MSc Management students had the opportunity to learn about the impacts of advancing computing in a recent masterclass delivered by Dr Eva-Maria Hempe, Executive Director Public Sector EMEA at NVIDIA. 

The class, Accelerating Computing in the Age of AI, was hosted by UCL School of Management. Dr Hempe discussed the concept of ‘accelerating computing’, where devices use multiple processors to work on several calculations at once, instead of sequentially, solving very complex problems faster and more efficiently. 

Dr Hempe also introduced the concept of the ‘AI Factory’ to the students. Unlike traditional software, which is coded and built once and then used or sold repeatedly, AI requires continuous computing to produce results. The class discussed the Jevons Paradox, where making something more efficient increases its demand. In the case of AI, which makes intelligence cheaper, demand will increase and computing resources in settings such as hospitals needs to increase to cope with demand. 

UCL School of Management Professor Magda Hercheui, who organised the event, said: “Dr Eva-Maria Hempe brings to the classroom not only the past experience but also the perspective on how the industry is forecasting the development of AI.” 

Alex Simpson, MSc Management student, said: “The presentation was extremely insightful. It helped me gain a deeper understanding of what NVIDIA does and how we, as students and future managers, can work with AI. The class demystified the fears around AI, showing we can work alongside it rather than be replaced by it.”