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Jamie McCrary
Since ChatGPT emerged in late 2022, artificial intelligence (AI) has become a powerful driver of business transformation. This shift has also influenced companies’ hiring priorities: In the last five years, demand for artificial intelligence professionals has skyrocketed by more than 75 percent, with business management services as a top growth area.
With so many evolving opportunities, which career paths should aspiring business leaders pursue? And which skills should they prioritize developing?
5 Promising AI-Driven Careers
Business analysts and data analysts: Companies will continue to seek skilled professionals who can bridge analytics with strategic decision-making. This includes business analysts and data analysts, and AI-focused professionals such as AI strategists and digital transformation consultants. Their ability to interpret data, build AI-driven business solutions, and communicate insights to stakeholders enables organizations to make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Data scientists: Unlike data analysts, who focus on interpreting existing data, data scientists build predictive models and develop algorithms to uncover deeper patterns and forecast future trends. This expertise enables organizations to shift from reactive analysis to more proactive, data-driven strategies.
Financial and FinTech analysts: AI is at the forefront of innovation in areas such as investment analysis, credit risk modeling, fraud detection, and customer service. AI-savvy business students can thrive as financial analysts or FinTech specialists by leveraging machine learning, predictive analytics, and automation to enhance financial decision-making for customers and businesses.
Marketing specialists: Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing marketing, and graduates who pair their digital knowledge with AI are uniquely positioned to lead business transformation. AI-savvy marketing specialists can leverage tools and algorithms to better understand consumer behavior, personalize content, optimize campaigns, and drive measurable, lasting results.
Product managers: AI-savvy business graduates are ideal candidates for product management roles, especially in technology-driven companies. They serve as the crucial link between technical teams and business stakeholders, helping to define, develop, and launch AI-powered products or platforms. Their understanding of both market needs and AI capabilities allows them to guide the development of innovative business solutions.
Develop These Essential AI Skills
In today’s AI-driven landscape, companies seek to hire employees who can leverage AI and big data to enhance performance. This is the number one skills priority for large companies, according to the World Economic Forum’s 2023 Future of Jobs Report, trumping 25 other hard and soft skill categories.
AI is transforming how businesses operate, make decisions, and deliver value. Business students who pair foundational business knowledge with AI skills gain a distinct edge—whether they’re driving innovation at a startup, optimizing operations at a Fortune 500 company, or leading digital transformation in the public sector."
Gwanhoo Lee
Director, Institute for Applied Artificial Intelligence, Kogod School of Business
To maintain a competitive edge, business students should consider developing the following essential AI skills:
- Data analytics: The ability to extract meaningful insights from data is key to making informed business decisions. Hone this skill by practicing finding patterns in data sets, then forming conclusions from what you learned.
- Basic programming knowledge: Understanding how different programming languages, frameworks, and tools work will enable you to utilize AI more effectively. Python, R, Java, and C++ are all good starting points.
- Industry-specific tools: You’ll also want to familiarize yourself with AI tools specific to your industry, such as AI-driven customer relationship management (CRM) systems for marketing and automated bookkeeping software for finance.
Students should also focus on growing their soft skills, including:
- Communication and presentation skills to translate your data insights to leadership.
- Quantitative reasoning to strengthen your problem-solving skills using AI tools.
- Adaptability to stay current with trends and changes in this rapidly evolving field.
What is AI training like at the Kogod School of Business?
In 2023, Kogod began incorporating AI throughout its graduate and undergraduate curriculum, an initiative that Poets&Quants called “the most consequential AI transformation in business education.”
Kogod offers students 40+ AI-integrated courses and access to advanced enterprise AI tools through its partnership with Perplexity AI.
In April 2025, the school achieved another significant milestone: it launched the Institute for Applied Artificial Intelligence (IAAI). This interdisciplinary initiative brings together faculty to innovate in teaching and research with the aid of AI.
The institute brings together experts from across the AU’s schools to integrate cutting-edge AI tools into the curriculum, promote innovative teaching practices, and develop guidelines for the ethical use of AI.
“Through collaboration, we can advance high-impact research and create real-world learning opportunities for students,” said Lee.
Kogod is also transforming its MS in Analytics and will soon offer an MS in Business Analytics and Artificial Intelligence, plus a new undergraduate major and a new graduate certificate in Business Analytics and AI.
Artificial intelligence is a powerful innovation that is transforming the future of work. Whether you’re pursuing a career in marketing, finance, or data science, sharpening your AI skills will position you to create meaningful change in business and stay ahead of your competition.