Generative AI for Business Transformation

Generative AI For Business FAQs

• What are the benefits of enrolling in this program?

  You can get the following benefits by enrolling in this program:

  • Program completion certificate from Purdue University Online and Simplilearn
  • Access to Purdue’s Alumni Association membership on program completion
  • Understand the implications of Generative AI in shaping business strategy 
  • Learn about applications of Generative AI in various business use cases
  • AWS authored Self-paced Learning Content

• What is the Purdue and Simplilearn partnership about?

  Simplilearn has partnered with Purdue University to offer online professional programs. This offering is not a Purdue University program. It is developed and delivered by Simplilearn and made available in partnership with Purdue University.

• What is the Generative AI for Business Transformation Course?

  This is a comprehensive program designed to equip leaders with the skills to integrate generative AI into their operations. It takes a practical, business-focused approach to AI adoption, helping you improve efficiency, drive digital innovation, and gain a competitive advantage through expert-led instruction and hands-on learning.

  • Core Objective: The business transformation program teaches you how to implement AI-driven solutions across key functions, including sales, marketing, engineering, advanced analytics, customer service, product R&D, and operations.
  • Program Structure: This is a 12-week program that requires about 5 to 6 hours of engagement each week. The learning model combines live online sessions, more than 63 guided practices and demos, and real-world case studies.
  • Collaborative Delivery: The program is delivered by Simplilearn and approved by Purdue faculty.
  • Learning Outcomes: You will learn to design and implement AI-powered strategies, automate workflows, use AI for personalized customer engagement, and understand the ethical and economic considerations of AI deployment.

• What will I earn after completing the program?

  Upon successful completion, you will receive a program completion certificate from Simplilearn, in partnership with Purdue University. You will also receive 12 months of access to Purdue University’s Alumni Association membership, which can be renewed annually thereafter for a nominal fee payable to Purdue University Online.

• Who is the ideal candidate for this business transformation program?

  This program is designed for professionals who aim to harness the strategic power of Generative AI to drive business innovation, efficiency, and digital transformation. It is best suited for experienced individuals looking to lead AI initiatives within their organizations, rather than for entry-level technical practitioners. The curriculum is tailored for those with a foundational understanding of AI's growing influence.

  • Target Professional Roles: The course is explicitly designed for Business Leaders, C-suite Executives, Senior Managers, Functional Heads, Technology Leaders, Consultants, and Entrepreneurs.

  • Experience Prerequisite: While not mandatory, a minimum of 5 years of professional work experience is preferred to ensure participants can contextualize the strategic applications of AI discussed in the program.

  • Mindset Requirement: Ideal candidates possess an eagerness to leverage Generative AI to solve real-world business problems and a desire to lead AI-driven change across various business functions.

  • Industry Background: The current batch profile shows learners from diverse industries, including Information Technology, Software, Manufacturing, Pharma & Healthcare, and BFSI, indicating its broad applicability.

• How is this program different from other online AI courses or MOOCs?

  This program distinguishes itself from typical self-paced online courses or Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) through its high-touch, interactive, and university-backed learning model. It prioritizes applied learning in a live, collaborative environment, which is fundamentally different from the isolated, pre-recorded video format of many other platforms.

  • Live, Interactive Learning: The core of the program consists of over 55 hours of live online sessions delivered by industry experts, fostering real-time engagement, discussion, and doubt clarification.

  • University Prestige and Benefits: Upon completion, you receive a program completion certificate from Simplilearn, in partnership with Purdue University, and gain Purdue University Alumni Association membership, offering a level of credentialing and networking not available from standard course providers.

  • Structured Support System: Learners benefit from a robust support structure, including a dedicated Cohort Manager for queries, mentoring sessions for project assistance, and peer-to-peer engagement via Slack, which helps prevent the low completion rates associated with self-paced learning.

  • Business-Focused, Applied Curriculum: Unlike purely technical courses, this program focuses on the strategic business applications of Generative AI across functions like sales, marketing, and customer service, using industry-relevant case studies and digital transformation projects to ensure skills are immediately applicable.

• What is the nature of the collaboration with Purdue University?

