As artificial intelligence becomes a core part of Wall Street’s operations, elite business schools are rapidly transforming their curricula to prepare students for a future where AI handles routine tasks like financial modeling and slide creation. The shift reflects a stark change from past concerns—once, students feared being caught using AI; now, the real risk is being left behind for not using it. Wharton, the prestigious business school at the University of Pennsylvania, is leading the charge with a comprehensive overhaul. It has launched a new academic track centered on AI, integrating courses that blend technical skills with ethics, psychology, and governance. Classes such as “Artificial Intelligence, Business, and Society,” “Applied Machine Learning in Business,” and “Big Data, Big Responsibilities” emphasize not just how to use AI tools, but how to critically evaluate their outputs and understand their societal impact. Eric Bradlow, Wharton’s vice dean of AI and analytics, said the school is equipping students to become interpreters of AI—not just users. Students learn to question model assumptions, validate results, and apply human judgment to strategic decisions. To support this transformation, Wharton created an AI in Education Fund, providing faculty with resources to embed AI content into existing courses. Other institutions are following suit. Vanderbilt University is establishing a standalone College of Connected Computing, dedicated to AI, data science, and robotics, with plans to integrate these disciplines across its business programs. Meanwhile, Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business is expanding its case-based teaching and introducing AI-focused courses like Python for Finance and AI and Business at the graduate level. Training The Street, a firm that delivers technical training to finance professionals, has rolled out free online tutorials on AI tools for banking roles, reflecting a broader industry demand for accessible AI education. Hiring executives confirm that the skills employers now seek go beyond technical proficiency. Jacqueline Arthur, global head of human capital management at Goldman Sachs, said the firm now prioritizes candidates who demonstrate critical thinking, adaptability, and the ability to solve complex problems in real time—qualities that machines cannot replicate. Goldman Sachs has incorporated AI training into its onboarding, giving new hires hands-on experience with internal AI systems and teaching them how to monitor and validate AI-generated insights. “We need people who can look at what the AI produces and ask, ‘Is this right? Is this fair? Does it make sense in the real world?’” Arthur said. The message is clear: as AI automates the repetitive, the value of human talent is shifting toward strategic thinking, ethical oversight, and the ability to turn data into decisions. Business schools are no longer just teaching finance—they’re training the next generation of leaders to work alongside, and guide, the machines.