Global leaders in tech and AI join UMSI Advisory Board

Three industry leaders have joined the UMSI Advisory Board, effective Jan. 1: Mark Gurman, a prominent tech journalist; Yunyao Li, an expert on natural language processing; and John Thompson, a global executive who has authored books on analytics and artificial intelligence.

In this volunteer role, they will bring their expertise to leadership at the University of Michigan School of Information, connect with students and alumni, and contribute to the school’s mission through philanthropic support. All three are committed to keeping UMSI at the forefront of innovation in service of society. 

Mark Gurman (BSI ’16) is chief correspondent for Bloomberg News, where he oversees consumer technology reporting and product analysis. Known as the preeminent news breaker on new tech products, Gurman has amassed a social media following of several hundred thousand consumers. He has been featured as a top name in tech by Time, Wired, Fortune, Business Insider, Forbes and CNN. 

A member of the first graduating class of the Bachelor of Science in Information program, Gurman was named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 List while he was a junior at UMSI. His contributions to the UMSI community were recognized with the school’s Rising Alumni Award. Prior to his role at Bloomberg, he ran 9to5Mac, one of the leading Apple news websites, and developed more than 16 apps for the iPhone and iPad, generating revenue even as a high school student.

Gurman lives with his wife Rebecca in his hometown, Los Angeles. He is the first BSI alumnus to join the UMSI Advisory Board. 

“I am forever grateful for my chapter at the University of Michigan and particularly the School of Information,” Gurman says. “When I first learned of plans to launch the BSI, I felt that I had chosen the right university. There was finally a school with classes dedicated to people like me: lovers of technology, humanity, user interface design, programming, business and pushing the world forward through technology.”

Gurman said the insights and partnerships he gained during his time at UMSI have shaped his career trajectory, and he looks forward to reconnecting with the UMSI community at a crucial time.

“The advancements we are seeing in technology, from artificial intelligence to mixed reality to new conversational interfaces, are just getting started — and it is critical that our school is at the forefront of that innovation,” Gurman says. “I am looking forward to being a resource and providing my unique insights to the students at the school today, and for many, many decades into the future.” 

Yunyao Li (MSI-MSE ’03, PhD ’07) is the director of machine learning at Adobe Experience Platform, where she leads initiatives focused on harnessing the power of generative AI and knowledge graphs to transform enterprise systems and enhance audience personalization. Previously, she was the head of machine learning at Apple, where she led efforts to develop next-generation machine learning solutions for features like Siri and Spotlight, serving billions of Apple users globally. Before joining Apple, as a distinguished research staff member and senior research manager at IBM Research-Almaden, she built and managed the Scalable Knowledge Intelligence Department.

Li is widely recognized in the field for her work at the intersection of natural language processing, databases, human-computer interaction and machine learning. In these areas, she has published more than 100 peer-reviewed articles, been granted 36 patents, and co-authored two books: “Natural Language Data Management and Interfaces’’ and “Natural Language Interfaces to Databases.” An ACM Distinguished Member and member of the inaugural New Voices program of the American National Academies, she has received numerous awards for her contributions to AI and NLP.

Li graduated from UMSI with a dual Master of Science in Information and Master of Science in Engineering, going on to earn her PhD in computer science from U-M. A first-generation college student, she earned her undergraduate degrees from Tsinghua University in Beijing, China.   

“As someone working at the intersection of natural language processing, data management, and human-computer interaction for over a decade, I always credit my passion and knowledge on the HCI side to my education at UMSI,” Li says. “I joined the UMSI Advisory Board as a way to contribute and reconnect with the wonderful UMSI community. I look forward to leveraging my experience and expertise to support the mission.” 

John Thompson is a global executive with nearly four decades of experience in artificial intelligence, data science and advanced analytics. He currently leads the global AI function at EY, where he is responsible for designing and deploying innovative AI solutions across all service lines. Under his leadership, his team developed the world’s largest private LLM-based chat service, which has quickly become the fastest-growing tech service in EY’s history, supporting more than 300,000 employees. His team has also developed cutting-edge solutions in synthetic data generation, enterprise prompt engineering and AI model orchestration.

Before joining EY, Thompson led AI and advanced analytics at CSL Behring, a leading biopharmaceutical company, where he oversaw the development of more than 25 analytical applications in just four years. An author of multiple books, including “Causal Artificial Intelligence” and “Data for All,” Thompson is a recognized authority on AI, data and business transformation. He has also held leadership roles at Gartner and Dell Technologies.

The father of a UMSI graduate, Thompson is a Michigan native who earned his bachelor’s degree in computer science from Ferris State University and a MBA in marketing from DePaul University. Prior to college, he was an automotive and diesel mechanic. 

Thompson joined UMSI this semester as an intermittent lecturer in information. His course teaches students how to build and manage analytics teams to drive change. 

“The School of Information at the University of Michigan is a unique institution,” Thompson says. “I have been working at the intersection of technology, information and people for over 38 years, and when I heard that this is the exact juncture UMSI addresses, I knew I had to be actively involved. 

“Over the past few years, the UMSI team and I have had numerous discussions about the impact AI is having — and will have — on the world at large. I am inspired by UMSI’s mission to help individuals, communities and society understand how to proactively leverage information, technology and creativity to make the world a better place for everyone. I am humbled and honored to be part of the UMSI Advisory Board.”

During their renewable three-year terms, Gurman, Li and Thompson will use their industry expertise to offer guidance on matters including curriculum development and research initiatives, while supporting students directly through mentorship opportunities.