  Simplilearn has partnered with Purdue University to offer online professional programs. This offering is not a Purdue University program. It is developed and delivered by Simplilearn and made available in partnership with Purdue University.

• How are Microsoft Azure and Microsoft Copilot integrated into the curriculum?

  Microsoft technologies are deeply integrated into the program, reflecting the program's collaboration with Microsoft Azure and its focus on practical, industry-standard tools. The curriculum not only covers theoretical concepts but also provides hands-on exposure to Microsoft's leading AI platforms to ensure participants are job-ready.

  • Microsoft Azure Cloud Resources: In the "GenAI Tech Stack" module, the curriculum covers the use of major cloud and compute resources, explicitly naming Microsoft Azure alongside AWS and Google Cloud for scaling AI models and solutions.

  • Dedicated Microsoft Copilot Module: There is an entire module, "Module 11: Microsoft Copilot for Business," dedicated to this tool. This section teaches you to leverage Copilot for specific business functions like sales, IT operations, marketing, finance, and HR.

  • Hands-On Tool Training: Microsoft Copilot is one of the key tools covered in the program, and participants learn to use it for tasks such as creating personalized sales proposals, generating campaign reports, and streamlining onboarding checklists.

  • Microsoft 365 Copilot Elective: The program includes an elective course, "MS-4007: Microsoft 365 Copilot Enablement," which equips participants with the skills to drive user adoption of Copilot within their organization using a people-first strategic framework.

• What specific AI tools and platforms will I learn to use?

  This program provides extensive hands-on experience with more than 16 modern AI tools and platforms that are standard in the industry. The curriculum is designed to move beyond theory, ensuring you gain practical proficiency by working directly with the digital technologies that power business transformation.

  • Core Generative AI Models and APIs: You will work with foundational tools like ChatGPT, the OpenAI API, and other large language models from platforms such as Hugging Face.

  • Business Automation and Content Creation: The curriculum includes training on Zapier for workflow automation, Invideo.ai for AI-driven video content, and design tools like Figma and MIRO for prototyping and collaboration.

  • Data Analytics and Development Platforms: You will gain experience with data-focused AI tools like Julius.ai and MOSTLYAI, developer tools like Visual Studio Code, low-code platforms like Microsoft PowerApps, and cloud infrastructure from Google Cloud Computing Platform.

  • Microsoft Ecosystem Integration: A significant portion of the training focuses on the Microsoft ecosystem, with dedicated modules and projects using Microsoft Copilot to optimize various business operations.

• What technical skills can I expect to master by the end of the program?

  By the end of this program, you will have mastered a comprehensive set of over 13 technical and strategic skills essential for leading Generative AI initiatives. The curriculum is structured to build practical competencies that bridge the gap between AI technology and business value, enabling you to design, implement, and manage AI-driven solutions effectively.

  • AI Implementation and Scaling: You will learn LLMOps & AI Deployment for managing AI models, Model Evaluation & Optimization to assess performance improvement, and strategies for Scaling AI Initiatives across an entire organization.

  • Automation and Analytics: The program provides deep skills in Workflow Automation, using tools to connect different applications, and Predictive Analytics to forecast trends. You will also master Sentiment Analysis for customer expectations insights and Scenario Simulation for risk modeling.

  • AI Application Development: You will gain practical skills in Chatbot Implementation to build conversational AI agents and learn to apply these skills to create personalized customer satisfaction experiences.

  • Governance and Strategy: The curriculum ensures you master Ethical AI & Compliance to navigate regulatory landscapes and AI Risk Assessment to identify potential challenges. Crucially, you will learn ROI Analysis and understand AI Economics to justify and measure the financial impact of AI projects.

• How does the program address the ethics and economics of implementing Generative AI?

  The program dedicates an entire core module to the critical topics of artificial intelligence AI ethics and economics, recognizing that successful AI implementation is not just a technical challenge but also a financial and social one. This ensures that graduates are prepared to deploy AI solutions responsibly and in a way that delivers measurable business value.

  • Dedicated Module: Module 10, "Ethics and Economics of GenAI," provides a structured deep dive into these topics, treating them as essential knowledge for any business leader in the AI space.

