Here’s How Business Schools Are Teaching AI
Credit: miniseries / Getty Images- A GMAC survey found that most business schools have embraced AI.
- Only 22% of business schools surveyed indicated they haven’t integrated AI into student learning.
- Business schools are taking a varied approach to offering AI to students that includes both classes and hands-on learning.
- The embrace of AI comes as applications to graduate business schools skyrocket.
Business schools have overwhelmingly embraced artificial intelligence (AI), a new survey found, and are taking a varied approach to teaching the high-demand tech to students.
The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) found in its 2024 Application Trends Survey that most business schools have integrated AI into their curricula in some form. Only 22% of programs said they haven’t integrated AI into student learning.
That widespread embrace of AI comes amid surging demand from students and employers alike for AI skills and sweeping investments by business schools in the rapidly evolving technology.
The adoption of AI-related topics by business schools isn’t the same across the globe: Programs in Canada, Asia-Pacific, and Europe were slightly more likely than programs in the U.S. to have included AI in their curricula.
| AI-related topic or effort | Percentage of graduate business programs incorporating topic/effort |
|---|---|
| The role of AI in society and business ethics | 44% |
| Courses on how to use AI to make business decisions | 43% |
| Giving students hands-on AI experience with business simulations and practical applications | 42% |
| Courses on how AI can be used for business strategy | 41% |
| Training in prompt-writing and using AI for day-to-day tasks | 23% |
| Using AI for personalized learning and helping students progress at their own pace | 9% |
| Something else | 14% |
| None of the above | 22% |
The report also found that online programs lagged behind in integrating AI into their curricula.
“Despite an increased reliance on technology to run online programs, about one-third have not yet integrated AI into their curricula, meaning online programs are more likely to be a bit behind the curve on adding AI to their coursework,” the GMAC report reads.
The adoption of AI comes amid a rapid rise in applications and enrollment described in the same GMAC report. GMAC found a 12% increase in applications to business schools from 2023 to 2024 following two consecutive years of decline.
GMAC CEO Joy Jones indicated in a press release that the rise in applications could partly be due to economic uncertainty — but she also emphasized business school innovation in touting the rise of applications.
“While the phenomenon could give proof to the countercyclical trend long observed between interest in graduate business school and the strength of the economy, I would give much credit to global business schools and their tremendous efforts to continue innovating with new technologies, new delivery tactics, and new ways of operating that satisfy the latest interests and needs of students and their future employers,” Jones said in the release.
The past year has seen business schools invest heavily in AI.
The American University Kogod School of Business announced it would infuse AI throughout its curriculum, emphasizing the importance of the tech to business.
“Artificial intelligence is here to stay, and business students need to be prepared to utilize applications for generative AI on day one of their future jobs,” Kogod School of Business Dean David Marchick said at the time.
The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania also announced major investments in AI to boost its curriculum and research.
“Artificial intelligence is poised to fundamentally transform every sector of business and society, and the world needs reliable, evidence-based insights about its practical and responsible use today,” Wharton School Dean Erika James said in a press release at the time.
A number of schools, including Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business, have rolled out undergraduate and master’s degrees dedicated to artificial intelligence.
Many of those AI efforts lean on existing business school expertise.
The University of Virginia Darden School of Business recently launched a new institute dedicated to ethical artificial intelligence in business, drawing on the school’s long-standing research into business ethics.
GMAC also asked business programs in the survey about whether they’ve adopted AI-related policies with regard to admissions.
Roughly 63% said they have no policies related to AI in admissions, and only 5% explicitly allowed the use of AI in their applications. Another 8% banned its use.