Newswise — As speculation about artificial intelligence and job losses continues to dominate headlines, a new analysis from the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business offers something even more unusual. That’s direct insight from experts living through a period of transition.
The study, conducted in the graduate course BUDT751 Harnessing AI for Business, which is closely linked to the Master of Information Systems and Master of Business Analytics programs and available to Master of Business Administration students, synthesizes 124 independent career assessments written by students and analyzes how AI will reshape their chosen professions, from business analytics and consulting to data science, product management, and cybersecurity.
The findings challenge the narrative that has dominated the public debate about AI and the workforce. 98% of students conclude that AI will change their role rather than eliminate it. But the more shocking discovery was what the students called the speed paradox. AI does not reduce workload. It raises the bar of what is expected. If AI makes a task 10 times faster, employers are more likely to expect 10 times more output, rather than significantly less work.
This analysis also confirmed that the value of professional skills has changed consistently. While manual data work, routine reporting, and repetitive coding are becoming less important, strategic thinking, AI literacy, ethical judgment, and the ability to critically evaluate AI-generated work are becoming central to professional success across all career paths surveyed.
“What struck me most about this study is not what students predict about AI, but how intentionally they are beginning to prepare for changes in their jobs and career paths,” said Tejwansh S. Anand, clinical professor, master’s degree in information systems and AI, and academic director of BUDT751. “Students aren’t waiting for the workplace to tell them what AI fluency should look like; they’re defining it and building it themselves.”
Gautam Shiv, a teaching assistant for the course and a graduate of the Smith School’s Master of Information Systems program, added, “We sought to break through the noise around AI and jobs by going directly to the people who are entering the workforce. What we found was not panic. It was an incredibly consistent and strategic response to real changes in the way work is done.”
The study also tracked which tools students were already using in their work. While SQL and Python remain fundamental, ChatGPT and Claude both appeared in dozens of submissions, even though they were not part of the course curriculum. This indicates that students are implementing AI tools on their own prior to formal instruction.
Read more about the survey results on Medium: “Beyond the Hype: What 124 Future Business Leaders Really Think About AI.”
