GSB Yearbook
The Gordon School of Business (GSB) is the educational branch of the Swiss Institute of Artificial Intelligence (SIAI). While SIAI now serves as a hub for global conferences and high-level research, GSB continues the Institute’s original educational mission: training the next generation of thinkers capable of applying deep statistical reasoning to real-world complexity. This Yearbook offers a rare glimpse into that mission in action—not through official reports or faculty summaries, but through the voices of the students themselves.
A Window Into Transformation
From the outset, GSB’s intent in producing this Yearbook was simple yet ambitious: to let students tell the story of how their thinking has evolved over the course of their studies. We hoped to capture a vibrant mosaic of personal growth—moments of struggle, breakthroughs, and even the emotional highs and lows that inevitably accompany rigorous academic training.
In reality, many students responded with something more restrained. Rather than dramatic narratives, they chose quiet reflection, focusing on the substance of their dissertations and the precision of their methods. To some, this may seem understated. Yet to those familiar with the transformation our students undergo, these reserved voices speak volumes. Their very restraint signals a maturity born of rigorous training: an ability to think deeply, write clearly, and ground ideas in evidence rather than flourish.
Beyond Code and Models
One common misconception about our program is that it produces graduates armed solely with lines of code and algorithms. This Yearbook aims to challenge that view. The public often equates “artificial intelligence” with mystical black-box technologies. What our students discover, and what these pages reveal, is that AI at its core is computational statistics—tools and frameworks that unlock patterns in data and transform how we understand the world.
By the end of the program, students move beyond chasing models for their own sake. They learn to ask deeper questions: What is the cause behind this pattern? How does this insight translate into real-world impact? How can rigorous theory coexist with the messy realities of human systems? The diversity of topics in this Yearbook—spanning finance, health, policy, and beyond—reflects not only the breadth of AI’s applications but also the versatility of the thinkers GSB aims to cultivate.
The School’s Philosophy
GSB is founded on the motto Rerum cognoscere causas—“to seek the causes of things.” This principle runs through every lecture, seminar, and case study. Our teaching begins with theory: statistical frameworks, mathematical reasoning, and computational rigor. But theory alone is never enough. Students are challenged to apply their knowledge to real-world data, confront ambiguous problems, and produce outcomes that are both scientifically robust and practically relevant.
This philosophy shapes a particular kind of graduate. Our alumni are not limited to any single industry or role; they are versatile minds who can move seamlessly between disciplines, bridging technical insight and strategic thinking. In an era where data touches every domain, this breadth is not optional—it is essential.
Reading the Yearbook
As you read this Yearbook, you will notice that the tone is often modest. These are not glossy marketing pieces. They are personal reflections on work that was, for many students, the most demanding intellectual challenge of their lives. Some entries may feel technical; others may feel restrained. But beneath the surface lies something remarkable: evidence of how much their thought processes have changed.
A student who once saw AI as code now sees it as a lens for understanding reality. A student who once sought quick answers now wrestles with root causes. A student who once worked in isolation now frames their work in conversation with society. These subtle shifts mark the true success of GSB’s educational model.
A Quiet Invitation
In sharing this Yearbook, we do not simply showcase dissertations or celebrate milestones. We invite you—whether you are an academic, an industry professional, or simply curious—to witness the growth of minds in motion. This is what a year of intense study at GSB produces: not just technical skill, but a way of thinking that endures long after the program ends.
We hope you read these pages not only for their content, but for what they represent: a generation of students who have learned, in their own quiet ways, to seek the causes of things.
