Leading the AI Revolution in Business Education

Business is at a transformational crossroads, thanks to the increasing prevalence of artificial intelligence. AI isn’t just another technological advancement — it’s reshaping how we think, work, and create value. According to a 2025 report by consulting firm McKinsey & Company, AI’s impact could eclipse that of the internet, offering the means to automate cognitive functions, analyze massive datasets, and drive innovation that can lead to increased efficiency and productivity — and the creation of new business models.

Realizing AI’s significant potential, Mays Business School is embracing it and developing innovative programs to help students, researchers, and organizational partners leverage this powerful technology to build a better world.

“AI is already having an enormous impact, and its influence will continue to increase and expand exponentially,” says Mays Business School Dean Dr. Nate Y. Sharp. “We believe it’s our responsibility at Mays to teach our students to harness AI’s power in ways that are ethical and responsible. We are preparing them to go change the world.”

Building the Foundation

The promise of AI extends far beyond the $4.4 trillion McKinsey & Company estimates could be realized in added productivity through AI implementation. It represents an opportunity to fundamentally transform how businesses operate, innovate, and create value.

To lead that transformation, Mays Business School made a strategic investment in spring 2025, hiring Arnold Castro ’17 ’22 as its first assistant dean of artificial intelligence. Castro brings over two decades of experience with emerging technologies, including data analytics, machine learning, and AI. He also has experience in numerous industries and with leading organizations such as NASA and Wells Fargo. Most recently, Castro was chief data and technology officer for MFG Analytic, where he guided organizations worldwide in adopting AI.

Castro is also a veteran of the U.S. Army. He left corporate life to enlist after Sept. 11 and served as a combat engineer in the Iraq War. Realizing his potential, Army officers pushed him to further his education by earning a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Campbell University. A decade later, Castro graduated from Mays’ Executive MBA program and returned to earn a master of science in analytics in 2022.

In addition to the Aggie Network, his graduate programs introduced him to Mays faculty members. “One of the main reasons I took this job was because of the level of the faculty’s expertise,” he says. “They are top-notch and the reason that I’m here, because they made a huge impression on me.”

Castro believes working with Mays faculty and leadership on AI-related initiatives will have a far-ranging influence. “I saw this role as an opportunity to bring my knowledge to make an impact in the business side by preparing not just the next generation but also the university, which needs to adapt in this transformative time,” he says.

Accelerating Innovation

Under Castro’s leadership, Mays is rapidly expanding its AI initiatives across multiple fronts. One of his first efforts was establishing a groundbreaking partnership with Perplexity, a cutting-edge AI search engine, to provide access to the entire Texas A&M community. “Perplexity will provide researchers and students with an AI assistant that can do tasks that will free them up to do enterprise-level work,” Castro said.

Mays is also launching an “Artificial Intelligence and Business” minor in fall 2025 that is open to juniors and seniors in any major. The innovative minor includes 15 hours of online coursework that will help students learn how to integrate AI and machine learning into their undergraduate discipline’s knowledge base.

“These students will have this knowledge of this technology that will be growing alongside them. When they leave the university, they’re taking this knowledge of AI with them and can apply it to their work,” Castro says. “The latest estimates indicate that the person who can leverage this kind of AI can do the work of 10 people, so our students can make a huge impact on an organization, even though they’re in an entry-level position.”

Mays will also convert key content from the AI minor into online Business and AI courses for working professionals, starting in spring 2026. “We’re expecting a lot of people will want to take this because they know that AI will be hugely impacting different roles,” Castro says.

Investing in the Future

“AI is poised to reshape industries, economies, and societies in ways that we can scarcely imagine. At Mays Business School, we believe AI is integral to our vision of building a better future through business,” says Sharp. To that end, Mays is fueling the future of AI with two new competitions, designed to recognize groundbreaking research and business ideas. The Building a Better Future Through Business and AI National Undergraduate Pitch Competition and Dissertation Proposal Competition provide a platform for students to explore the vast potential of AI and contribute to a brighter tomorrow.

In collaboration with Texas A&M’s College of Engineering, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Architecture, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and Texas A&M Innovation, the undergraduate pitch competition asked teams of U.S. undergraduate students to think entrepreneurially about a product that leverages AI to address real-world challenges. More than 100 teams representing 37 universities nationwide submitted a written business plan, and the top 24 teams made virtual pitches to a panel of judges this summer.

The top 12 student team finalists will compete in an in-person pitch round on campus in Mays’ Wayne Roberts ’85 Building this September. The winning team will receive $100,000, and more than $100,000 in additional prize money will be split among the other finalists.

The doctoral competition recognizes innovative dissertation proposals in various business disciplines that highlight the pivotal role that AI will play in the future of business. Winners will receive a cash award of $10,000 and an invitation to present their pioneering research at Mays.

Deloitte and the Deloitte Foundation are supporting both competitions.

At Mays Business School, the AI revolution represents more than just technological advancement — it embodies our commitment to building a better future through business. Through strategic investments in human capital, innovative educational programs, and cross-disciplinary collaboration, Mays is positioning itself at the forefront of AI integration in business education.

“We want to become pioneers in the intersection between AI and business,” Castro says. “Our goal is to develop leaders of character who can harness AI’s potential while staying grounded in our Core Values.”