Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant concept or emerging trend – it’s here, shaping the world at an unprecedented pace. AI capacity is doubling every six to seven months, and youth demands are driving the behavior of these models. For organizations, this is a pivotal moment to rethink core strategies and operations. Amid this evolution, one skill is rising in importance: the art of communicating with AI.

At LMU College of Business Administration, that future came into sharp focus during a recent visit from Dr. Michael “MJ” Jabbour, AI innovation officer at Microsoft. MJ is an expert in organizational transformation with over two decades of experience in artificial intelligence, human-centered agile development, and healthcare. He led a full-day, hands-on workshop to help faculty and staff feel more empowered to understand and use AI in meaningful ways. It starts with how we talk to it. Prompting, as he described, isn’t just a technical task. It’s a conversation. It’s context-setting. It’s about learning to ask better questions to get better answers.

“Prompt writing is a critical skill,” MJ told the room. “Think of it as having a conversation with a very smart assistant. The better you communicate, the better the results.” That mindset shaped the day’s events, which included an interactive prompt-a-thon (featuring a creative challenge to design a mermaid hospital) and practical exercises where participants tested how different prompts led to different outcomes.

The timing couldn’t be more relevant. Across industries, the shift is clear: 82% of leaders expect to have a digital team member within the next 12 to 18 months, and nearly 80% of employees are already bringing their own AI tools into the workplace. At LMU, the number of faculty, staff, and students using Microsoft Copilot, the official institutional AI platform, is increasing. But as MJ emphasized, this shift isn’t just about adopting technology – it’s about transforming culture.

“AI has been around since the 1940s, but today’s generative tools are changing the game,” he explained. “There’s a shift from getting information to getting answers. Building intuitive chops and mindset is critical.”

Dayle Smith, dean of the College of Business Administration, echoed that point. “We need to start thinking of AI as a learning partner,” she said. “MJ opened our eyes to what’s possible in advancing our pedagogy, improving administrative workflows, and preparing students for a tech-driven world.”

Throughout the day, that message rang loud and clear: AI is not replacing educators – it’s augmenting what we can do. And the possibilities are broad. From personalized learning and custom content to improved accessibility and process automation, AI’s potential in education is only beginning to unfold. With the pandemic accelerating digital learning trends, new business models and technologies are emerging fast – and higher education needs to keep pace.

MJ’s approach to AI education blends design thinking, creativity, and hands-on practice. He’s led similar workshops at top institutions like Stanford, NYU, and the University of Michigan, working with faculty to reimagine what teaching and learning can look like when AI becomes a true collaborator.

Josh Spizman, associate dean for faculty and academic programs, summed it up well: “This isn’t about learning a new technology. It’s the beginning of a culture shift in how we teach, research, and engage with new ways of thinking, learning, and doing.”

At its core, the workshop gave people the tools and the mindset to step into the future with confidence. Whether you’re hopeful, hesitant, or somewhere in between, one thing is certain: AI is here and it’s not going away. Knowing how to work with it is no longer optional – it’s essential.