Introduction to Benjamin Manning
Benjamin Manning is a PhD candidate at the MIT Sloan School of Management. He is researching how to design and evaluate artificial intelligence agents that act on behalf of people, and how their behavior shapes markets and institutions.
Background and Education
Manning received a master’s degree in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School and a bachelor’s in mathematics from Washington University in St. Louis. After working as a research assistant, he knew he wanted to pursue an academic career. He chose MIT for his PhD because "there’s no better place in the world to study economics and computer science than MIT."
Research Focus
Manning’s research investigates how to design artificial intelligence agents that understand human preferences and make decisions on their behalf. He is also exploring how well AI systems can simulate human responses, with the goal of radically improving and accelerating social scientific discovery. This could enable researchers to test millions of behavioral simulations in minutes, rapidly prototyping experimental designs and identifying promising research directions before investing in costly human studies.
The Future of Work
For Manning, the future of work means not only understanding how AI acts on our behalf but also using AI to amplify human insight. He envisions a future where scientists can focus on asking better questions, developing theory, and interpreting results while AI handles the computational heavy lifting. This could lead to a world where the pace of understanding gets much closer to the speed of economic change.
Career Goals
After receiving his PhD, Manning hopes to secure a faculty position at a business school and do the same type of work that MIT Sloan professors do every day. He is excited about the prospect of contributing to the field of economics and AI and making a meaningful impact.
MIT Sloan Experience
Manning says that his experience at MIT Sloan has been incredibly rewarding. He has learned a lot in a short amount of time and has been given the tools to do novel research in economics and AI. He is grateful for the opportunity to study at MIT and is excited about the future.
Conclusion
Benjamin Manning’s research and career goals are focused on understanding the impact of AI on the future of work and using AI to improve social scientific discovery. His experience at MIT Sloan has prepared him well for his future career, and he is excited about the prospect of making a meaningful contribution to the field of economics and AI.
FAQs
Q: What is Benjamin Manning’s research focus?
A: Manning’s research investigates how to design artificial intelligence agents that understand human preferences and make decisions on their behalf.
Q: What is the goal of Manning’s research?
A: The goal of Manning’s research is to radically improve and accelerate social scientific discovery by using AI to simulate human responses and test millions of behavioral simulations in minutes.
Q: What does Manning hope to do after receiving his PhD?
A: Manning hopes to secure a faculty position at a business school and do the same type of work that MIT Sloan professors do every day.
Q: What has been Manning’s experience like at MIT Sloan?
A: Manning’s experience at MIT Sloan has been incredibly rewarding, and he has learned a lot in a short amount of time.
