Ethical AI Leadership Programme

The programme is not designed to turn executives into engineers, or ethics into a checklist. It is designed to give senior leaders greater clarity and confidence when making consequential decisions about AI.

After attending the course, you will be able to:

• See the ethical stakes clearly: distinguish technical, legal, commercial and ethical questions and understand where they overlap.
• Interrogate power and values: identify whose interests, assumptions and values shape AI systems and the decisions made with them.
• Lead beyond compliance: evaluate governance and regulation as necessary foundations, while recognising where responsible leadership demands more.
• Make better institutional decisions: ask sharper questions of technical, legal and policy teams; surface trade-offs; and strengthen accountability.

The programme is designed for experienced leaders whose decisions influence how AI is developed, procured, deployed, governed or communicated. It is particularly relevant to:

• Chief executives, board members (including non-executive directors) and senior functional leaders.
• Senior leaders in strategy, transformation, risk, legal, compliance, data, people and public affairs.
• Policymakers, regulators, senior civil servants and public sector leaders.
• Leaders in civil society, philanthropy, media and professional services.
• Executives responsible for organisational trust, workforce change or the public impact of AI.
• Participants do not need a technical background. What matters is seniority, curiosity and meaningful responsibility for decisions involving AI.

The programme is intentionally not organised around a single profession or industry: leaders in business, government, policy and civil society bring different institutional constraints to shared questions about AI.

Selection will focus on seniority, relevant decision-making responsibility and the contribution an applicant can make to peer learning. A clear confidentiality protocol will support frank discussion of sensitive organisational and policy dilemmas.

Participants are expected to meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Senior leadership role: current or recent experience in a senior executive, board-level, or equivalent leadership position (e.g. C-suite, director, senior policymaker, organisational leader, non-executive director).
• Strategic decision-making responsibility: direct responsibility for organisational strategy, governance, risk, policy, or innovation, particularly where AI or digital technologies are relevant.
• Professional experience: typically, 10+ years of professional experience, with substantial leadership or managerial responsibility.
• Interest in AI and its implications: demonstrated interest in artificial intelligence and its ethical, societal, regulatory, or strategic implications.
• Cross-sector relevance: open to leaders from business, government, international organisations, NGOs, and regulatory bodies, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of AI ethics.
• Capacity to contribute to peer learning: willingness and ability to actively participate in discussions, case studies, and collaborative learning with a diverse cohort of senior leaders.
• Organisational impact potential: ability to apply insights from the programme within their organisation, particularly in shaping responsible AI practices or policies.

Desirable (but not essential) eligibility criteria:

• Involvement in AI-related initiatives, strategy development, or policy work.
• Sponsorship or endorsement from employing organisation.

Applications are currently closed. Please register your interest via this form and we will be in touch when applications open.

For more information on this programme, contact us at aiethics@philosophy.ox.ac.uk

• Do I need a technical background? No. The programme is designed for senior decision-makers rather than technical specialists. Sessions will establish the AI concepts needed for ethical and governance discussion of AI.
• Is this a compliance course? No. Regulation, privacy and compliance are addressed, but the programme goes further by examining the values and leadership responsibilities that go beyond compliance.
• How much preparation is required? Participants will receive a concise set of readings and a short pre-programme prompt. During the programme, they will apply the learning to a live challenge from their own work.
• What accessibility support is available? The University welcomes participants with disabilities and will discuss reasonable adjustments.