Archive · 11 Oct 2026
AI Will Redefine the MBA, Not Replace It
AI tools can now help with tasks like making plans and studying business information.
Abhishek Agrawal says this should change how MBA students learn, but it should not make the MBA disappear.
He says students still need to understand the basics and check whether an AI answer is correct.
AI can sometimes make up facts or repeat unfair biases.
Schools should teach students how to use AI responsibly in many subjects.
Teachers also need training, and tests should ask students to explain their thinking.
Skills like judgment, empathy, and communication will remain important.
AI can suggest ideas, but people must make and take responsibility for decisions.
MDRA CEO Abhishek Agrawal argues that AI should reshape management education around human judgment, not replace the MBA.
A Business Today–MDRA survey of 277 Indian management institutions found AI use growing in classrooms, while meaningful teaching integration lags.
The article recommends embedding AI across subjects, training faculty, redesigning assessments, and setting transparent policies for AI use and data privacy.
It warns that hallucinations, biased outputs, and dependence on AI before learning fundamentals could undermine students’ skills and judgment.
Agrawal says critical thinking, ethics, communication, and decision-making will matter more as AI makes information and analysis easier to access.
- Who
- Abhishek Agrawal, CEO of MDRA, argues for redesigning management education around responsible AI use and human capabilities.
- What
- An opinion article says AI will reshape MBA education but will not replace the degree or the need for human judgment.
- When
- The article references the Business Today–MDRA Best B-Schools Survey 2026-27 and AICTE’s designation of 2025 as the Year of Artificial Intelligence.
- Where
- The article focuses on management education in India and discusses examples from business schools internationally.
- Why
- AI can generate and analyse information quickly, but students and future managers still need to verify outputs, understand fundamentals, and make responsible decisions.
- Author
- Abhishek Agrawal, CEO of MDRA
- Survey
- Business Today–MDRA Best B-Schools Survey 2026-27
- Institutions surveyed
- 277 management institutions across India
- AICTE initiative
- AICTE designated 2025 as the Year of Artificial Intelligence
- Education funding
- The Union Budget allocated ₹500 crore for AI Centres of Excellence in Education
- Risks identified
- Hallucination, bias, and deskilling
- Recommended assessments
- Oral examinations, live case defences, boardroom presentations, and field-based consulting projects