AI beyond the hype

MIT’s Daniel Huttenlocher on why small experiments, human-AI collaboration, and cultural change are key to unlocking AI’s true potential

At the 2025 MIT AI Conference, Daniel Huttenlocher, dean of MIT’s Schwarzman College of Computing and Amazon board member, laid out a practical AI roadmap for business leaders. His core message: Don’t just adopt AI - experiment with it, understand its limitations, and integrate it thoughtfully with human decision-making to drive meaningful innovation.

Key takeaways

• Start small, then scale: Businesses don’t need massive upfront investments. Begin with small AI experiments, learn from them, and double down on what works - success builds over time.
• GenAI ≠ autonomous agent: Today’s generative AI models are impressive but not yet reliable for complex task execution. More progress is needed to make scalable, autonomous AI agents.
• AI doesn’t think like humans: AI doesn’t reason the way people do. Especially in regulated sectors like healthcare, AI should support - not replace - human decision-making.
• Culture shift is crucial: Successful AI deployment requires not just technical upgrades but organizational culture change, emphasizing cross-functional collaboration between tech and business teams.
• AI is a tool, not a moral agent: Avoid extreme narratives. AI isn’t inherently good or bad - outcomes depend on how thoughtfully it’s developed and applied. A balanced, attentive approach is key.

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