Anand Rao, PhD, MBA

Dr. Anand Rao is a Distinguished Service Professor of Applied Data Science and AI at Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy.12 He has over 35 years of experience in research, innovation, and applications of data analytics and artificial intelligence across consulting, industry, and academia.2

Key aspects of Dr. Rao's career and expertise include:

1. Academic roles:

   • Currently teaches courses on Operationalizing AI, Responsible AI, Applications of LLM, and Agent-Based Models & Digital Twins at Carnegie Mellon University.1
   • Adjunct Professor at BITS Pilani's APPCAIR AI Center.1

2. Industry experience:

   • Former Global Artificial Intelligence Leader for PwC.13
   • Led teams advising C-level executives on AI implementation across various sectors.1

3. Research interests:

   • Operationalizing AI, responsible AI, systems thinking, ROI of AI, agent-based models, digital twins, behavioral economics, and human decision-making.12

4. Education:

   • PhD from University of Sydney (1988).12
   • MBA from Melbourne Business School (1997, with Award of Distinction).12

5. Publications and recognition:

   • Co-edited four books on Intelligent Agents.1
   • Published over 50 papers in Computer Science and AI journals and conferences.1
   • Authored over 100 articles in business and trade press.1
   • Received numerous awards, including the Most Influential Paper Award for the Decade in 2007.1

6. Current roles:

   • Venture Partner at Golden Sparrow, an early-stage VC fund.1
   • Strategic Advisor at Innospark Ventures.1
   • Advisory Board member for various organizations, including Oxford University's Institute for Ethics in AI and World Economic Forum's Global AI Council.1

Dr. Rao's expertise spans both the technical and business aspects of AI, making him a prominent figure in the field of applied data science and artificial intelligence.23