Digital and technological advancements are opening doors to exciting opportunities, and AI is transforming operational tasks. In the business industry, according to the IBM Global AI Adoption Index 2024-25, 42% of enterprise-scale businesses are integrating AI into their various operational tasks. Today, many job roles are being augmented or replaced by AI agents or companies, giving rise to new ways of working. For instance, an Asia-Pacific (APAC)-based application provider for the insurance industry utilised AI to reimagine the application lifecycle, cutting down the time from over 12+ months to just a few weeks.
The biggest disruption brought by AI is commoditisation of intelligence. According to reports, roughly 80% of business value is locked in unstructured data, such as MRI scans in healthcare or KYC documents in banking. Instead of relying solely on human expertise, companies are employing specialised AI agents to handle these tasks accurately. Low-cost specialised intelligence has become available, allowing humans to focus on high-order tasks such as strategy-building and research. But how do we bring AI and its unlimited potential to our students?
Beyond rote learning
To utilise AI’s true potential, students need skills that go beyond traditional rote learning. This is where the “Three A’s of AI” come in. These are adoption, absorption, and application. The first allows the understanding of AI integration into any process or function, helping students recognise where AI tools can bring value, evaluate the cost and benefit, and make strategic decisions to adopt them.
The second allows them to gain a deeper understanding of AI tools and effectively communicate and use AI in decision-making, problem-solving, and analytical thinking to drive high-value outcomes.
The third is the most critical: learning to use the learnt AI skills to solve real-world problems, whether it is optimising supply chain logistics or creating predictive risk models.
Everyone has significant strengths, weaknesses, and varied interests. Students can now use AI to amplify their strengths and improve their shortcomings. By creating a personalised learning path, AI allows students to learn at their own pace. Adaptive learning platforms, AI chatbots and tutors help students evolve outside the traditional classroom setting.
While AI has proved to be an excellent catalyst, we still require the expertise and accountability that come from structured learning paths and the human touch. The real question is not if but how we can govern AI. This puts the focus on educational institutions to ensure that the academic curriculum meets modern corporate demands. This requires mandatory integration of AI, data ethics, and responsible use of AI, while balancing its technical and practical applications. Graduates will then be able to use AI as a partner for innovation, leverage tech to automate routine tasks, and focus human efforts on high-value tasks, while also prioritising the development of human-centric and ethical leadership skills.
Thus, the future of education relies on embracing ‘Three A’s of AI’ and actively shifting from rote to root learning. By bridging academic theory with experiential learning, institutions can equip future business leaders with technical proficiency to leverage AI, and the ethical wisdom to govern it responsibly.
Balaji Thiruvenkatachari is the Founder, AI Champions Hub. S. Arunachalam is the Dean and Professor of Marketing, Badruka School of Management.
Published - February 07, 2026 07:00 pm IST
