Learning and Using AI as Part of My Graduate School Journey

by Yashwanth Kotha '26, Data Science MS

From Learning AI to Using It Every Day

I started my MS in Data Science with a decent understanding of AI. I had studied it, worked with it, and felt comfortable around it. But being at UAlbany showed me how much deeper and more practical AI can get when applied to real-world problems. Moving from learning AI to integrating it into your everyday research and coursework is a different experience entirely.

Beyond the Trend

AI doesn’t feel like a passing trend anymore. It is already shaping how work gets done across fields like finance, healthcare, marketing, and even public policy. Understanding it gives you a genuine advantage. You are doing more than analyzing data when you use it. You are anticipating outcomes, optimizing processes, and making smarter, more strategic decisions.

That said, it can feel overwhelming at times. The field moves fast, and there is always something new to learn. But that ’is also what makes it exciting.

Integrated Across Departments

One thing I have noticed at UAlbany is that AI shows up across different departments, not just in technology courses. Professors are adding it to their classes in useful ways. Some have built it into assignments and asked us to reflect on how we used it. Others used it to generate discussion material or simulate real-world scenarios. The goal was never to replace thinking, but to strengthen it. That shift in perspective changed how I began using AI in my own work.

AI as a Research Tool

In my research, AI became more than just a tool. It helped with literature reviews, pattern recognition, drafting, and structuring arguments. The work became smoother and more thorough.

UAlbany provides solid support for this. The AI Plus Institute brings together students from business, public health, social sciences, and more. The library has staff dedicated to AI-assisted research methods, along with access to computing resources for working with larger datasets. This interdisciplinary approach matters because AI is not limited to tech roles anymore. It's becoming relevant everywhere.

The Right Place to Start

AI is not just for tech students. It is for anyone who wants to do meaningful work in their field. For me, AI here has meant learning to think differently, analyzing more effectively, adapting to new tools, and making smarter choices with information. Graduate school is one of the best places to get comfortable with that. Whatever the background, no one arrives behind. You will just be getting started, and that is exactly the right place to be.