The Australian Institute of Business (AIB) has revamped its MBA program to prioritize artificial intelligence literacy and ethical AI leadership, addressing the rapid evolution of Australia’s workforce. Through extensive research into the integration of AI tools like ChatGPT in higher education, the institution has restructured its teaching methods, assessments, and support systems related to AI within the MBA curriculum.
A notable feature of this redesign is the introduction of the new elective, Artificial Intelligence for Business, accessible to all MBA students. This course emphasizes AI as a leadership capability rather than merely a technical skill amid growing evidence that AI roles are now prevalent in various sectors. AIB’s analysis of job postings on platforms like LinkedIn and SEEK revealed 2,372 Australian positions highlighting AI in their titles or descriptions. Roles such as “AI Evangelist” and “AI Enablement Lead” are increasingly essential, with a clear focus on how organizations govern and implement AI in decision-making processes.
The statistics underscore a rising demand for these positions; for example, in Sydney, job advertisements mentioning AI surged from 651 in March 2025 to 909 by December 2025—an impressive 40 percent increase. Brisbane saw a similar trend, with listings climbing from 151 to 210 during the same period. The concentration of AI roles was notably high in Sydney, which reported 1,170 AI-connected jobs, followed by Melbourne with 622 and Brisbane with 244.
According to Associate Professor Sumesh Nair, the traditional educational approach—viewing AI solely as a technical skill—no longer aligns with the current workplace dynamics. He stressed that the integration of AI in both academic and professional environments calls for a new managerial perspective that blends strategy with technology.
The Artificial Intelligence for Business elective aims to provide future leaders with practical insights into the operational use of AI, focusing on how it can drive growth and enhance competitive advantages rather than just automate tasks. The curriculum covers essential AI concepts, including large language models, applied use cases, governance, and ethical considerations, ensuring students understand both the opportunities and risks tied to AI technology.
One critical aspect highlighted by AIB’s research is the tendency of students to overtrust AI outputs, often neglecting context. To combat this, the MBA program now places a stronger emphasis on personal judgment, requiring students to engage in reflective analysis and defend their decisions with real-world examples.
Associate Professor Mulyadi Robin, AIB’s Associate Dean of Teaching and Learning, emphasized the need for students to develop clear guidelines and support in learning to use AI effectively, not just in academic settings but also in their professional lives. By embedding these principles into their assessments, AIB aims to enhance students’ abilities to evaluate information critically, question AI-generated responses, and delineate the essential contributions of human judgment in a technology-driven environment.
AIB’s comprehensive analysis of job trends indicates that many AI roles are evolving beyond traditional technical functions, positioning themselves within broader managerial frameworks responsible for the strategic deployment of AI solutions throughout organizations. This shift highlights the growing role of governance and leadership in AI implementation.
To illustrate the geographic expansion of AI roles, AIB has mapped job counts across Australia, emphasizing a national trend toward AI literacy as a fundamental requirement in business education. Robin remarked that the institution’s initiatives are placing AIB at the forefront of AI integration, business education, and leadership development.
As Australia’s largest online MBA provider for over 40 years, AIB serves more than 20,000 students globally, offering accredited postgraduate business degrees. With increasing competition for graduates equipped to lead in AI-enabled enterprises, AIB’s updated MBA program underscores the importance of governance, ethics, and strategic decision-making in shaping responsible leaders of the future.