Generative AI and Marketing Education: What the Future Holds

Abstract

To understand why and how marketing educators can best use generative artificial intelligence (AI), such as ChatGPT, this article integrates a literature survey, interviews with both marketing educators and managers, and surveys of both marketing educators and students. In leveraging these inputs, the authors argue that generative AI can significantly shape and improve the future of marketing education. Specifically, by including ChatGPT in their lessons, marketing educators can both materially enhance learning experiences and better prepare students for future jobs with marketing firms that rely on ChatGPT in practice. Noting that ChatGPT has downsides, this research identifies several steps educators should take to minimize the risks. Finally, the authors propose an agenda for continued research into how marketing educators can and should use ChatGPT, with the explicit recognition that ChatGPT is evolving rapidly, so that, the research agenda will need to adapt as well.