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CXOs sharpen AI edge to stay in control

By Sohail Khan 31 August 2026, 6:00 am

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CXOs sharpen AI edge to stay in control
Synopsis

Senior execs are increasingly enrolling in artificial intelligence programs. Demand from experienced professionals is outpacing that from freshers and mid-career learners. Many senior leaders are now accountable for driving AI transformation initiatives. Learners come from diverse non-tech sectors, including banking and healthcare.

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Senior executives are increasingly enrolling in AI programmes to stay ahead of business changes and take greater ownership of how AI is deployed, governed and monetised.<br> — Senior executives are increasingly enrolling in AI programmes to stay ahead of business changes and take greater ownership of how AI is deployed, governed and monetised.

Bengaluru: Senior executives are increasingly enrolling in artificial intelligence programmes to keep pace with a rapidly changing business environment and to ensure key technology decisions, such as how AI is deployed, governed and monetised, are not left entirely to CIOs and digital teams.

The shift is visible across education platforms such as Emeritus, upGrad, Simplilearn, and Coursera where demand from experienced professionals is outpacing that from freshers and mid-career learners.

At Emeritus, enrolments among professionals with more than 20 years of experience rose by over 20% in FY26. At upGrad, enrolments in C-suite AI programmes grew nearly sixfold year-on-year between the first quarters of 2025 and 2026. Simplilearn reported more than 40% on-year growth in its AI category, with agentic AI programmes recording over 100% growth.

ET Bureau

Infographic image.

Worries over AI impact

Within the edtech firm's consumer, or individual-led, segment, nearly 200 senior professionals with 10-20-plus years of experience enrolled each day between July 2025 and June 2026. Enrolments among executives with more than 20 years of experience grew over 20% year-on-year.

"The trend is equally visible in our enterprise learning (organisation-led) segment, where we trained more than 200,000 professionals globally in the last fiscal, out of which we have had the most participation from CXOs/CEOs, managing directors, partners, directors, HR leaders, business-unit heads, and VPs," Morarji told ET.

Anuj Vishwakarma, CEO of higher education programmes at upGrad, said AI now accounts for over 80% of the upskilling platform's executive-learning enrolments, and that demand reaches well beyond technology.

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"Close to 65% of our senior-executive learners come from non-tech sectors – global banking and financial services, energy and industrials, consulting, healthcare and government. The sharpest growth is from sectors such as energy, manufacturing and healthcare, where AI has become a board-level agenda rather than an IT one," Vishwakarma added.

Keeping pace with AI disruption

Senior leaders are also moving beyond introductory generative AI courses.

The focus has shifted to AI strategy and transformation, agentic AI deployment, governance, risk management, operating models, workforce redesign and measuring return on investment, experts said.

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AI transformationartificial intelligence in businessCXOs AI educationexecutive learning AIsenior executives AIAI strategyupskilling AIAI deploymentemerging technologiesAI governance

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