AIC Representative Takahiro Yakoh, Project Professor Shigeki Ishikawa, Project Associate Professor Mari Kobayashi, and entrepreneurs who are active in the forefront of the business world. The relaxed atmosphere provided an opportunity for participants to network, and they also enjoyed sharing exciting new ideas. We look forward to continuing this kind of casual exchange in the future.

Comments from a student participant of this course (Karen Murakami, third-year student in the Faculty of Business and Commerce)

I am a third-year university student, and I participated in the “Introduction to AI Entrepreneurship” course in order to think about my future prospects from a broader perspective, by not restricting myself to only the conventional employment route but also by considering the option of starting a business. It was a very good opportunity for me to think deeply about my career path as I prepare to embark on job hunting activities.

The workshop also focused on entrepreneurship using AI technology, and it was fascinating to hear firsthand accounts from entrepreneurs who have actually achieved success in today’s business environment. I learned a lot from the experiences of the three speakers, including their ideas, challenges, and difficulties in starting a business, as well as their specific strategies and mental preparedness.

In addition, the process of coming up with AI-based business ideas through group work was not merely a theoretical exercise, but also a great opportunity to cultivate practical skills to create an actual business and deepen ideas from various perspectives. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the organizers for providing us with such an invaluable opportunity.

Lecture by Reina Yamamoto

Lecture by Urara Takaseki

Group presentations by students

Group photo from the Introduction to AI Entrepreneurship reception

Ryuichi Suzuki, Instructor in charge of Introduction to AI Entrepreneurship
Kanata Takayasu, TA, Introduction to AI Entrepreneurship