By Devakumar A/L Robert William, Senior Executive, BAC College and Nevash Nithi, Content Writer, BAC College

Businesses have always balanced speed, costs, and sound decisions. Today, AI changes that equation. It alters how organizations process financial data, manage daily operations, and make strategic choices.

We spoke with Dr. Maniyarasi Gowinsamy, Dean of the School of Business Technology (SOBT) at UNIMY, to learn how AI is changing modern business and what students must do to stay ahead.

1. How is AI changing business, finance and management jobs over the next 3 to 5 years?

I strongly believe that AI will make business, finance and management jobs more demanding, especially in speed, productivity and the quality of decision-making. This is even more true in today’s VUCA environment.

In the past, preparing a business report might take two to three working days. Today, with AI, customers and management expect reports, insights and reliable feedback within a few hours. So students need to be fast, but they also need to be analytical. The expectation is no longer just completing a task. It is how quickly we can deliver information that is accurate, meaningful and actionable.

AI will automate many routine tasks. This means professionals must learn to interpret information, evaluate AI-generated outputs, and turn insights into business strategies. I think the real challenge in the next three to five years is not simply using AI. It is knowing how to use it well to create business value.

2. What new skills should business students build right now to stay relevant?

Business students need practical AI skills alongside their business fundamentals, and alongside the hard and soft skills they learn during the programme. As Dean of SOBT, I strongly believe students do not need to become programmers. But they must understand how AI works, how databases store and process information, and how AI uses data to generate insights and recommendations.

Students should get hands-on experience using AI tools for business analysis, financial reporting, digital marketing, research and management decision-making. Equally important are critical thinking, data interpretation, communication, problem-solving and ethical judgement. They must know how to question AI-generated answers, not just accept whatever the technology produces.

At SOBT, our focus is to produce business graduates who can work confidently with AI, understand the technology behind it, and apply it to real business challenges. The future belongs to those who can combine technological competency with business acumen and human intelligence.

3. What is one myth about AI and business jobs that you would like to debunk?

One of the biggest myths I would like to debunk is that AI will replace people and businesses will no longer need human talent. I believe this is a misconception. AI can analyse data, generate reports, identify patterns and recommend possible solutions. But leadership, judgement and strategic decision-making still need human understanding and experience.

For example, AI may recommend a business strategy based on the data available. But a manager must still consider the organisational culture, employee morale, customer relationships, ethical implications and the realities of the business before making the final decision.

From the SOBT perspective, the future is not about choosing between humans and AI. It is about developing graduates who know how to work alongside AI, while bringing the qualities that technology cannot fully replace, such as empathy, accountability, leadership and professional judgement.

AI can provide the answers, but people must know which questions to ask, which answers to trust, and which decisions are right for the organisation. That is why, in preparing our business graduates for the future, we must focus not only on digital skills, but also on these human qualities.

Key Takeaways

As AI becomes more common in the workplace, businesses will need people who know how to use it effectively while bringing their own judgement, experience and creativity to the job. As Dr. Mani perfectly puts it: 

“AI can provide the answers, but people must know which questions to ask, which answers to trust, and which decisions are right for the organisation.”

To prepare for this future, business students must focus not just on digital skills, but on becoming capable, ethical, and adaptable leaders.