Synergizing Artificial Intelligence and Operations Research: Perspectives from INFORMS Fellows on the Next Frontier

In 1987, Herbert Simon envisioned a partnership between artificial intelligence (AI) and operations research and management science (OR/MS) to improve decision making. Nearly four decades later, as AI advances at a breakneck pace, Simon’s vision remains relevant. This paper revisits Simon’s perspective through a 2024 survey of Fellows of the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences, capturing reflections from leading scholars and practitioners on how AI and OR/MS intersect today. The survey results highlight both opportunities and challenges. Many respondents see AI as a powerful tool that can complement OR/MS’s structured approaches, such as in problem formulation and optimization. At the same time, they emphasize the importance of maintaining OR/MS’s core strengths and identity, including its emphasis on mathematical rigor and interpretability. Although AI has opened new frontiers, its integration into OR/MS continues to evolve, shaped by shifts in research priorities, funding patterns, and educational needs. This article takes stock of where the collaboration between AI and OR/MS stands today and considers its future trajectory. The findings suggest that the two fields have much to gain from deeper engagement but that thoughtful alignment will be key. We hope that these insights contribute to an ongoing dialogue about how AI and OR/MS can inform and strengthen each other in the years ahead.