Best AI courses for business leaders in 2025

In 2025, leveraging or ignoring AI in business is no longer a neutral choice. It directly impacts competitiveness, efficiency, and long-term survival. While business leaders do not need to become data scientists, they need to understand what AI can do to maximize their results. This includes knowing where AI adds value and how to evaluate AI solutions.

The courses listed in this article are built for executives and managers who want practical, strategic AI knowledge without unnecessary technical complexity.

What makes a great AI course for business leaders?

Not every AI course is designed for business leaders. For this list, we focused on programs that deliver practical value without overwhelming participants with technical detail. Each course included meets the following criteria:

1. No technical prerequisites

Business leaders need to understand AI concepts, not write code. We only selected courses that explain AI in clear, accessible language without requiring programming or data science experience.

2. Strategic focus

The courses emphasize how AI applies to real business problems, such as improving operations, enhancing decision-making, or driving growth, rather than focusing on the mechanics of the technology.

3. Credible institutions or intructors

All selected courses are delivered by reputable organizations or industry experts with a track record of working at the intersection of AI and business.

Top AI courses for business leaders (2025 Edition)

1. Artificial Intelligence: Business Strategies and Applications – Berkeley ExecEd

• Institution: UC Berkeley

• Duration: 2 months (online)

• Focus: ROI focus, use cases, organizational impact

• Fee: $2,625

Artificial Intelligence: Business Strategies and Applications is an AI course for business leaders who want to integrate artificial intelligence into their strategy without getting into the technical weeds. It covers core AI concepts, use cases across industries, and frameworks for evaluating AI opportunities from a business perspective.  

UC Berkeley’s AI course for business leaders has structured and applied emphasis. Participants complete a capstone project across the modules, building an AI initiative or business case specific to their organization. Four live sessions led by Berkeley faculty (including expert faculty directors) dive into breakthrough topics like generative AI and organizational readiness. The program balances executive-level frameworks and real-world examples, grounded by UC Berkeley’s academic credibility with Emeritus’s delivery model.

2. Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Business Strategy – MIT Sloan School of Management

• Institution: MIT Sloan School of Management

• Duration: 6 weeks (online)

• Focus: Strategic frameworks, competitive advantage, AI implementation

• Fee: $3,850

Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Business Strategy is built for executives and senior managers who want a clear, strategic understanding of how AI technologies, such as machine learning, natural language processing, robotics, and generative AI, impact business.

This AI course for business leaders equips leaders with frameworks to evaluate use cases, quantifiable ROI, and broader economic and societal consequences of AI adoption. Participants learn to assess AI readiness across functions and industries and leave with a personalized strategic roadmap supported by MIT’s faculty-driven case studies and forward-looking guidance.  

3. Transforming Your Business with AI – INSEAD

• Institution: INSEAD

• Duration: 5 weeks (online)

• Focus: Covers machine learning, automation, business transformation

• Fee: €2,050

Transforming Your Business with AI is a 5-week online program from INSEAD designed for senior business leaders who want to integrate AI into their organizations without needing a technical background. The course covers the fundamentals of AI strategy, team design, governance, and implementation, with a strong emphasis on generative AI and real-world business applications. Participants work through case studies, expert lectures, and a structured Action Learning Project (ALP) that helps apply course concepts directly to a real business challenge.

This “AI for business leaders” course is built around executive decision-making, organizational readiness, and ethical implementation, rather than algorithms or tools. The inclusion of a dedicated module on generative AI, along with peer discussions and coaching support, makes the course both timely and practical. The ALP ensures that every participant leaves with a tailored AI roadmap that aligns with their own business context.

4. Oxford Artificial Intelligence Programme – Saïd Business School

• Institution: University of Oxford

• Duration: 6 weeks (online)

• Focus: Ethics, governance, risk management, future foresight

• Fee: £2,450

Oxford Artificial Intelligence Programme course delivers a clear, business-focused overview of AI fundamentals. It’s designed for managers and non-technical leaders who need to understand what AI can do, what it can’t, and how to build a credible business case for its use, based on real-world examples and actionable frameworks.

Taught by Oxford Saïd faculty and industry experts, the curriculum covers AI’s ecosystem, ethical and legal issues, and strategic applications. Participants complete modules that include ethics and governance, practical implementation scenarios, and risk mitigation, equipping them to assess AI initiatives and guide AI-informed change in their organizations.

5. AI Strategies for Business Transformation – Northwestern Kellogg

• Institution: Northwestern Kellogg School of Management

• Duration: 9 weeks (online)

• Focus: Organizational change, data governance, AI alignment with business goals

• Fee: $2,848

This AI for business leaders course guides senior executives and managers through a strategic, non-technical exploration of generative AI and enterprise integration. Hosted by Kellogg’s renowned faculty (including Mohanbir Sawhney), the course blends frameworks like AI Canvas 2.0 and AI Radar 2.0 with real-world case studies from organizations like Netflix, Spotify, and GE Healthcare. Participants learn to identify high-impact use cases across functions like customer experience, operations, and HR, and develop a roadmap to scale AI responsibly with governance and ethics baked in.

At the end of the course, business leaders leave equipped to evaluate AI solutions, align technical and business teams, and execute AI-driven change. Live sessions, interactive assignments, and a capstone project ensure that the learning is directly applicable to organizational strategy.

Bonus: Free and quick learning resources

If you're looking for faster ways to build your AI literacy without enrolling in a full course, these free resources offer high-quality insights for non-technical audiences.

Harvard Business Review – AI Strategy Articles

Harvard Business Review regularly publishes articles on how AI is reshaping business models, decision-making, and leadership. These pieces are written specifically for executives and focus on practical frameworks, ethical considerations, and competitive implications. They’re ideal for leaders who want to stay informed without diving into technical material. Search “AI strategy” on the Harvard Business Review website for related articles.

Google’s "AI for Anyone"

This short, free course by Google explains what AI is, how it works in everyday products, and how businesses can benefit from it. It’s designed for complete beginners and avoids technical jargon. Ideal for leaders who want a quick and clear introduction to AI fundamentals.

Podcasts

• The AI in Business Podcast

Hosted by Daniel Faggella, this podcast features interviews with enterprise leaders and AI practitioners. Each episode focuses on real-world applications of AI in sectors like finance, healthcare, and retail. Emphasis is on ROI, integration, and strategy.

• The TWIML AI Podcast

While more technical at times, TWIML includes valuable interviews with researchers, founders, and Fortune 500 executives. It’s useful for leaders who want to understand industry trends and hear how large organizations are experimenting with AI.

Conclusion

AI is no longer a niche topic for technical teams. In 2025, it is a core part of business strategy, operations, and leadership. For business leaders, understanding AI is not about writing code. It is about making informed decisions, evaluating opportunities, and guiding teams through change.

Whether you're exploring AI for the first time or looking to deepen your strategic insight, investing a few hours in one of the best AI courses for business leaders can pay long-term dividends for you and your organization. Choose one that fits your goals and start closing the gap between AI potential and business action.