AI adoption grows in Indian B-Schools but only 7 per cent faculty are expert users: Survey

A recent survey highlights the growing integration of artificial intelligence in Indian business schools, revealing that only 51% of faculty members believe AI will positively affect students. Alarmingly, just 7% of these educators classify themselves as experts in AI usage. Conducted by MBAUniverse.com, the survey included responses from 235 faculty across prestigious institutions such as IIMs, IITs, ISB, XLRI, SPJIMR, MDI, and NMIMS, and offers a comprehensive overview of AI's impact on management education. The findings indicate that while 51% of faculty see a favorable influence of AI on student learning, more than half anticipate an increase in AI's role in teaching, curriculum development, and research over the next year. Interestingly, 55% of the respondents categorized themselves as intermediate users, suggesting a significant opportunity for enhanced training and capacity-building initiatives. The survey also explored how faculty utilize AI, noting that its primary applications are in research and teaching, with gradual growth in curriculum development. However, areas like administrative tasks and student assessments are still emerging, indicating further potential for structured support. Vineet Joshi, Secretary of the Department of Higher Education, emphasized the transformative potential of AI in education, advocating for responsible usage to enhance both teaching and learning experiences. He stated, "AI provides every student the opportunity to inquire and can help surmount challenges related to language, background, or geography." Among the AI tools evaluated, ChatGPT emerged as the most relevant for teaching activities, followed by Microsoft Copilot and Perplexity. Google Gemini and Claude received moderate ratings, while Meta AI was rated the least relevant. Despite the generally positive outlook on AI’s influence on learning, 21% of faculty felt it was premature to evaluate its effects, and 18% reported observing negative impacts. Ethical considerations and integrity concerns were identified as significant challenges in the use of generative AI for research, alongside issues of accuracy and the absence of regulatory frameworks. Amit Agnihotri, Founder and Chair of the Indian Management Conclave, remarked on the era of transformation brought about by AI, stating that it has the potential to revolutionize business processes, redefine job roles, and reshape higher education. This report was unveiled during the 15th edition of the conclave.