Michael D. Smith

Michael D. Smith is a Professor of Information Technology and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University, with joint appointments at Heinz College and Tepper School of Business. His research employs economic and statistical methods to analyze digital markets, focusing on firm and consumer behavior in online environments.

Education:

• B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering (Summa Cum Laude), University of Maryland
• M.Sc. in Telecommunications Science, University of Maryland
• Ph.D. in Management Science and Information Technology, MIT

Research Interests: Professor Smith investigates the economics of digital information markets, consumer behavior in online platforms, and policy implications of technological disruption. His work spans copyright enforcement, digital advertising, and the impact of piracy on legal media consumption.

Publications: His recent studies examine AI’s role in copyright policy, effectiveness of anti-piracy measures, and market dynamics in digital streaming. Articles often bridge economics, computer science, and public policy.

Awards:

• National Science Foundation CAREER Award
• Multiple Best Teacher Awards at CMU
• Recognized as a Top 100 Emerging Engineering Leader (NAE, 2020)
• Best Paper Runner-Up (Information Systems Research, 2006)

Editorial and Industry Roles: Served as Senior Editor at Information Systems Research and Associate Editor at Management Science. Prior to academia, he worked in telecommunications at GTE and Booz Allen Hamilton, earning a patent for AI applications in network design.

Contact: mds@cmu.edu | Office: 4800 Forbes Avenue, Hamburg Hall 2204, Pittsburgh PA 15213