This research explores how Iranian MBA students view artificial intelligence as a driver of change in global power structures. Using a mixed-methods design, it combines survey results from 394 respondents with thematic analysis of open-ended answers. The quantitative data indicate a widespread belief that AI will hasten the decline of established global powers, widen global disparities, and offer emerging economies chances for geopolitical advantage. Qualitative themes include AI as a soft power tool, concerns over technological dependence, entrepreneurial optimism, and regulatory inadequacy. The analysis situates participants’ views within broader theoretical frameworks articulated by Innis, McLuhan, Castells, and Toffler, emphasizing AI’s capacity to redefine sovereignty, governance, and economic competitiveness. Statistical tests highlight how demographic variables, such as employment sector and academic status, significantly influence attitudes toward AI’s disruptive potential. These results underline both the optimism and anxiety among future business leaders regarding Iran’s capacity to harness AI’s transformative possibilities amidst structural and regulatory challenges.