  • Cost and ROI Analysis: The economics portion covers how to calculate both initial AI costs (data acquisition, model development) and ongoing costs (compute resources, maintenance). It teaches Unit Economics to compare AI versus manual costs and methods for calculating AI ROI to evaluate trade-offs.

  • Ethical Frameworks: The ethics section addresses key concerns such as bias, fairness, privacy, and accountability in AI Data driven decision-making. It equips you to identify and mitigate these ethical challenges in real-world applications.

  • Compliance and Governance: The curriculum covers major data privacy regulations like GDPR and CCPA, ensuring you understand compliance challenges and future directions in collaborating with governments and stakeholders on responsible AI use.

• What kind of hands-on projects are included in the curriculum?

  The program incorporates 12 industry-aligned projects that provide extensive hands-on experience in applying Generative AI to solve practical business problems. These projects are designed to reinforce the concepts learned in each module, allowing you to build a portfolio of work that demonstrates your ability to develop and manage AI-driven solutions.

  • Business Strategy and Automation: Projects like "Leveraging GenAI for Business Insights and Decision Making" and "Automating Blog Creation and Email Notifications Using Zapier" teach you to use AI for data analysis and robotic process automation.

  • Marketing and Customer Engagement: You will work on projects such as "Creating an AI-Driven Content Campaign" using ChatGPT and DALL-E and "Implementing and Managing a GenAI-Powered Customer Support Agent" with tools like Eleven Labs.

  • Product Development and Management: The curriculum includes projects like "Managing the Fit Smart Product Lifecycle with ChatGPT" and "Automating Feature Scaling Decisions with Generative AI" to apply AI across the entire product lifecycle.

  • Platform-Specific Applications: Several projects focus on specific tools, such as "Enhancing Product Launches with AI-Powered Microsoft Edge Copilot" and "Integrating LeadSuccessBot with FairJob Platform," ensuring you gain practical tool proficiency.

• How does the program cover the Generative AI tech stack and concepts like LLMOps?

  The program provides a dedicated and comprehensive module on the Generative AI tech stack to ensure business leaders understand the foundational emerging technologies required to implement AI at scale. This module moves beyond high-level strategy to cover the specific components, models, and operational practices that underpin successful AI deployment.

  • Dedicated Tech Stack Module: Module 3, "GenAI Tech Stack," focuses entirely on the key components and business impact of AI infrastructure.

  • Foundation Models: The curriculum covers different foundation models like GPT-4, MidJourney, and Stable Diffusion, teaching you to compare their applications and evaluate the trade-offs between open-source and proprietary models.

  • LLMOps for Deployment: The module explicitly covers LLMOps, teaching the practices for monitoring, security, and implementing ethical safeguards during AI deployment to ensure models are managed effectively and responsibly in production.

  • Development and Cloud Resources: You will learn about key AI development tools, including LangChain and vector databases, as well as the role of cloud platforms like AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure in providing the compute resources needed to scale AI models efficiently.

• What are the career advantages of completing this Generative AI program?

  Completing this program provides significant career advantages by equipping you with the strategic skills to lead AI-driven modern business transformation project, a highly sought-after capability in today's market. It positions you to move beyond functional management transformation into leadership roles that shape company-wide strategy and drive innovation, making you a more valuable asset to any organization.

  • Lead Strategic Initiatives: You will learn to adopt AI strategically and integrate it across business functions, enabling you to lead generative AI initiatives that optimize sales, marketing, and product development.

  • Drive Digital Transformation: The program equips you to drive digital transformation by automating workflows and increasing operational efficiency, skills that are critical for senior leadership and management consulting roles.

  • Enhanced Decision-Making: You will gain the ability to leverage AI-powered data analytics to extract actionable insights, allowing you to make smarter, data-driven business performance decisions that impact the bottom line.

  • Prestigious Credentialing: Earning a certificate from Simplilearn, in partnership with Purdue University provides a powerful credential that is recognized globally, enhancing your professional profile and opening doors to new career opportunities.

• What kind of job roles does this program prepare me for?

