Bringing tomorrow’s solutions into today’s classroom

O'Mally in a university library.

The future is already here for Aisha O’Mally, clinical assistant professor of organization and human resources in the UB  School of Management.

Last summer she completed three AI-related certifications: an intensive AI and Communication course at NYU, MacMillan’s Generative AI in the Classroom and Lumen Circle’s generative AI training. Her mission? To make cutting-edge artificial intelligence approachable — and actionable — in her classroom.

“I wanted to help my students understand AI and use it thoughtfully,” says O’Mally. Rather than viewing AI skeptically, she approaches it with curiosity. And why not? After all, isn’t higher education all about exploring new frontiers?

O’Mally put this idea into practice with an engaging class exercise. Students first wrote elevator pitches without AI assistance. Then, they turned to ChatGPT for suggestions, finally reflecting on their AI-enhanced revisions. “The experience sparked rich discussions around ethical AI use,” she says. “While using the tool, students also considered its implications, learning firsthand the balance between innovation and responsibility.”

It's exactly this kind of hands-on exploration that the UB School of Management embraces, connecting research breakthroughs to real-world business scenarios. Through initiatives like O’Mally’s, students graduate with practical insights into AI’s potential — and its pitfalls.

But O’Mally didn’t stop at assignments. MacMillan’s AI course inspired her to create an explicit AI usage policy for her class. She now confidently guides students through nuanced conversations around ethical and effective AI applications, shifting the classroom tone from skepticism to open curiosity.

This thoughtful integration of AI education demonstrates a broader ethos in the School of Management. Faculty and students alike are learning together how to harness groundbreaking technologies, transforming theoretical research into tangible, impactful solutions.

Isn’t that exactly what leading business schools should do — prepare future leaders who can ethically and creatively navigate technology? For O'Mally and her students, the answer is clear, and the future is now.

This story was written by AI and edited by a member of the UB School of Management Marketing and Communications Office.