A new student-led research report from the Kogod School of Business at American University finds that artificial intelligence (AI) has rapidly shifted from an emerging technology to an expected workplace competency.

AI at Kogod: A Three-Year Student Research Report, authored by recent Kogod graduate Christina Eid (BSBA '26) in partnership with faculty mentors, examines three years of survey data tracking how business students use generative AI, how employer expectations have evolved, and what students believe they still need to learn to remain competitive in an AI-driven workforce.

Among the report's most significant findings:

• The percentage of students who said employers asked about their AI skills during the hiring process increased from 11.6% in 2024 to 42.6% in 2026—a 285% increase in just two years.
• More than 80% of students reported using AI for academic work.
• Students identified prompt engineering as the skill they most want to learn, while demand for coding instruction increased sharply, signaling growing interest in technical AI applications.
• Student demand for coding and technical development skills jumped 450% from 2025 to 2026.
• Students continue to emphasize the importance of responsible AI use, with many calling for clearer guidance on ethics, judgment, and appropriate classroom use.

The report builds on Kogod's position as the nation's first AI-first business school and provides one of the few longitudinal looks at how AI adoption and employer expectations are evolving within higher education.

“AI is transforming every profession, and universities have a responsibility to ensure graduates are prepared not just to use these tools, but to use them ethically, responsibly and thoughtfully,” said David Marchick, interim president of American University and Dean at Kogod when the survey was developed. “In just two years, the percentage of Kogod students who said employers asked about their AI skills during the hiring process nearly tripled. In another two years, I suspect that almost every employer will ask students about their AI skills.”

Rather than viewing students solely as recipients of knowledge, the report highlights how undergraduate researchers can contribute meaningful insights to national conversations about the future of work.

"One of the things that excites me most about this project is that it reflects exactly the kind of learning environment we are working to create at Kogod," said Casey Evans, interim dean of the Kogod School of Business. "Christina didn't simply study artificial intelligence—she spent three years asking important questions, gathering evidence, and producing research that helps inform how business schools and employers think about AI readiness. That's a remarkable accomplishment, and it's the kind of experience that prepares students to lead in a rapidly changing world."

For Eid, the report represents the culmination of a project that grew alongside AI itself.

"When we launched the first survey three years ago, generative AI was still new and everyone was trying to understand what it might mean for education and careers," said Christina Eid, author of the report and a 2026 graduate of the Kogod School of Business. "Watching student responses evolve has been fascinating. The data shows students aren't asking whether AI belongs in business anymore—they're asking how to use it responsibly, strategically, and in ways that make them more valuable professionals. I hope this research helps other institutions understand how quickly student expectations and employer expectations are changing."