The rapid growth of AI, especially in Generative AI and AI Agents, is creating enormous opportunities for businesses. Companies are utilizing these tools to automate tasks, make informed decisions, and develop new products.
To stay ahead, business leaders and pros need to know how to use these technologies correctly. That means programs focused on practical use and strategy, not just coding.
These top 10 programs are selected to equip business professionals with the knowledge to leverage Applied AI and Generative AI for success.
How we chose these Applied AI and Generative AI programs
We picked these programs based on what really matters for career growth in AI:
- Focus on Business: Programs must prioritize using AI to drive innovation and add value, rather than just focusing on the technical aspects.
- Top Schools: The programs are from leading, recognized universities and business schools.
- Up-to-Date Content: The courses cover the latest AI technologies, including Generative AI, LLMs, and AI agents.
- Hands-on Learning: Programs utilize real-world projects and case studies to develop practical skills.
- For Leaders: Designed for managers and leaders who want to drive change.
10 Applied AI and Generative AI Programs for Business Innovation
Here are 10 top programs designed to help business professionals use AI effectively:
1. Post Graduate Program in AI Agents for Business Applications (University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business)
Delivery: Online
Duration: 12 Weeks
This specialized online agentic AI course, offered by the McCombs School in collaboration with Great Learning, enables business professionals to utilize Generative AI and AI agents to address specific business challenges and automate tasks.
It’s practical, designed for immediate business impact, and doesn’t require deep coding skills.
Key Outcomes:
- Navigate the AI landscape and understand foundational concepts to address business challenges across functions.
- Apply GenAI, large language models, and Retrieval-Augmented Generation to enhance business productivity.
- Develop intelligent, context-aware single-agent systems to automate workflows and drive operational efficiency.
- Solve business problems with planning and reasoning strategies, and scalable, secure multi-agent ecosystems.
Best Suited For: Business professionals looking for practical, immediate ways to automate tasks and solve problems using AI agents.
2. AI Essentials for Business (Harvard Business School Online)
Delivery: Online
Duration: ~4 Weeks
This program provides a comprehensive overview of AI concepts and strategies for leaders. It helps managers make informed decisions about utilizing AI in their organizations and communicating effectively with technical teams.
Key Outcomes:
- Understand the basics of AI: machine learning, deep learning, and NLP.
- Find AI opportunities in your industry.
- Learn to manage AI projects and lead change.
- Discuss AI strategy easily with technical teams.
Best Suited For: Business leaders and managers needing a foundational understanding of AI strategy and concepts to make informed decisions.
3. Certificate Program in Applied Generative AI (Johns Hopkins University in collaboration with Great Learning)
Delivery: Online (via Engineering for Professionals)
Duration: 16 Weeks
This generative AI course, jointly offered by Johns Hopkins University and Great Learning, is designed to help professionals apply Generative AI across various domains, including content creation, software development, and data analysis.
It covers both foundational and advanced concepts, focusing on building and deploying real-world Generative AI solutions for innovation and business growth.
Key Outcomes:
- Understand the foundations of GenAI and apply techniques to create text, image, and multimedia content.
- Develop and train GenAI models using ML frameworks, and analyze the impact of GenAI on industries and society.
- Master the art of building intelligent AI agents to power real-world, agentic workflows and personalized automation.
- Implement best practices and evaluate ethical considerations to mitigate potential risks in Generative AI solutions.
Best Suited For: Professionals who want a comprehensive understanding of Generative AI applications across business functions and hands-on coding experience.
4. Generative AI for Business Sprint (IMD Business School)
Delivery: Online
Duration: Short Sprint
An intense program to quickly grasp and use generative AI for immediate business impact. It focuses on finding uses and deploying solutions fast to stay ahead of the competition.
Key Outcomes:
- Quickly spot practical generative AI projects for your business.
- Think strategically about using AI to beat the competition.
- Understand AI limits and ethics.
- Create a plan for rapid AI adoption.
