AI Basics for Business and Finance Executives

Your organization is making million-dollar AI decisions right now. This course gives you the foundation to evaluate those decisions, challenge vendor claims, and lead your team's AI strategy — without writing a single line of code.

Enroll Now — $97 Early-Bird →

Early-bird pricing for the first 100 enrollments. Regular price: $147.

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The Problem

Vendors demo well. The slides are polished, the metrics are impressive, and the use cases sound transformative. Your board is asking questions about AI strategy. Neither the demo nor the board question gets a confident, grounded answer — because understanding what you're actually evaluating requires a foundation most executives were never given. This course provides that foundation.

Who This Is For

• Finance executives evaluating AI tools and platforms — You're being asked to approve AI investments in fraud detection, credit underwriting, forecasting, and customer service. This course gives you what you need to evaluate those proposals critically.
• Business leaders managing AI transformation — AI adoption isn't just a technology initiative. It's an organizational one. You'll learn how to assess readiness, manage risk, and set realistic expectations.
• Product managers integrating AI features — If your product roadmap includes AI capabilities, you need to understand what you're actually building and what the limitations are before you commit to a timeline.
• Banking professionals navigating AI disruption — From algorithmic lending to automated compliance, AI is reshaping financial services. Understanding the fundamentals puts you in a stronger position regardless of your function.

What You'll Learn

• Understand how large language models and machine learning actually work — well enough to evaluate vendor claims
• Distinguish between AI that is ready for production and AI that is a demo
• Assess AI risk, bias, and governance requirements in regulated industries
• Build or evaluate an AI strategy with a clear framework
• Ask the right questions before approving an AI investment
• Understand the difference between AI use cases that create value and those that create liability
• Navigate AI regulation and compliance considerations for financial services
• Lead internal AI conversations with the credibility to challenge and guide, not just listen

The 11 Modules

1. What AI Actually Is — Cutting through the hype: definitions, categories, and a clear mental model for how AI systems work.
2. Machine Learning Fundamentals — How models learn from data, what training means, and why model quality depends on data quality.
3. Large Language Models (LLMs) Explained — What GPT, Claude, Gemini, and their peers actually do under the hood — and what they can't do.
4. AI in Financial Services — Current applications in credit, fraud, compliance, forecasting, and customer experience, with real examples.
5. Evaluating AI Vendors and Products — The questions every executive should ask before signing an AI contract.
6. AI Risk and Bias — Where AI goes wrong, why it goes wrong in finance specifically, and how to assess exposure.
7. AI Governance and Compliance — Regulatory frameworks, model risk management, and what examiners are looking for.
8. Building an AI Strategy — How to assess organizational AI readiness and build a strategy that isn't just a slide deck.
9. The Build vs. Buy Decision for AI — When to use foundation models, when to fine-tune, and when to build from scratch.
10. AI and the Future of Work — What AI realistically changes about roles, workflows, and organizational design in financial services.
11. Leading AI Transformation — How to drive AI adoption across an organization without overpromising or underdelivering.

Course Format

• Self-paced — Complete modules on your schedule, no live sessions required
• ~5 hours total — Structured to move efficiently without skipping important nuance
• Module quizzes — Reinforce understanding at the end of each module
• AI Readiness Self-Assessment — A downloadable tool to evaluate your organization's current AI maturity
• Case studies — Real examples from Upstart, OpenAI, Anthropic, and financial services deployments
• Updated for 2026 — The AI landscape moves fast. This course reflects where things actually stand today.

Pricing

Pro members ($15/month) get 20% off all courses. Subscribe to Pro →

Certificate

Complete all 11 modules to earn your AI Basics for Executives Certificate from FinTekCafe. Complete all three FinTekCafe courses — Technology for Executives, AI Basics for Executives, and the Digital Payments Masterclass — to earn the FinTekCafe Executive Certificate.

30-Day Guarantee

If you complete the course and don't find it useful, email hello@fintekcafe.com within 30 days for a full refund. No forms, no hoops.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a data science or technical background?

No. The course assumes no prior knowledge of AI, statistics, or programming. Every concept is built from the ground up for decision-makers, not developers.

Is this course specific to financial services?

The AI fundamentals apply broadly, but every example, case study, and application is drawn from banking, fintech, insurance, and financial services.

How quickly is this content updated?

The AI landscape changes rapidly. We update course content as significant developments occur — and all updates are included at no additional cost to enrolled students.

How does this compare to reading articles or watching YouTube?

The course is structured to build a coherent framework, not a collection of disconnected facts. The sequence matters. Case studies, quizzes, and the self-assessment tool are not available elsewhere.

Can I share this with my team?

Individual licenses are for one user. For team access (5+ seats), contact hello@fintekcafe.com for corporate pricing.

What if I already know the basics of AI?

The early modules move quickly. If you have a foundation, you'll find the most value in the governance, strategy, and vendor evaluation modules — which go deeper than most general AI courses.

Ready to lead the AI conversation?

11 modules. No code. Built for executives.

Enroll Now — $97 Early-Bird →

First 100 enrollments only. Regular price $147.