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H. Sami Karaca

Professor of Business Analytics, Boston University
I am a Professor of Business Analytics at the Questrom School of Business, Boston University, where I also serve as the Faculty Director of the Business Analytics program.

I have a deep interest in business analytics problems. I do applied research centered around Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, Digital Marketing, Influencer Marketing, Financial Inclusion, Advertising, Pricing, Promotions, and Reward Programs. Most of my research is regularly featured in mass media.

I have substantial professional experience in management consultancy. I have advised many multinationals and start-ups with varying degrees of involvement. I have been helping organizations create digital capabilities for generating, collecting, and integrating various forms of data, turning such data into managerial insight, and insight into action to identify opportunities or solve problems for businesses regardless of their domain.

Airlines are frustrating travelers by changing frequent flyer program rules – here's why they keep doing it

Nov 21, 2023 04:17 am UTC| Business

As the U.S. holiday travel season picks up, many people are noticing that their frequent flyer benefits arent going as far as they used to. In September 2023, Delta Air Lines revamped its frequent flyer program to make...

Starbucks fans are steamed: The psychology behind why changes to a rewards program are stirring up anger, even though many will get grande benefits

Jan 26, 2023 11:59 am UTC| Business

Starbucks, the coffee chain giant, is modifying its rewards program, and the news is full of stories of outraged consumers. The main focus of their ire is that, starting Feb. 13, 2023, it will cost twice as many of the...

When's the best time to use frequent flyer miles to book flights?

Nov 23, 2022 05:13 am UTC| Economy

Traveling during major holidays like Thanksgiving can be expensive, since so many people want to see their friends and families, wherever they might be. Its especially hard this year with inflation soaring at the...

Economy

Impact of Iran-Israel conflict on Stocks, Gold and Bitcoin

Disclaimer: This is not investment advice. The information provided is for general purposes only. No information, materials, services and other content provided on this page constitute a solicitation, recommendation,...

Japan Posts 7.7% Growth in Machinery Orders

In a striking development that looks set to invigorate Japans economic prospects, a key gauge of capital spending in the country has seen its most significant jump in over a year. According to Cabinet Office data released...

How cuts to marginal income tax could boost the UK’s stagnant economic growth

The British prime minister recently claimed the UK economy has turned a corner. Rishi Sunak said inflation figures were encouraging, and proclaimed that 2024 would be the year Britain bounces back. According to his...

A sustainable future begins at ground level

In 2015, the United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a call to action in global partnership. By 2023 it appears that our progress has been far from satisfactory in achieving these...

Digital trade protocol for Africa: why it matters, what’s in it and what’s still missing

In February 2024, African heads of states adopted a draft protocol to regulate digital trade within the continent. This significant yet challenging course for Africas digital economy fits into the broader trade agreement,...

Politics

Putin’s Russia: first arrests under new anti-LGBT laws mark new era of repression

Just over three decades after Russia decriminalised homosexuality in 1993, three people have been arrested and charged under the countrys harsh new anti-LGBT laws and could face ten years in prison for membership of an...

Nvidia RTX 4090D Embroiled in US-China Tech Rivalry; South Korea Navigates Chip Export Dilemma

The U.S. government has tightened export restrictions on high-performance semiconductor chips to China, including the Nvidia RTX 4090D, and is urging South Korea to enforce similar curbs, marking a significant escalation...

Canada needs a national strategy for homeless refugee claimants

One year after the federal government closed Roxham Road, refugee claims in Canada continue to increase: there were 143,785 in 2023 compared to 91,730 in 2022. The surprise announcement in March 2023 to modify Canadas...

Who will Trump pick as his running mate?

Being second in line for leadership of the most powerful country in the world is not an easy job. But for Mike Pence, vice president under Donald Trump, things were even harder than usual. As insurrectionists descended...

US and Japan Boost AI, Semiconductor Alliance; EU Eyes Reduction in China Dependence

Japan and the United States are poised to deepen ties in the high-tech sector, signaling a strategic move to enhance their global partnership with a focus on artificial intelligence and semiconductor...

Science

Could a telescope ever see the beginning of time? An astronomer explains

The James Webb Space Telescope, or JWST for short, is one of the most advanced telescopes ever built. Planning for JWST began over 25 years ago, and construction efforts spanned over a decade. It was launched into space on...

US media coverage of new science less likely to mention researchers with African and East Asian names

When one Chinese national recently petitioned the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to become a permanent resident, he thought his chances were pretty good. As an accomplished biologist, he figured that news...

If life exists on Jupiter’s moon Europa, scientists might soon be able to detect it

Europa is one of the largest of more than 90 moons in orbit around the planet Jupiter. It is also one of the best places to look for alien life. Often termed an ocean world by scientists, observations to date strongly...

Exploding stars are rare but emit torrents of radiation − if one happened close enough to Earth, it could threaten life on the planet

Stars like the Sun are remarkably constant. They vary in brightness by only 0.1% over years and decades, thanks to the fusion of hydrogen into helium that powers them. This process will keep the Sun shining steadily for...

An eclipse for everyone – how visually impaired students can ‘get a feel for’ eclipses

Many people in the U.S. will have an opportunity to witness nearly four minutes of a total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, 2024, as it moves from southern Texas to Maine. But in the U.S., over 7 million people are blind...

Technology

OpenAI Likely to Launch GPT-4.5 in 2023 Amid Surging AI Development Costs

As the race in generative AI heats up, OpenAI may opt for an incremental update with GPT-4.5 this year, sidestepping the substantial resource demands a full leap to GPT-5 would entail. Resource Constraints May Steer...

Venezuela Embraces Cryptocurrency for Oil Exports to Circumvent US Sanctions

Venezuelas state oil company, PDVSA, is facing renewed US sanctions. To secure its oil trade revenues, it is increasingly turning to cryptocurrency, specifically USDT. This shift is aimed at sidestepping restrictions that...

Tesla Expands in Thailand: New Interest Rate Program and Land Acquisition Talks

Tesla Thailand announces a competitive interest rate initiative for Model 3 and Model Y purchasers, paired with discussions for substantial land acquisition to establish a Gigafactory, marking a strategic move in the...

Rivian's Earth Day Special: $5,000 Off for Trading Gas Cars for Electric

In celebration of Earth Day, Rivian has launched a $5,000 trade-in offer, enticing car owners to switch from select gasoline vehicles to its eco-friendly electric models, the R1T and R1S. The deal includes a year of free...

Hong Kong Crypto Firms Encouraged to Self-Regulate Amid Global Compliance Shifts

The Hong Kong Securities Futures Professionals Association (HKSFPA) has advised that the citys cryptocurrency firms form a self-regulatory body and monitor each other for compliance. Hong Kong Proposes Industry-Led...