W. P. Carey Leads The Way With Mindful AI Business Education

College graduates now need to know how to harness the power of artificial intelligence to drive change and become the leaders of the future. It’s not a skill that can be overlooked anymore. According to the World Economic Forum’s 2025 Future of Jobs Report, 88% of employers consider AI and big data skills to be of increasing importance in the next five years.

Arizona State University has recognized where the industry is going and has responded accordingly. In January 2024, the school announced a historic partnership as the first university to collaborate with OpenAI, the organization behind ChatGPT. Faculty and staff have access to an enterprise version of ChatGPT, with the goal of finding innovative solutions to drive research and student success.

At the W. P. Carey School of Business, AI has been incorporated in multiple ways: through new, cutting-edge degree programs and concentrations, professional certificates, and innovative research centers. All of this combines to create an immersive experience for students who are ready to become leaders of AI use in business. Everything the school does emphasizes the thoughtful, ethical use of this transformative technology to bring about impactful change.

“We are constantly innovating at the W. P. Carey School,” said Ohad Kadan, Charles J. Robel Dean and W. P. Carey Distinguished Chair in Business. “We look to the job market and talk to our students to ensure a W. P. Carey degree provides ongoing opportunities to transform the future of business.”

The Future Of AI Careers And Business

Employers are increasingly looking for candidates who have strong knowledge and skills in the world of artificial intelligence. In fact, AI and machine learning specialists are predicted to be among the fastest-growing job categories over the next five years, according to the World Economic Forum’s 2025 Future of Jobs Report.

But this explosive growth isn’t just limited to careers directly related to AI. Companies across industries are innovating new ways to incorporate artificial intelligence into their processes and workflows, meaning that candidates who know how to use AI for business goals can set themselves apart from the rest.

“The skills to be competitive in the job market are rapidly shifting,” said Kate Eaton, associate dean of graduate programs for the W. P. Carey School. “While there can be uncertainty during such inflection points, it is a really exciting time for students. We see this reshuffling as an opportunity for our graduate students to upskill using emerging tools and technologies, and then really stand out in their ability to meet employer needs.”

A graduate degree, like the Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence in Business (MS-AIB)  from W. P. Carey, prepares graduates to be leaders who can utilize AI responsibly to positively impact their organizations and the community. 

The career possibilities of combining AI with business are almost endless. Graduates from the MS-AIB program are ready to take on a variety of roles, whether as entrepreneurs, working for big corporations, or acting as consultants. Predictive modeling, project management, business transformation, and data analysis are just a few of the many options that are available to those with an AI business graduate degree.

Artificial Intelligence Degree Programs At W. P. Carey

Following ASU’s announcement of its partnership with OpenAI, in March 2024, W. P. Carey also announced a first with the MS-AIB program — the first graduate degree in AI to be offered by a business school in the United States.

“There is no doubt that AI is quickly becoming a vital business skill. We are excited to meet the needs of students and employers through our new graduate degree program within our top-ranked information systems department,” said Kadan.

The Department of Information Systems at the W. P. Carey School is home to multiple top 20-ranked degree programs, as well as faculty who conduct cutting-edge research and are considered thought leaders in their fields.

Offered on campus or 100% online, the MS-AIB curriculum gives students a business framework for using artificial intelligence, as well as both the technical and business skills needed to employ AI in a mindful way. There’s an emphasis on the ethical use of AI and how to keep in mind welfare, privacy, and trust when using such technology. 

The degree teaches students how to lead cross-functional conversations and collaborations and how to analyze business situations, so they are prepared on when and how to properly implement AI-based solutions. 

For those who are interested in a more concentrated learning option aimed at working professionals, W. P. Carey Executive Education offers a certificate in artificial intelligence in business, consisting of three graduate-level courses. This certificate can also serve as a pathway into the master’s program, as the credits can be transferred. W.P. Carey’s highly ranked MBA programs also feature AI as part of the curriculum. The Full-time MBA, Evening MBA, and Online MBA all offer optional concentrations in artificial intelligence for those who are interested in taking additional courses in this field of study.

AI Education Beyond The Classroom

The W. P. Carey School knows that learning must extend beyond the classroom to have the biggest impact. The school provides countless ways for students to get involved in experiential learning, and one of those is the many centers and labs conducting research, training, and working within the community.

The Center for AI and Data Analytics (AIDA) for Business and Society is dedicated to the mindful use of AI for innovation that makes a positive impact on Arizona and the world. It provides opportunities for students in programs like the MS-AIB degree to work with industry leaders on real business challenges, helping them see just how transformative AI can be.

“The societal implications of AI are potentially more profound than those of the Industrial Revolution,” says Pei-yu Chen, co-director of the Center for AI and Data Analytics for Business and Society, Red Avenue Foundation Professor, and chair of the Department of Information Systems.

The center currently houses three research labs, with three more slated to be incorporated in the future. The Actionable Analytics Lab is an academic research lab for the application of data analytics to real-world problems. The Digital Society Initiative is focused on the digital world and how it shapes and is shaped by our culture. The Blockchain Research Lab is dedicated to researching how to use blockchain technology in business, finance, economics, and other industries. Future units will be focused on research related to healthcare, financial services, and sustainability.

Some ASU students have also proactively found new ways to explore artificial intelligence and its applications to the world of business. In 2024, two W. P. Carey graduate students co-founded the AI in Business Club at ASU, which now has over 80 members from various graduate degree programs. The club provides students with networking opportunities, speaking events featuring industry leaders, and workshops demonstrating different technologies.

“AI represents a shift in how organizations do business,” says Houston Holohan, AI in Business Club Vice President and W. P. Carey MBA student. “This club provides students with opportunities to learn how this technology is transforming traditional roles, hear from industry professionals, and participate in hands-on workshops with these tools.”

Learn more about the first-in-the-nation MS-AIB at the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University.

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The W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University is the largest business school in the United States, with more than 23,000 undergraduate and graduate students — and 130,000+ alumni around the world. There are more than 60 ways to earn a W. P. Carey degree, including our first-of-its-kind master’s in AI in business. Entrepreneurship and innovation are key to our curriculum and your experience.

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