  While this program is designed for current leaders and managers aiming to integrate AI into their strategic roles, the skills acquired are directly applicable to a variety of senior and executive positions that are emerging in the AI-driven economy. It prepares you to lead digital transformation initiatives rather than focusing on a single entry-level job title.

  • Strategic Leadership Roles: The program is ideal for C-suite Executives, Senior Managers, and Functional Heads who want to become leaders in AI strategy and implementation within their existing domains (e.g., Head of Marketing Innovation, Director of AI Transformation).

  • Consulting and Advisory Roles: The curriculum provides the comprehensive knowledge required for roles such as a Technology Consultant or AI Strategy Consultant, where you would advise companies on how to leverage AI for business growth.

  • Product and Innovation Leadership: Professionals in product development can leverage the program to move into roles like Director of Product Innovation or AI Product Manager, leading the creation of next-generation AI-powered products and services.

  Entrepreneurial Ventures: The program is also well-suited for Entrepreneurs who want to build businesses that are fundamentally powered by Generative AI, providing them with the knowledge to create scalable, AI-first operations.

• Are there any financing or monthly installment options available?

  Yes, flexible financing options are available to make the program more accessible. You can choose to pay the total program fee in manageable monthly installments rather than as a single lump sum. These options are provided through established third-party financing partners to ensure a secure and transparent business process.

  • Low Monthly Payments: The program can be financed with monthly installments starting as low as $250 per month in the US or ₹5,373 per month in India, making the investment more manageable for working professionals.

  • Financing Partners: These payment plans are offered through partnerships with Splitit or Klarna in the US and ShopSe, Propelld, or Fibe in India, all of which are well-known providers of installment payment solutions.

  • Transparent Terms: The financing options are offered with a low Annual Percentage Rate (APR) and are structured with no hidden fees, so you can be confident about the total cost.

  • Accessibility Goal: The availability of these financing options is intended to ensure that professionals who are eager to leverage Generative AI for business transformation can enroll without the barrier of a large upfront payment.

• How is the program delivered and what is the weekly time commitment?

  This 12-week program is delivered in a live, online, and interactive format designed for working professionals. This delivery model combines the flexibility of online learning with the structure and engagement of a traditional classroom. The weekly time commitment is clearly defined to help you balance the program with your professional responsibilities.

  • Delivery Format: All sessions are conducted live and online, allowing for real-time interaction with instructors, and fellow learners. The program emphasizes peer-to-peer engagement and expert mentorship.

  • Weekly Schedule: A typical weekly schedule involves classes held over the weekend on Saturdays and Sundays. For example, the September 2025 cohort has classes scheduled from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM CDT.

  • Time Commitment: You should expect to dedicate approximately 5 to 6 hours per week to the program. This includes time for attending live classes, participating in discussions, and working on projects and guided practices.

  • Flexibility for Missed Classes: To accommodate professional schedules, the program offers a "Flexi Learn" feature. If you miss a live session, you can access class recordings to catch up and ensure you do not fall behind.

•  Is Generative AI just another tech fad, or is it a fundamental shift for businesses?

  Generative AI represents a fundamental business shift, not just a temporary trend. Its ability to transform core operations, from decision-making to innovation and scalability, signals a lasting impact on the global economy. This program is built on the premise that AI integration is a strategic imperative for sustained growth.

  • Economic Impact: McKinsey projects AI will have an economic impact of $15.5-$22.9 trillion annually by 2040.

  • Market Growth: The market has a projected Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 43% over the next decade, indicating sustained investment and expansion.

  • Competitive Edge: It is already revolutionizing key functions like sales and marketing, making its adoption essential for maintaining a competitive advantage.

• For a business leader, what's the real difference between "regular AI" and "Generative AI"?

  For a business leader, the key difference is that regular AI analyzes existing data to make predictions, while Generative AI creates entirely new content, ideas, and solutions. This program's "AI Literacy" module clarifies this distinction, focusing on how Generative AI unlocks new strategic capabilities beyond simple analysis.

  • Regular AI is primarily analytical, helping you understand past data to forecast future events or classify information.

  • Generative AI is creative, empowering you to generate novel outputs like marketing copy, product designs, or automated workflows.

