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HBR Guide to AI Basics for Managers
AI is ready for business. Are you ready for AI?
From financial modeling and product design to performance management and hiring decisions, AI and machine learning are becoming everyday tools for managers at businesses of all sizes. But AI systems come with benefits and downsides—and if you can't make sense of them, you're not going to make the right decisions.
Whether you need to get up to speed quickly or need a refresher, or you're working with an AI expert for the first time, the HBR Guide to AI Basics for Managers will give you the information and skills you need to succeed.
You'll learn how
Understand key AI terms and conceptsRecognize which of your projects would benefit from AIWork more effectively with your data teamHire the right AI vendors and consultantsDeal with ethical risks before they ariseScale AI across your organization
Arm yourself with the advice you need to succeed on the job, with the most trusted brand in business. Packed with how-to essentials from leading experts, the HBR Guides provide smart answers to your most pressing work challenges.
From financial modeling and product design to performance management and hiring decisions, AI and machine learning are becoming everyday tools for managers at businesses of all sizes. But AI systems come with benefits and downsides—and if you can't make sense of them, you're not going to make the right decisions.
Whether you need to get up to speed quickly or need a refresher, or you're working with an AI expert for the first time, the HBR Guide to AI Basics for Managers will give you the information and skills you need to succeed.
You'll learn how
Understand key AI terms and conceptsRecognize which of your projects would benefit from AIWork more effectively with your data teamHire the right AI vendors and consultantsDeal with ethical risks before they ariseScale AI across your organization
Arm yourself with the advice you need to succeed on the job, with the most trusted brand in business. Packed with how-to essentials from leading experts, the HBR Guides provide smart answers to your most pressing work challenges.
230 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 10, 2023
75 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 26, 2025
I should have checked the date before starting this book - 2023. It desperately needs an update and I stopped reading it about 1/4 of the way through. So much has happened in AI since the book came out, that it just feels fluffy and not relevant.
Normally, I love HBR stuff. I had to do HBR case studies in graduate school (the first time around for my MBA in the 90's) and am having to look at them again for my Georgia Tech studies in the OMSA program. I also enjoy reading the HBR magazine when it comes out - the articles are timely, relevant, and professional. Harvard likes to package up articles and republish them as guidebooks, which is what I think this book is.
Not saying it's easy to write about AI in a way that doesn't get obsolete quickly, but many authors have done that - thinking of Ethan Mollick and his excellent book "Co-Intelligence" which came out in April 2024. It's aged well and he even mentions things like "AI is as bad as it ever will be" of course meaning that things change and should improve - and they indeed have in the past year (with regards to AI, that is).
So should read you read this? If someone gives you a copy for free, sure - skim it for some ideas. Like most of the HBR guides, this is simply a collection of shorter works. Each chapter stands on it's own merits. Should you buy it? Probably not - needs an update and you'd be better served by checking out other books and online articles. In fact, when I'm looking for books about AI I tend to sort by publish date - I just happened to forget to do that before checking this one out. So, I'm going to mark the book as "read" even though I didn't make it to the end. Maybe I'll pick it up again later, but probably not.
In fairness to HBR, the title does say "AI Basics" and so it's true to the title. You can skip this one.
Normally, I love HBR stuff. I had to do HBR case studies in graduate school (the first time around for my MBA in the 90's) and am having to look at them again for my Georgia Tech studies in the OMSA program. I also enjoy reading the HBR magazine when it comes out - the articles are timely, relevant, and professional. Harvard likes to package up articles and republish them as guidebooks, which is what I think this book is.
Not saying it's easy to write about AI in a way that doesn't get obsolete quickly, but many authors have done that - thinking of Ethan Mollick and his excellent book "Co-Intelligence" which came out in April 2024. It's aged well and he even mentions things like "AI is as bad as it ever will be" of course meaning that things change and should improve - and they indeed have in the past year (with regards to AI, that is).
So should read you read this? If someone gives you a copy for free, sure - skim it for some ideas. Like most of the HBR guides, this is simply a collection of shorter works. Each chapter stands on it's own merits. Should you buy it? Probably not - needs an update and you'd be better served by checking out other books and online articles. In fact, when I'm looking for books about AI I tend to sort by publish date - I just happened to forget to do that before checking this one out. So, I'm going to mark the book as "read" even though I didn't make it to the end. Maybe I'll pick it up again later, but probably not.
In fairness to HBR, the title does say "AI Basics" and so it's true to the title. You can skip this one.
February 3, 2023
Average Information
Although I did learn some information I was expecting to learn about specific tools we could use, more business cases explaining what tool was used, how it was implemented, the exact challenges found, the time it took etc. But instead of that the book talks about AI but in a general manner without going too deep.
Although I did learn some information I was expecting to learn about specific tools we could use, more business cases explaining what tool was used, how it was implemented, the exact challenges found, the time it took etc. But instead of that the book talks about AI but in a general manner without going too deep.
April 22, 2024
A rare HBR Book, which goes into the depth rather than being at a very high level.
It covers various aspects of AI, its impact and its benefits. Though not a very long book, it touches upon all the necessary details pertaining to AI. A good read overall.
It covers various aspects of AI, its impact and its benefits. Though not a very long book, it touches upon all the necessary details pertaining to AI. A good read overall.
January 11, 2024
This seemed to have a much more specific audience than the title implied.
June 24, 2025
It was a good read. Some chapters were pretty useful and interesting. Others were boring. Overall it gave a good idea about AI in a non technical way
May 22, 2024
“This means…you can’t do AI without machine learning, you can’t do machine learning without analytics, you can’t do analytics without data infrastructure”
AI> Machine Learning > Analytics > Data
AI> Machine Learning > Analytics > Data
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 17, 2025
I guess if you want a tour of all the surface ideas behind AI have a look at this book. It’s a collection of articles. It’s okay honestly but nothing great.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews