AI Economy 2400-ZEWW972

The digital revolution transforms not only technologies but also the foundations of the contemporary economy. The course provides an accessible introduction to the mechanisms of this transformation: from datafication and platformization to artificial intelligence, digital business models, and shifting value chains. Students will explore both theoretical frameworks and the latest empirical data from DELab UW research and global literature.
Prof. Katarzyna Śledziewska, director of DELab UW, has been researching the impact of digital innovations on the economy for over a decade, providing participants with valuable insights and practical experiences.

Course objectives:

Understanding the fundamentals of the digital economy and its distinctiveness from the industrial economy.

Mastering key concepts: datafication, AI-first, platformization, digital business models.

Analyzing the impact of new technologies on productivity, labor markets, globalization, and consumer behavior.

Developing skills to critically assess public policies and corporate strategies in the digital age.

Course outline:
Technological revolution 4.0

Foundational and intensifying technologies

Combinatorial innovations

Cloud computing, IoT, AI, and robotics as pillars of digital transformation

What is the digital economy?

From digitalization to datafication

Data as a new factor of production

Challenges in measuring the digital economy

How markets change?

Digital platforms: definitions, mechanisms, network effects

New business models and monopolization threats

Regulatory challenges of platforms

How production changes?

Industry 4.0: technologies, processes, organization

Personalization, servitization, and platformization in production

Logistics and distribution 4.0

How work changes?

Automation and digital work environments

Gig economy, app-based employment

Future scenarios for work and digital competencies

How consumption changes?

New consumption subjects and information goods

Personalization, platformization, trust, and reputation

Collaborative consumption and smart cities

How the state changes?

E-government and data-driven governance

The state’s role as regulator and innovator

Digital sovereignty and AI policies

How globalization changes?

E-commerce and new trade barriers

Digital fragmentation and new technological alliances

Geopolitics of data and digital regionalism

The course draws from current academic research and practical experiences, including findings from projects such as AI4Retail (retail sector transformation) and studies on digitalization in hospitality and gastronomy, as well as methodologies from the EDIH project on corporate digital maturity mapping. Prof. Śledziewska, who directs DELab UW (Digital Economy Lab), an interdisciplinary research center, ensures students gain both theoretical knowledge and practical insights into the real challenges of digital technology implementation in the economy, politics, and business.