ChatGPT: Powerful Tool But Not Substitute For MBA

Radhika Srivastava Feb 10, 2023

Humanity has advanced to the point that spaceflight tourism, self-driving cars, hyperloop technology and artificial intelligence are now the norm. The realisation is starting to sink in and AI appears to be the first to deliver it. AI is no longer just a feature of science fiction stories but plays a crucial role in almost every field, from banking to healthcare and education. The AI we are referring to here is Open AI's Chat GpT, a chatbot that has shocked everyone with its capabilities.

The ability of ChatGPT to generate instant copywriting services, programme codes, project proposals and pass the Wharton MBA entrance test with a B grade in just 50 days after launch speaks volumes about its potential. This powerful tool has left many worried and concerned about ChatGPT replacing management roles and other job roles across various industries. Hence, we wonder if ChatGPT is good enough at some things to create a false impression that MBA colleges and curricula have become obsolete. Let's take a closer look.

A misplaced sense of ChatGPT ruling over MBA role

ChatGPT or Chat Generative Pre Trained Transformer, is primarily a conversational solution if you haven't followed the tech headlines for a while. The way it can help humans expedite their work has garnered headlines shortly after its launch. Here's an important question, will certain MBA jobs become redundant as a result of AI? Is it going to shadow MBA schools and faculty roles? The answer is emphatic no. Even though it can be used to learn, ask questions, and get help with their projects, it doesn't substitute for the personal touch that a teacher has on their students. The MBA isn't just about teaching, exams, or graduation; it's about nurturing a student's career in such a way that they act with a responsibility to improve society.

Additionally, the MBA remains an essential and highly valued degree programme for students looking to succeed in business. As an example, when it comes to business problem-solving skills, AI indeed cannot compete with human intellect. Despite AI's ability to drive down the costs of analysis, the value of human judgment - the part machines cannot do - will naturally rise.

In the coming years, complex problem-solving skills will become increasingly important. In terms of their unique quality, MBA programs provide a framework for connecting knowledge from interdisciplinary courses. Management skills learned over time serve as a guide for practically addressing business problems, which is an advantage over chatbots trained over some years' worth of data sets.

When it comes to threats to jobs, technology has always made life easier but hasn't replaced humans. History tells us that change has always created more jobs. Humans will inevitably evolve, skill sets will change and other industries will grow. Even if ChatGPT proves successful, it won't be able to eliminate MBA's role in preparing future leaders and thinkers. It would be a mistake to rely on this concrete software for anything other than an indication of progress.

A need for human touch Integrated with data-oriented tech

In any scenario, AI and human judgment can complement each other, but not replace each other. Yes! ChatGPT can provide intelligent responses as much as you want. However, if a human doesn't tell it what to do, it won't be able to do anything. Yes, it can write code, essays, and even news articles. The question is, who is going to vouch for its veracity? The key is to adopt an integrated approach combining the human touch with technology.

Ignoring it or pretending it doesn't exist doesn't solve the problem. As an individual, your best bet would be to educate yourself on AI and make use of these tools to your advantage. Business schools cannot ignore the fact that AI will surely change the future of education and business. Rather than being chaotic and anxious, they should leverage this opportunity to create AI-enabled adaptive learning systems to create the next generation of competent leaders.