Why Professors Matter More Than Ever. There’s no doubt about it

AI is transforming accounting and finance education forever. Today, students can ask a chatbot to explain the time value of money, draft a sample journal entry, or even generate practice problems on deferred taxes. What used to take hours of library research can now happen in seconds. So where does that leave professors? Are they still relevant? The truth is: Professors are more important than ever. And if you are a student of accounting or finance, understanding the role of your professors — and how AI can actually empower your learning — will be critical to your future success.

AI Handles Information. Professors Build Understanding.

AI excels at processing information. It can: • Summarize accounting standards. • Solve financial math problems. • Simulate investment scenarios. But learning accounting and finance isn’t just about memorizing standards or crunching numbers. It’s about grasping the underlying concepts — understanding why rules exist, how financial realities are modeled, and what risks or assumptions lie beneath the surface. Professors help you bridge that gap. A good professor doesn’t just tell you the answer. They push you to: • Analyze the rationale behind accounting treatments. • Question the assumptions behind valuation models. • Apply technical knowledge to messy, unpredictable real-world business situations. AI can assist in that journey, but it can’t replace the critical thinking and mentorship a human educator provides.

The Challenge: Making Learning Real and Relatable

One of the greatest hurdles in teaching accounting and finance is making technical problems feel real and relatable. Students often ask: • “Why does this matter?” • “When will I ever use this?” AI can generate a thousand practice problems on lease accounting. But it takes a professor to connect those problems to real-world decisions: • Should a company lease or buy? • How does recognizing a right-of-use asset affect the company’s financial ratios — and its ability to get loans? Professors bring in case studies, current events, and personal business experiences to make complex concepts stick — something AI still struggles to do with real-world richness and nuance.

How AI Is Transforming Accounting and Finance Education

That said, AI is not the enemy. It’s a powerful tool — if used correctly. Here’s how AI is already reshaping education: • Personalized Learning: AI can tailor quizzes and feedback to each student’s level. • Faster Access to Information: Students can get background on standards, formulas, or theories instantly. • Simulated Practice: AI can generate endless variations of accounting problems for hands-on learning. • Collaboration and Research: AI can assist in gathering data and performing preliminary analyses for student research projects. Rather than fearing AI, smart students and professors are integrating it into the learning process.

How to Benefit the Most from AI (Without Being Replaced)

If you want to thrive in this new environment, here’s what you should do: • Focus on Understanding Concepts: Use AI to explain topics, but always dig deeper. Ask why things are done a certain way. • Practice Applying Knowledge: Don’t just memorize journal entries. Understand how financial reporting affects business strategy. • Seek Real-World Context: Always ask, “How would this concept play out in a real company?” • Engage with Your Professors: Leverage their experience. Ask them to challenge you, share stories, and guide your critical thinking. • Develop Critical Skills: AI can give you the facts, but you must build judgment, ethics, communication, and decision-making abilities.

Final Thoughts

AI is not replacing professors. It’s redefining their role — from information providers to mentors, guides, and critical thinking coaches. For students of accounting and finance, success will not come from competing with AI on speed or memory. It will come from mastering concepts, applying them to real-world decisions, and building the judgment and skills that no machine can replicate. Embrace AI — but value the human mentorship that shapes true professional excellence. In the future, those who only know how to “ask” AI will work for those who know how to think, understand, and lead. Which one will you be?

Read related article: Integrating AI in Research