With the rise of Industry 5.0 and Education 5.0 paradigms, higher education institutions are increasingly required to develop competencies that go beyond disciplinary knowledge and focus on students’ social, emotional, and reflective abilities. While digital transformation has created new learning environments, the discourse in international literature and across industries increasingly emphasizes human–AI collaboration rather than technological replacement. The aim of this study is to present the results of the alpha testing of a simulation-based soft skills development intervention involving AI agents. The research employed a mixed-methods approach: quantitative data were collected using a pre-tested, standardized online questionnaire (N=597), while qualitative data were gathered in small groups during the simulation testing and analyzed using MAXQDA content analysis software. The results show that students demonstrate a high level of openness toward experience-based, simulation-based learning formats and perceive AI agents primarily as reflective partners rather than as substitutes for human resources. The research highlights that simulation models based on human–AI collaboration and supplemented by a coaching approach may represent a potential avenue for innovation in both the educational and business sectors.