Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming industries — and business education is no exception. College of Business faculty are finding innovative ways to integrate AI into their classrooms, helping students develop the skills they’ll need to thrive in a changing workforce.
Associate Professor Rick Pennington began incorporating Generative AI (Gen AI) into his graduate supply chain courses in 2023. He uses it to generate course content, create assignments and develop case studies tailored to class discussions. This approach, he said, has improved the clarity of instructions, reduced student confusion and ultimately enhanced learning outcomes.
“I’ve found that using Gen AI allows me to quickly generate fresh, relevant case studies that align with course objectives,” Pennington said. “It keeps classroom discussions dynamic and helps students engage with real-world scenarios.”
Pennington also has designed projects that require students to use Gen AI to solve business challenges. For example, in his Lean Six Sigma (LSS) courses, students create hypothetical improvement projects using AI to brainstorm solutions. This hands-on experience has helped students develop critical thinking, problem-solving and technical AI competencies — skills highly valued in the workforce.
“Many students assume AI will do the work for them,” Pennington said. “But they quickly realize it’s like any other tool — its value comes from the user’s ability to ask the right questions and interpret the output.”
Assistant Professor Darrell Aubrey also has begun incorporating AI into his courses, primarily to streamline course development and enhance feedback to students. He uses AI to assist with building course modules, designing assignments and providing clear, consistent feedback on student work.
“I’m in the process of transitioning courses to a new platform, and AI has been helpful in developing content and structuring feedback,” Aubrey said. “It’s a time-saver, but it’s also a tool that helps improve the learning experience for students.”
While Aubrey hasn’t yet dedicated course time to teaching AI specifically, he does include “acceptable use of AI” guidelines in his syllabus and plans to develop assignments that reflect AI’s growing influence in supply chain and logistics management.
Looking ahead, both professors see AI fundamentally reshaping business education. Pennington emphasized that companies are already using AI for tasks like analyzing medical scans, automating pricing strategies and creating marketing content — and students need to be ready for that reality.
“As educators, we have a responsibility to prepare students to navigate and lead in an AI-driven business environment,” Pennington said. “That means helping them understand AI’s capabilities, limitations and ethical considerations.”
Aubrey agreed, adding that AI has the potential to personalize learning experiences and simulate real-world business challenges. However, he cautioned that careful attention must be given to maintaining academic integrity as AI becomes more prevalent.
“AI can’t replace human-centered education,” Aubrey said. “But it can enhance it — and that’s where we see real potential for preparing students for their careers.”