Warrington doctoral student wins prestigious national AI research award

University of Florida Warrington College of Business doctoral student Qili Wang (Ph.D. ’26) is the first to receive Best Dissertation Proposal in AI and Information Systems from the Mays Business School at Texas A&M University.

The AI Dissertation Proposal Competition, the first of its kind, was launched to recognize and support outstanding doctoral-level research examining the transformative impact of artificial intelligence across business disciplines.

His dissertation, divided into three essays, highlights both the opportunities and challenges of AI in shaping digital platforms.

“One essay looks at how AI-generated summaries on Amazon influence subsequent consumer reviews, and another study explores how embedded AI answers on Quora affect user participation. Together, these two essays show that AI can amplify human contributions on digital platforms but may affect how people express themselves differently based on the characteristics of the digital context,” he explained.

The third essay shifts from impact to design. It focuses on designing a responsible AI system that helps detect and respond to criminal threats using IoT (Internet of Things) data. This research combines theory-driven design with privacy-preserving techniques to balance accuracy and privacy protection.

Along with the recognition, Wang received a $10,000 prize that he plans to use to further his research.

“My findings can inform more responsible AI deployment and help ensure that technology is designed in ways that benefit both business and society,” Wang said.

Wang, who is working toward his Ph.D. in Information Systems & Operations Management, holds a B.S. in Mathematics, a B.E. in Computer Science, and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Renmin University of China. In addition to his research, Wang has taught the undergraduate course Information Systems and Operations Strategy at the University of Florida Warrington College of Business, where he introduces students to business analytics concepts and tools.

Overall, Wang’s research focuses on a variety of categories including digital platforms, artificial intelligence, social media, fintech and healthcare analytics. Wang was also recently recognized with the Best Paper Runner-Up Award in the INFORMS eBusiness Section and a Best Paper Nomination at the Workshop on Information Technologies and Systems. He credits the supportive environment at the Warrington College of Business and UF’s AI initiative for providing the resources and mentorship to pursue cutting-edge research at the intersection of AI and business.

“I’m deeply grateful to my advisor, Dr. Liangfei Qiu, as well as my dissertation committee, whose guidance and support have been invaluable along the way. I would also like to thank my co-authors and the faculty here at Warrington,” Wang said. “Research is never a solo effort.”