Best Suited For: Executives and managers who need a fast, intense overview of generative AI’s potential and how to deploy it quickly.
5. Executive Program in Generative AI for Leaders (IIIT Bangalore)
Delivery: Online
Duration: ~4 Months
For senior leaders, this program focuses on rolling out generative AI across a whole company, covering everything from ethics and governance to practical adoption plans and frameworks.
Key Outcomes:
- Develop an AI strategy that aligns with the company’s objectives.
- Understand AI ethics, rules, and laws.
- Learn about prompt engineering and basic models for company use.
- Develop a comprehensive plan for leveraging AI across the entire organization.
Best Suited For: Senior executives responsible for developing and implementing a company-wide AI strategy and governance framework.
6. AI Leadership and Strategy Programs (University of Oxford, Said Business School / Cambridge Judge Business School)
Delivery: Online or Hybrid
Duration: ~6-8 Weeks
These high-level programs cover how to create AI plans, get a competitive edge with AI, and manage AI responsibly at the executive level. They are designed for top management.
Key Outcomes:
- Develop and implement a company-wide AI strategy.
- Utilize AI to gain a competitive edge.
- Establish effective AI rules and ethics.
- Lead the change needed for successful AI use.
Best Suited For: C-suite executives and senior managers looking to formulate a long-term, competitive AI strategy.
7. IBM Applied AI Professional Certificate (IBM via Coursera)
Delivery: Online
Duration: ~4-5 Months (flexible)
This program offers job-ready AI skills through practical projects, including generative AI and building chatbots. It provides a strong foundation for utilizing AI in business, backed by a well-respected certificate.
Key Outcomes:
- Master AI basics, machine learning, and data science.
- Get hands-on with NLP and deep learning tools.
- Build a project portfolio that includes an AI chatbot.
- Get an IBM certificate that employers trust.
Best Suited For: Professionals seeking practical, hands-on skills and a recognized certificate to transition into an applied AI role.
8. Post Graduate Program in Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning: Business Applications (Great Learning)
Delivery: Online/Blended
Duration: ~11 Months
A complete program covering AI/ML basics and their use in business, made for working pros who want deep expertise and a certificate from a top business school.
Key Outcomes:
- Use advanced machine learning and deep learning models.
- Apply AI to improve finance, marketing, and operations.
- Work on real-world projects and case studies.
- Get a valuable certificate from UT Austin McCombs.
Best Suited For: Working professionals who want both technical knowledge in AI/ML and the strategic know-how to apply it in a business context.
9. AI in Finance: Strategy and Applications (Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania)
Delivery: Online/Hybrid
Duration: ~6 Weeks
For the finance world, this program shows how AI and generative AI can change operations, risk management, and customer service in banking. It’s a specialized, industry-focused course.
Key Outcomes:
- Discover AI opportunities in lending, risk management, and investments.
- Discover how generative AI impacts customer experience and fraud prevention.
- Make an AI plan for a financial company.
- Understand the rules for AI in finance.
Best Suited For: Finance professionals looking to understand how AI is reshaping the financial services industry and to develop relevant strategies.
10. Post Graduate Program in Data Science with Generative AI: Applications to Business (Great Learning)
Delivery: Online
Duration: 10-12 Months
This program combines data science skills with generative AI to find deep insights and solve complex business problems. It focuses on practical applications and projects.
Key Outcomes:
- Master data analysis, predictive models, and machine learning.
- Utilize generative AI for data creation and informed decision-making.
- Develop a robust project portfolio utilizing standard tools.
- Add business value through innovative use of data and AI.
Best Suited For: Data science professionals and managers who want to integrate cutting-edge generative AI techniques into their data analysis and decision-making processes.
Conclusion
The year 2025 is a critical time for using AI. The programs listed above equip business professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively utilize technologies such as generative AI and AI agents.
These generative ai course focus on solving real business problems and ensuring participants can drive value and a competitive edge for their organizations. Investing in one of these programs is a crucial move to future-proof your career and lead your company into the AI age.
