Growing up on a farm near Osage, IA, Pat Johanns learned early that tools matter, and that using them safely matters even more. Grain augers, sickle mowers, and plows are not inherently dangerous on their own. But in the wrong hands, they can be deadly.
That same instinct shapes how he thinks about artificial intelligence.
Johanns, associate professor of business analytics, views AI as a leap-forward tool with the potential to transform modern business as profoundly as the tractor revolutionized agriculture.
Because of this, Johanns believes business schools need to be at the cutting edge of teaching how to use these powerful, world-shifting tools safely, ethically, and in ways that create value rather than unintended harm.
“This technology is already woven into daily life,” Johanns said. “The question isn’t whether it will be used. The question is whether we train the next generation to use it well."
If students are to succeed and be employable, Johanns said, they must learn to be AI fluent.
"Fluency includes responsibility," he said. "We need people who know how to question the outputs, understand the risks, and keep humans in the loop. AI shouldn’t replace judgment; it should augment it. AI isn’t going to replace you at a job, but someone who knows AI better could.”
That philosophy is embedded in the new McGraw-Hill resource Johanns co-authored with Tippie colleague Jim Chaffee and Jackie Rees-Ulmer, dean of Ohio University’s business school, titled "AI in Business: Creating Value Responsibly." It’s written for non-technical business students and—unusual for a textbook—it will live as a digital evergreen” product. Instead of waiting three years for each new edition, the content will be updated continuously as the technology evolves.
A prolific writer and researcher, Johanns didn’t intentionally set out to write an AI ethics textbook. But when he looked for one offering practical guidance for those without a background in computer science or hardcore analytics, he came up empty.
He started writing his own material for his Foundations of Business Analytics course and soon realized he had essentially drafted several usable chapters. Johanns says he is an AI optimist despite the risks of misuse in areas like deepfakes and disinformation.
Being optimistic isn’t being naive,” he said. “It’s choosing to build toward the good outcomes on purpose. If we want a future where AI actually helps us, we must teach people how to engage with it thoughtfully.”
Deep Dive
Associate Professor Pat Johanns discusses AI use on this episode of Tippie Leads.
Read more from the Researchers on a Mission series here:
This article appeared in the Spring 2026 issue of Tippie Magazine.