03-27-2026
With today’s generation being surrounded by AI and technology from a young age, learning and brain development can be impacted negatively. This is why it is important to hone in on maintaining curiosity and creativity, because that is one thing AI cannot replace.
Cecilia Ying
Clinical Associate Professor
Cecilia Ying describes this moment as an exciting time to be teaching AI, largely because of the growing support around introducing it to students. As the creator of Intro to AI for Business, a course required for all first-year business students, she emphasizes that the class is not only about mastering AI tools but also about building core learning skills. Ying highlights that her course focuses on “learning how to learn,” being comfortable with the unknown and developing the ability to navigate new skills independently. A key part of the class is teaching students how to evaluate generative AI outputs and judge the information they are given, rather than accepting it at face value.
Ying also incorporates current AI news headlines at the start of every class, giving students opportunities to present and stay up-to-date with the evolving AI world. Breaking AI down into smaller areas of focus like identifying bias and understanding how to work with missing data helps students begin to grasp the broader ethical and practical implications of AI today.
Ying reinforces the importance of using AI as a practice tool rather than a replacement to your curiosity and thinking. “There is a strong support system at the Daniels School, where courses emphasize maintaining an authentic voice while preserving the human aspect of work,” she shares.
MARIE KINGERY
Sophomore, BAIM
Before taking her foundational business law course at the Daniels School of Business, Kingery had limited exposure to AI and often believed its use would be largely discouraged. After taking the class with Professor Cara Putman, her perspective shifted as she explored the broader, infrastructural aspects of AI and had the opportunity to implement it in her coursework.
"Developing the mindset to use AI as a tool and prompt it with a specific role, such as a paralegal, was game-changing for the response quality I received,” shares Kingery.
Over the course of the class, her understanding of AI evolved. She discovered she could leverage it professionally, prompting it in ways that filter responses without compromising her critical thinking. Instead, it enhanced her skills and helped her build practical industry experience.
Kingery’s biggest takeaway was recognizing that AI and students can collaborate effectively. Being aware of your own contributions, focusing on your ideas, and relying on teammates as primary partners makes all the difference. “Your partner is not the AI platform but the people you work with. Integrating AI into certain activities helps students learn, as long as creativity remains strong and collaboration stays central.”
When you first think about law, your brain doesn’t necessarily go to AI. I love that a professor is teaching students how to use AI correctly. It’s not going away, so I might as well learn to use it well.
GUNIT KAUR
Sophomore, BAIM
Kaur’s initial use of AI in a classroom setting was business law. After enrolling in the class with Professor Cara Putman, she explored how AI could supplement her learning and quickly saw its potential in professional contexts. “AI doesn’t do the work for you; it helps set a foundation. You do the thinking and build on it, which makes learning more engaging and personalized,” shares Kaur.
Over the semester, she experimented with different platforms like Copilot, ChatGPT and Gemini, integrating them directly into projects, seeing firsthand how AI could handle the groundwork while she focused on critical, higher-level analysis.
In another course, the Foundations of Business Ethics course, Kaur also helped develop a classroom AI policy, examining ethical considerations and discussing how students should implement AI responsibly. She explained the importance of verifying AI-generated information, sharing that “the key is making sure your work is real, tested and verified.” Through her coursework, Kaur discovered that AI works best as a tool to offload busy work and support learning, rather than replace the creative and analytical steps that are essential to understanding business law.
Kaur’s biggest takeaway: AI is most effective when it’s integrated thoughtfully, as part of a collaborative and guided classroom experience. With professors like Putman embedding AI directly into the curriculum, students can explore its uses safely, learn from its limitations and focus on the human skills that truly matter in law and business.
VALENTINA RODRIGUEZ
Sophomore, Economics
Before taking Business Ethics, Rodriguez’s understanding of AI was cautious and rooted in fear surrounding unethical use. Most of her exposure to artificial intelligence focused on the ways it could be misused, which made her hesitant to engage with it more deeply. As a result of this, she was unsure of how responsibly it could be used in an academic setting.
“Throughout the course, my perception of AI changed significantly as I became more confident using it as a tool. AI was introduced early through a clear review of Professor Putman’s AI policy, which provided guidelines for acceptable use and minimized fear around violating academic integrity,” she shares.
Developing AI policies in group settings – first for classroom use and later within a business context – encouraged her to think critically about ethical concerns while balancing efficiency and privacy. This exposure helped her better understand both the benefits and consequences of AI, giving her a stronger ethical framework and preparing her to use AI responsibly in future business roles.
I feel more confident in using AI tools in internships or future roles after this course. I feel more aware of the harmful effects, how to mitigate those, and the benefits I would want to take advantage of. With more AI knowledge, I can trust myself to critically explore the ethical implications of AI.
