AI and the future of marketing education through the lens of the space merchants

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming professional marketing practices as well as marketing education. This paper employs the science fiction novel “The Space Merchants” by Pohl and Kornbluth as a metaphorical framework for critically examining AI integration in marketing curricula. The authors review existing literature examining the impacts of AI on marketing practices and education. Furthermore, they establish a qualitative methodology analyzing a real-world case study, current applications of AI in marketing education, and discuss ethical frameworks surrounding the use of AI. Utilizing “The Space Merchants” satirical portrayal of consumerism, they reflect on AI’s potential to commodify marketing education, homogenize student thought, and undermine educational integrity. Also examined are AI’s capabilities to enhance personalization, engagement, and teaching efficiency. Ultimately, the paper argues for educators’ indispensable role in ethically leveraging AI to enrich the student experience. The unique fictional lens highlights the need to balance advancement and responsibility in AI-enabled marketing education. This comprehensive ethical analysis aims to significantly advance the discourse on AI's evolving function in shaping the next generation of marketing professionals. Furthermore, by adopting a transdisciplinary approach through the integration of science fiction and ethical critique, the paper seeks to catalyze broader transdisciplinary conversations between the technical and social sciences on the impacts of emerging technologies like AI on education.