Generative AI in business schools: friend or foe?

Generative AI in business schools: friend or foe?

https://theconversation.com/generative-ai-in-business-schools-friend-or-foe-278249

Publish Date: 2026-03-17 11:06:00

Source Domain: theconversation.com

Key Points from the Article:

1. Generative AI in Business Education:

   • Generative AI tools like ChatGPT are increasingly used in business and management education to assist with tasks such as case analysis, brainstorming, and report drafting.
   • The usage of these tools has implications both positive and challenging regarding efficiency, personalized learning, and academic integrity.

2. Immediacy and Practical Benefits:

   • Students find ChatGPT to be a practical, 24/7 study aid that offers speed and emotional reassurance, helping with summarization, generation of examples, and explanation of complex theories.
   • The tool’s convenience raises questions about learning effectiveness and reliance.

3. Equity and Access Concerns:

   • There is a concern about unequal access to better AI tools, often tied to financial resources.
   • Some see AI as providing fair support for students with conditions like dyslexia or for international students learning English, while others worry it creates new forms of academic inequality.

4. Integrity and Ambiguity:

   • Students understand the boundary issues regarding direct copying but are unsure about the legitimacy of AI-assisted drafts and feedback.
   • The inconsistency in rules across different courses and lecturers leads to anxiety about potential accusations of academic misconduct.

5. Employer Perceptions:

   • Students fear that a reliance on AI tools may negatively affect their employability as employers may dismiss AI-generated work.
   • Although it’s early, hiring managers seem skeptical of written work but also value AI skills.

6. Recommendations for Universities:

   • Clearer and consistent policies on AI use are needed with concrete examples.
   • Assessment should focus on the process of using AI, not just the end product.
   • Universities should consider equitable access to AI tools and redesign assessments to reduce dependence on premium tools.

7. Future Opportunities and Trust:

   • If universities engage with students’ perspectives on immediacy, equity, and integrity, AI can be seen as an opportunity for rethinking meaningful learning and fair assessment.
   • Ignoring students’ concerns may undermine the value of their degrees and integrity in education.