S2E7 - AI, Critical Thinking, and Change Management with Professor Mark Price

AI, Critical Thinking, and Change Management with Professor Mark Price

In this episode of AI in Action, Dr. Sidney Shapiro speaks with Professor Mark Price, Distinguished Service Professor and AI Faculty Lead at the Opus College of Business at the University of St. Thomas.

The conversation explores how generative AI is changing business education, executive learning, consulting, analytics, and organizational decision-making. Professor Price discusses why students are adopting AI faster than universities, and why educators need to move beyond traditional content-based assignments toward assessments that develop critical thinking, evaluation, judgment, and adaptability.

The episode also examines how organizations can adopt AI more effectively. Professor Price argues that AI should be treated as a change management initiative rather than a technology project. He explains the importance of leadership support, continuous education, AI champions, employee experimentation, and visible cultural reinforcement from senior management.

The discussion also covers AI-resistant assignments, AI-assisted analytics, executive education, shadow AI, prompt workflows, ethical risks, security concerns, agentic AI, and the future of work. Professor Price highlights the need for students and professionals to build intellectual resilience, learn continuously, and develop the ability to evaluate AI-generated work rather than simply produce content with AI.

This episode is especially relevant for educators, business leaders, students, executives, and professionals working to understand how AI can create strategic value while preserving human judgment and critical reasoning.

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