FALL 2023
Will AI Become a Student’s
New Best Friend?
Faculty Discuss AI in the Classroom
// Faculty Feature
Pitt Business strives to be ahead of the curve and embrace new challenges — and navigating the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the classroom is no exception. With the emergence of AI poised to revolutionize how we learn and work, some faculty members have welcomed this modern technology and are already integrating it into their courses, while others are more cautious.
“AI applications are expected to transform businesses in the next decade…”
Hydari
A Cautious Approach
For other faculty members, integrating AI into the curriculum may not be so simple.
Clinical Associate Professor of Business Administration Heidi Bartholomew is strategizing on the best way to use this tool given the nature of her case assignments. “The real learning in a case-based course is the debrief that we do together in the classroom. But, if the assignment can be completed using AI now, then I fear the debriefing process — and the real learning — will be lessened,” Bartholomew says. She intends to give a quiz on the day of a case debrief to ensure the students have done the assignment, then allow them to use AI during the debrief to expand their thinking and augment their learning.
The University, meanwhile, has resources for all faculty and a provost-commissioned committee studying AI before any official policies are established. As AI continues to progress, Pitt Business is forging ahead to equip our students with the skills needed to excel in tomorrow’s workplace.
Follow the Pitt Business social channels to stay up to date on this and other evolving business topics.
Jones
Embracing AI
Clinical Professor of Business Administration Ray Jones is encouraging his students to engage with ChatGPT, an AI chatbot, as a brainstorming tool to enhance their learning and thinking while working on assignments.
He describes AI as a “smart computer friend” or an “assistant for critical thinking.”
When asked about implementing AI into the classroom, Jones says, “It’s easy to look at the drawbacks of something so new but we need to embrace the future and not be afraid of it.”
Assistant Professor of Business Administration M. Zia Hydari has been incorporating AI into his coursework for the last several years. “AI applications are expected to transform businesses in the next decade, driven by entrepreneurs and managers who understand both the market needs and the AI technology,” says Hydari. “This combination of business acumen and AI proficiency is likely to be highly valued in the job market. At Pitt Business, we prepare our students for this future by incorporating courses that require AI-driven projects to solve business problems.”
