Karthik Babu Nattamai Kannan

I am an Assistant Professor of IT and Operations Management at Southern Methodist University's Cox School of Business. My research primarily investigates the societal and enterprise-level impacts of digitization and artificial intelligence, with a special focus on marginalized groups and underserved communities. At the societal level, I explore how digital technologies influence social and economic inequalities, working with organizations like the FCC and NTIA to inform policy initiatives aimed at bridging the digital divide. My work on education investigates the impact of digital and non-digital supplemental learning products, emphasizing the potential for mitigating digital inequality and enhancing educational equity.

At the enterprise level, my research explores how business leaders can leverage AI and analytics to optimize operations and enhance decision-making. I have ongoing projects that examine the use of generative AI tools in software development, focusing on how these tools affect both productivity and long-term software quality. Additionally, I have extensive experience collaborating with the cultural sector to study the effects of digitization, such as the impact of work-from-home trends on consumer behavior in the performing arts. My diverse research interests reflect my commitment to advancing both the theory and practical application of digital technologies in various sectors of society.

I have been recognized for my contributions to research and teaching with several prestigious awards. I received the C. Jackson Grayson Endowed Faculty Innovation Award from the Cox School of Business for excellence in teaching, and was nominated by students for the "Honoring Our Professors' Excellence" award in 2023. I have also been a Donna Wilhelm Research Fellow at SMU DataArts, where I studied the impact of digitization and AI/ML in the U.S. cultural sector. Additionally, I received a grant from the Marketing Science Institute to support my research on the performing arts industry.