Artificial Intelligence is no longer the preserve of coders and engineers — it is fast becoming a universal skill set, one that students across streams must acquire to remain relevant in a transformed job market.

The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs 2025 report predicts that roles in AI, machine learning, big data, and security management will be among the fastest-growing in India. With nearly 96% of Indian organisations already adopting AI in some form, the technology’s influence is extending far beyond traditional IT jobs into the arts, humanities, and commerce.

“Students and scholars, irrespective of their academic background, must acquire AI tools such as ChatGPT and prompt engineering to excel in their careers,” said Prof. Mahadeo Jaiswal, Director of IIM Sambalpur. “AI is a powerful and disruptive technology, and every student must equip themselves with it — not only for effective learning but also for their future prospects.”

Prof. Mrunal Chavda of IIM Raipur echoed this, stressing that AI literacy, prompt design, data ethics, and domain-specific applications must be embedded into curricula. “For humanities and commerce students, these skills go beyond employability. They empower them to shape a human-centred, inclusive AI future, one that India, with its diversity and scale, is uniquely poised to lead,” she said.

Beyond coding: a shift in the career game

Experts insist that students don’t need to be expert programmers to leverage AI effectively. “Non-technical students can gain tremendously from AI tools,” said Mihir Parekh, an MBA student at BITSoM. “Familiarity with concepts like prompt engineering is enough to help them work with technical teams and make use of platforms such as Cursor, Vercel, and Lovable.”

For commerce students, the applications are already tangible — from AI-driven financial modelling and risk management to fraud detection and predictive analytics. “AI is helping us interpret market data and make better financial decisions,” said Pratyush Vidyarthi, a PGDM student at BIMTECH.

Even in the humanities, AI literacy is critical. Reena Cheruvalath, Professor of Humanities and Social Sciences at BITS Pilani, argued that students must combine digital creativity with critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and contextual understanding. “Programming skills are not enough. Students must actively question AI outputs, understand issues of bias and privacy, and apply these tools to societal challenges like mental health, climate change, and gender inequality,” she said.

Human skills remain irreplaceable

Despite AI’s rapid rise, educators and students agree that it cannot replace human judgement. “The most crucial skill students must develop is critical thinking,” said Anushna Mishra, an MBA student at BITSoM. “AI should be treated as an additional tool, not a substitute for the analytical abilities that education is meant to foster.”

Industry leaders warn that the true opportunity is not in coding alone, but in mastering the art of humanising AI. “Graduates need to focus on AI literacy and conceptual understanding that goes deeper than surface-level tool usage,” said Prateek Shukla, CEO and Co-Founder of Masai. “The real skill is creating AI-enhanced content that still feels human — and combining domain knowledge with AI to cut through the noise of data overload.”

As AI reshapes the very architecture of work, one thing is clear: whether in arts, commerce, or science, tomorrow’s standout graduates will be those who combine technological fluency with creativity, ethics, and critical thought.