MAS ETH in AI and Digital Technology  

Organisations are changing rapidly to become more digital. With this transformation come both new challenges and new opportunities. Businesses must build interdisciplinary teams to transform software, networks and digital technologies into business applications and platforms. In offering services, companies must also manage significant concerns such as protecting privacy and avoiding bias while using artificial intelligence. Managers without any formal training in these areas need to make critical resource allocation and operational decisions that can have significant impacts on the company’s profits and competitiveness. The risks and rewards of this decision making have never been higher. This is where the MAS in AI and Digital Technology comes in.

The MAS in AI and Digital Technology (MAS AID) is a targeted technical programme designed for managers who want a better understanding of machine learning, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and other digital technologies that are rapidly transforming their industry. The aim of the MAS AID is to improve their ability to communicate and collaborate with technology teams and to advance their careers in an increasingly digital world.

The concept is the “Reverse MBA”, which provides essential science and technology competencies to business managers with no previous formal training in these areas, similar to how traditional MBAs provide business and management skills to scientists and engineers.

For more information about the MAS AID, please visit the programme webpage.  

Programme structure

The MAS AID is divided into two parts. The first part consists of three CAS programmes that can be followed independently or as part of the MAS. Each CAS provides science and technology fundamentals in a different area of computer science. The fundamentals are necessary to prepare participants for the more advanced material covered later and, therefore, all three CAS must be completed before starting the second half of the MAS programme.

The second part consists of an in-depth AI Project, Cyber Security courses, and seminars covering areas such as the latest research and industry developments, ethics, industry challenges (e.g. explainable AI), industry opportunities and other relevant issues. These courses run concurrently over a six month period. After this, participants write a thesis on a topic of their choice developed in consultation with a thesis supervisor, typically an ETH professor or researcher/lecturer.

A detailed explanation of each CAS is available by visiting the CAS webpage:

• CAS in Data and Machine Learning
• CAS in AI and Software Development
• CAS in Cloud and Mobile Computing

For more information about the MAS programme, participant profile, how to apply, etc., please visit the MAS in AI and Digital Technology website.  

Note: the curriculum is reviewed every year to ensure continuous improvement and relevance. As such, the programme content may vary from year to year, especially for the seminar topics.