7 Ways Senior Executives Can Learn About AI

As an executive, you have no choice but to learn about AI.

AI is omnipresent. As a senior leader you need to understand AI’s uses, pitfalls, business cases, the competitive landscape, improving business and personal productivity, implications for career management and job search, and its ROI. You need the basics, then need to develop more depth of knowledge, and then identify specific areas of expertise you need to develop.

Hands-on starting points to begin your AI exploration:

  1.     ChatGPT
  2.     Bard (Google)
  3.     WSJ Article on AI tools
  4.     How to build effective prompts
  5.     Jobs impact (+/-)
  6.     Steven Wolfram:  Tech article on the mathematics behind LLM generative AI
  7.     Training Resources
Image by frimufilms 

Then, according to Bard, here are the best ways for executives to learn how to use AI:

1) Take an AI online training course.

  • Coursera offers a variety of online courses on AI, including beginner-level courses, intermediate-level courses, and advanced-level courses. See courses here.
  • edX is another popular website that offers online courses on AI. edX also offers a variety of specializations and certificates in AI. See courses here.
  • Udacity is a website that focuses on short, project-based online courses. Udacity offers a variety of courses on AI, including courses on machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision. See courses here.
  • Udemy is a website that offers a variety of online courses on a variety of topics, including AI. Udemy courses are typically less expensive than courses offered by other websites. See courses here. 
  • Coursera for Business offers a variety of online courses on AI that are designed for businesses. These courses can help businesses learn how to use AI to improve their operations
  • edX for Business is a similar website that offers online courses on AI for businesses.
  • Microsoft Learn offers a variety of online courses on AI, including courses on machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision. These courses are designed for beginners and experienced professionals alike.
  • Google AI Platform is a website that offers a variety of resources on AI, including courses, tutorials, and documentation. Google AI Platform also offers a cloud-based platform that businesses can use to develop and deploy AI applications.
    IBM Developer Skills Networ    k offers a variety of online courses on AI, including courses on machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision. These courses are designed for beginners and experienced professionals alike.
  • AI: DeepLearning.AI is a website that offers a variety of online courses on deep learning, a type of machine learning. DeepLearning.AI courses are taught by Andrew Ng, a leading expert in deep learning
  • YouTube is a great resource for learning about AI. There are many channels that offer videos on AI, from beginner to advanced level. Some popular channels include “3Blue1Brown”, “DeepLearning.AI”, and “Siraj Raval”


2) Read books and articles about AI and Generative Artificial Intelligence.

There are many books and articles available that can teach you about AI. Some popular options include:

3) Talk to experts in AI.

There are many experts in AI who are willing to share their knowledge with others. Find an expert who you can connect with and learn from.

Get hands-on experience.  There are many ways to do this, such as:

  • Build your own AI project. This can be a great way to learn about the different aspects of AI.
  • Contribute to an open-source AI project. This is a great way to learn from other developers and make a real impact.


4) Become a member of an AI association.

There are many AI associations that offer resources and support to their members. These associations can be a great way to learn about AI and network with other professionals.

5) Follow AI thought leaders.

There are many thought leaders in AI who share their insights and ideas online. Follow these thought leaders to stay up to date on the latest trends in AI.

Interesting sites include:


6) Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

There are many people who are willing to help you learn about AI. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.

7) Be patient and have fun with AI!

Learning about AI takes time and effort. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t understand everything right away. Just keep learning and practicing, and you will eventually master it. Have fun! Learning about AI can be a lot of fun. So, enjoy the process and don’t take it too seriously.

These are just a few of the many ways that executives can learn how to use AI. The best way for you will depend on your individual needs and preferences.

More AI resources by MDL Partners:

Leadership Ethics and Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Senior Executives Must Embrace Generative AI for Career Growth