Built for Leaders to Drive Measurable Enterprise AI Strategy

The program is delivered by Texas McCombs faculty, including Dr. Kumar Muthuraman, Gaylen Paulson, Eric Bickel, Jim Nelson, Clint Tuttle, Luis Martins, Ben Bentzin, John Daly, and Cam Houser—alongside global industry leaders from organizations like Sanofi, Quantum AI, and Jackson Lewis P.C.

The Chief AI Officer program curriculum covers four modules:
1. Strategic Diagnosis and AI Literacy
2. Financial Valuation and Technical Architecture
3. Managing the AI Portfolio: From Prototype to Production Scale
4. Governance and Change Leadership
Topics include AI strategy, ROI, enterprise architecture, Agentic AI, data readiness, MLOps maturity, AI governance, organizational change, and boardroom communication.

Yes. The curriculum includes Agentic AI for the Enterprise, covering how multi-action AI systems differ from traditional chatbot applications, the risks associated with reduced human oversight, and the governance and controls required for enterprise deployment.

Yes. The curriculum is designed to develop technical fluency for evaluating enterprise AI architecture without requiring learners to build the systems themselves. It covers data infrastructure, model selection, integration approaches, scalability, and evaluation of technical proposals.

Yes. The curriculum covers corporate AI governance, regulatory and liability considerations, accountability, risk and oversight, shadow AI governance, federated AI management models, and responsible AI deployment.

The program is designed for C-suite executives and senior technology leaders, board members and senior executives, business unit and functional heads, and transformation, product, innovation, and consulting leaders involved in enterprise AI strategy, investment, adoption, or governance.

Becoming a Chief AI Officer typically involves building experience in business strategy, technology, AI, governance, and organizational transformation. A Chief AI Officer Program can help senior professionals develop the strategic and technical fluency needed to evaluate AI opportunities, investments, architecture, governance, and enterprise adoption.

No, coding experience is not required to join the Chief AI Officer Program. The program is designed for senior executives and business leaders who need to lead AI strategy rather than build AI systems.
Instead of programming, the curriculum focuses on AI strategy, technical fluency, ROI evaluation, governance, and organizational change.

The admission process involves three steps:
1. Fill out an online application form.
2. A Great Learning panel reviews the application to evaluate program fit.
3. Following the final review, selected applicants receive an offer to join an upcoming cohort.
Admissions are conducted on a rolling basis and close once the required number of participants is enrolled.

The program fee is $19,000.

You can contact a Great Learning Program Advisor for information about eligibility for financial assistance.

The program is designed for leaders who drive or influence enterprise AI strategy, adoption, investment, governance, and transformation. It can support professionals expanding their responsibilities toward roles involving AI leadership, enterprise transformation, product and innovation, technology strategy, and AI governance.

When evaluating a Chief AI Officer (CAIO) program, leaders should look for a curriculum that develops executive strategy, AI governance, financial judgment, and organizational leadership rather than coding skills. Key factors include:
1. Executive AI Strategy: Build technical fluency to evaluate AI architecture, models, vendors, and use cases without hands-on coding.
2. Scaling AI Initiatives: Learn how to move AI from pilots to enterprise-wide deployment and measure meaningful AI adoption.
3. ROI and Financial Decision-Making: Assess AI investments, lifecycle costs, ROI, and build-vs-buy-vs-partner decisions.
4. AI Governance and Risk: Understand corporate governance, shadow AI, regulatory risks, and controls for emerging Agentic AI systems.
5. Leadership and Board Communication: Develop change-management skills and the ability to build and defend AI strategies with senior leadership and boards.
6. Executive Learning and Network: Look for blended learning, peer interaction, recognized credentials, and access to a strong executive network.

A Chief AI Officer leads enterprise-wide AI strategy and helps organizations identify, evaluate, govern, and scale AI initiatives. Responsibilities can include assessing AI investments, evaluating technical architecture, establishing governance frameworks, managing AI portfolios, and communicating AI strategy to boards and senior stakeholders.

Chief AI Officer compensation varies based on factors such as location, organization size, industry, seniority, and scope of responsibility. Chief AI Officers in the US have a median total pay of approximately $354,000 per year, with a reported total pay range of $266,000–$496,000 annually.

Key skills include AI strategy, executive problem-solving, financial evaluation of AI investments, enterprise architecture, data and AI governance, portfolio management, organizational change, and board-level communication. The program specifically develops these areas through its four curriculum modules.

A Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer program provides structured learning on enterprise AI strategy, investment decisions, architecture, governance, and organizational change. This program also provides a Certificate of Completion and CEUs from Texas McCombs upon successful completion.

Yes. The curriculum includes Crafting and Communicating for Success in the Boardroom, where learners develop skills to structure AI presentations, communicate strategic value and business impact, create board-ready materials, and address challenging questions from executive stakeholders.

A Chief AI Officer (CAIO) focuses specifically on using AI to drive enterprise strategy, transformation, and competitive advantage, while a CIO or CTO typically oversees broader IT infrastructure, technology operations, and product development. The CAIO evaluates AI opportunities and ROI, guides AI governance and risk management, drives organization-wide AI adoption, and communicates AI strategy and investments to the board and senior leadership.

The program provides opportunities to build a global executive network through structured interactions with senior professionals, Texas McCombs faculty, and industry experts. Participants also receive four years of Texas Exes alumni benefits, including access to the global alumni network, University resources, exclusive events, webinars, networking opportunities, and the Texas Executive Education LinkedIn group.