Artificial intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept at Bentley University. It is embedded in classrooms, study sessions, and late-night coding projects across campus, shaping how students learn.
Warner Babic, a first-year student, said she primarily uses AI to structure her workflow. “I often use AI to help format my writing processes, develop study plans, and math if I get stuck and need step-by-step explanations,” Babic said.
In a recent assignment, she used AI to walk her through a problem she didn’t understand. She said it helped her complete the remaining problems because it taught her the process step by step.
Still, Babic acknowledged the risks of dependence on AI. “If it’s overused, it reduces learning, and the material doesn’t stay,” she said. She added that Bentley’s university-wide AI policies can be confusing.
Alex Gulezian, another Bentley student, said he uses AI differently. “I mainly use AI for coding or finance-related questions. I hardly use it for writing,” Gulezian said.
He used AI in his CS class to help code a website for a final project, which his professor encouraged.
Gulezian views AI as a productivity tool. He said AI increases his efficiency and helps him understand steps toward the right answers and added that “Bentley’s AI policies are straightforward and clearly written.”
However, he expressed concern about overreliance on AI for studying because it may not always have reliable answers for detailed topics with limited information.
Karen Fisher, a management professor at Bentley, said students should treat artificial intelligence as a tool that strengthens, not replaces, their thinking. “One important thing is to always check what comes out of AI, to validate,” Fisher said. “AI is great as a thinking partner, but we have to embed it to make it our own.”
She said that technology hasn’t affected relationships with students. “It comes down to the relationships we create,” Fisher said.
Fisher described Bentley’s AI policies as still developing. “Not clear and that is okay,” she said. “We are still learning, and it takes time to adapt.”
She also emphasized AI’s role in accessibility. She said AI changed lives and that students need to learn to use it without fear.
Overall, students and faculty at Bentley say artificial intelligence is becoming part of daily academic life. Balancing efficiency with critical thinking and personal connections will help define the future of the university’s business education.
