Duke AIPI Student Haochen Li: Pioneering AI Innovations in Finance and Beyond
Haochen Li, a standout student from China, will graduate from Duke University’s Master of Engineering in Artificial Intelligence for Product Innovation (AIPI) program in the Fall of 2025. Haochen’s journey at Duke has been marked by his dedication to leveraging AI and automation to drive transformative changes in various industries, particularly finance and investment.
He chose Duke for its interdisciplinary curriculum
Haochen chose Duke’s AIPI program for its unique blend of technical training in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning and a practical focus on designing and deploying AI-powered projects. “The program’s reputation as a top applied AI program, with its interdisciplinary curriculum integrating business and technology, was a key attraction,” Haochen explains. His initial career goal was to enhance decision-making in finance through AI, focusing on market forecasting, algorithmic trading, and risk management.
The Duke AIPI Program built a mindset for product development
The comprehensive coursework at Duke’s AIPI program has been instrumental in preparing Haochen for his career. The curriculum covers a broad range of topics, from the technical intricacies of machine learning algorithms to the architectural and design considerations for deploying AI systems in real-world scenarios. “The program emphasized a mindset for product development, which was invaluable for understanding how AI solutions address real-world problems and deliver business value,” Haochen notes.
Achievements and Competitions
Haochen’s participation in AI hackathons has further honed his skills and showcased his innovative spirit. In November 2024, his team won first place in the Education Track of an AIPI-hosted hackathon with “Flashback,” an AI memory augmentation system powered by Raspberry Pi technology. This project demonstrated his product design and software development knowledge, nurtured by AIPI courses and innovation workshops.
In February 2025, Haochen led a team to victory at the inaugural DTCC Hackathon, Innovate.DTCC, where he earned the academic award for developing a blockchain-based solution to enhance compliance monitoring in cryptocurrency markets. This project highlighted his expertise in data sourcing, preprocessing, and machine learning model building, all core skills developed through hands-on assignments in the AIPI program.
Future Aspirations
Looking ahead, Haochen aims to continue leveraging AI and automation technologies to drive innovation and efficiency in product design, benefiting both customers and businesses. His journey at Duke has equipped him with the knowledge and skills to contribute to the field of AI and beyond.
Haochen Li’s story is a testament to the transformative power of Duke’s AIPI program and his unwavering commitment to using AI for positive change.