American University’s Kogod School of Business reported new student survey data showing AI skills are becoming a near-default hiring screen rather than a differentiator. Across three years of student-led research, the share of Kogod students who said employers asked about their AI skills during hiring rose from 11.6% in 2024 to 42.6% in 2026—an increase attributed to the rapid spread of generative AI usage across student work, internships and job searches. Kogod’s interim president and Kogod leadership framed the results as evidence that universities need to prepare graduates to use AI ethically and responsibly, not just technically. The finding adds urgency to curriculum redesigns already underway in business schools and beyond, especially as institutions face pressure to demonstrate employment relevance with measurable outcomes.