AI Month at Penn
Throughout April, we’re joining the University of Pennsylvania in celebrating Penn AI Month — a month-long, University-wide initiative featuring panels, workshops, lectures, and community events focused on human-centered AI.
On this page, you’ll find events, Insights, student spotlights, and innovative research from the Wharton AI & Analytics Initiative (WAIAI). From experiential learning programs like the Wharton Hack-AI-thon to industry collaborations with Accenture and cutting-edge AI research from Wharton faculty, explore the many ways WAIAI is advancing the future of AI in business, education, and research.
Industry & AI
The Wharton-Accenture Skills Index
As AI reshapes work, a skills-based economy is replacing traditional roles — but workers and educators are struggling to keep pace with what employers actually need.
On this season premiere episode of Where AI Works, host Matthew Bidwell, faculty director of Wharton People Analytics, is joined by James Crowley, global products industry practices chair at Accenture, and Eric Bradlow, vice dean of AI and analytics at Wharton, to unpack the findings of the Wharton-Accenture Skills Index. Drawing on millions of job postings and worker profiles, they discuss how AI is driving demand for specialized expertise and judgment while making generalized skills less valuable on their own. The bottom line: success increasingly depends not on what you know today, but how quickly you can build what you’ll need tomorrow.
AI Horizons Spring 2026 Season
Explore the evolving world of artificial intelligence with the AI Horizons Webinar Series, hosted by Wharton Human-AI Research. This series explores the latest AI research, applications, and industry trends, highlighting how emerging technologies are shaping the future of business.
Each episode features a range of expert voices, from Wharton faculty and leading academic researchers to authors of influential white papers, industry reports, and bestselling books. Whether unpacking new research or real-world use cases, each conversation offers a fresh perspective on the rapidly shifting AI landscape.
Featured AI Events
AI and the Future of Work Conference
May 20–21, 2026
Exploring AI’s impact on jobs, skills, productivity, and the evolving workplace.
Accountable AI Research Conference
February 6, 2026
Examining AI’s potential for impact on business practice and government actions.
Business & Generative AI Conference
September 4–5, 2025
Exchanging bold ideas on Gen AI’s impact on business models and economies.
Students & AI
Wharton Hack-AI-thon, presented by Expedia Group
The 2026 Wharton Hack-AI-thon, presented by Expedia Group is a dynamic, co-curricular program where Penn and Wharton students come together to explore the power of artificial intelligence through hands-on innovation. Taking place April 13–17, this event welcomes students of all skill levels — whether AI novices or seasoned tech enthusiasts — to develop practical solutions, learn from industry experts, and compete in teams of three to five members.
Last year’s winners, Team M&M’S, built Dyscover, an AI tool for identifying and addressing dyslexia, one of the most common and under-diagnosed learning challenges experienced by young people.
Wharton AI & Analytics Accelerator
The Wharton AI & Analytics Accelerator is an experiential learning program run by the Wharton AI & Analytics Initiative. A curated, multidisciplinary team of Wharton and Penn students — ranging from undergraduates to MBAs — works alongside a Wharton mentor and a company champion on an eight-week project to explore real-world business challenges using the company’s own datasets and the latest techniques in machine learning and AI.
The Khan Family AI for Business Award
The Khan Family AI for Business Award highlights student founders using technology to tackle real-world challenges. Additionally, this award helps accelerate student ideas beyond the classroom. Over the years, the award has supported startups working across industries, from financial technology and healthcare to robotics and supply chains, reflecting the expanding role of AI in business innovation. Several award recipients have gone on to gain national attention and attract investment as they scale their ideas.
Wharton High School Data Science Competition, presented by Google Gemini
Now in its third year, the Wharton High School Data Science Competition, presented by Google Gemini, is a free, two-month program that introduces students to team dynamics and real-world problem-solving through sports analytics. This global competition is school- and team-based and open to all current high school students.
This year’s competition theme centers on the exciting sport of ice hockey. Teams of high school students will crunch the numbers to rank teams, predict game outcomes, and explore ice hockey performance stats.
How Wharton Prepares Students to Lead in the Age of AI
As artificial intelligence continues to shape industries, careers, and daily life, students at the Wharton School have a unique opportunity to explore AI from a behavioral science perspective in the course AI in Our Lives. Taught by Stefano Puntoni, faculty co-director of Wharton Human-AI Research, this class examines the ways AI impacts individuals, organizations, and society, offering students a chance to critically assess both the benefits and risks of this rapidly evolving technology.
Research & AI
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