  • The program teaches how Large Language Models (LLMs) and other foundation models power this creative capability.

  • This distinction is crucial for identifying new, innovative use cases that go beyond simple data analysis.

• Can my business use Generative AI effectively without hiring expensive data scientists?

  Yes, businesses can leverage Generative AI without a large team of data scientists, especially by using modern tools and focusing on workflow automation. This program specifically teaches leaders how to use platforms like Zapier and Microsoft Copilot to implement AI solutions directly into business processes.

  • Tool Accessibility: The curriculum covers over 16 modern AI tools, many of which are designed for business users with low-code or no-code interfaces.

  • Practical Focus: The "Workflow Automation" module centers on integrating AI for tasks like content generation without requiring deep coding knowledge.

  • Empowerment Business Goal: The program’s aim is to empower existing business leaders to deploy AI strategically, making data science expertise less of a barrier.

• What are the biggest risks for a company that decides to ignore Generative AI?

  The biggest risk of ignoring Generative AI is losing competitive advantage through operational inefficiency and slower innovation. As competitors adopt AI to automate workflows, personalize customer experiences, and accelerate R&D, companies that lag behind will face higher costs and reduced market relevance.

  • You risk falling behind in operational efficiency as competitors automate sales, marketing, and customer service.

  • Innovation cycles for product development and R&D will be significantly slower than those of AI adopters.

  • Your business decisions will be less accurate due to a lack of AI-driven data analytics.

  • You will have a reduced ability to offer hyper-personalized campaigns and customer interactions, leading to lower engagement.

  • You may struggle to attract and retain top talent, who are increasingly drawn to innovative, AI-first companies.

• Will Generative AI replace my job as a manager or business leader?

  Generative AI is positioned to augment, not replace, the role of managers and leaders. It automates repetitive tasks and provides data-driven insights, freeing up human leaders to focus on strategic decision-making, team development, and innovation. This program is designed to transform leaders into AI-driven strategists.

  • Enhanced Strategy: It augments your strategic decision-making by providing AI-powered data analytics.

  • Improved Efficiency: It automates routine workflows, increasing a manager's operational efficiency and freeing up valuable time.

  • Innovation Driver: It enables you to spearhead new innovation initiatives in areas like product development and marketing.

• I don't have a programming background. Can I still successfully lead AI projects?

  Yes, you can lead AI projects without a programming background. Effective transformation in AI leadership is more about understanding business strategy, use cases, and ethical implications than it is about coding. This program is explicitly designed for business and technology leaders, not just coders.

  • The target audience includes C-suite Executives, Senior Managers, and Consultants.

  • The program’s eligibility criteria prioritize work experience and strategic thinking, with no programming prerequisite.

  • The curriculum focuses on AI literacy and strategic deployment, not deep programming.

  • Hands-on training is provided on low-code and no-code platforms, making AI accessible to non-programmers.

• As a manager, what's the most practical first step to start using AI in my team?

  A practical first step is to identify and automate repetitive, time-consuming tasks within your team's workflow. This program's "Workflow Automation" module provides a direct playbook for this, teaching you to use tools like Zapier with AI to automate processes like content generation, email responses, and social media updates.

  • Understand the Basics: Start by understanding workflow automation principles and their impact on efficiency.

  • Focus on Use Cases: Center your digital transformation efforts on immediate applications like content generation or email automation.

  • Develop Skills: Learn to build and debug automated workflows using triggers and integrations.

• How does understanding "AI economics" make me a more effective leader?

  Understanding AI economics allows you to make a strong business case for AI initiatives and measure their true impact, making you a more effective and accountable leader. This program dedicates a module to this topic, teaching you how to calculate costs, determine ROI, and evaluate financial trade-offs.

  • You learn to analyze both initial AI costs (development, data) and ongoing operational expenses.

  • The curriculum covers Unit Economics, allowing you to directly compare the costs of AI versus manual processes.

  • The program teaches how to calculate the return on investment (ROI) for AI projects.

  • This knowledge allows you to build a strong business case, justify investments to stakeholders, and ensure profitability.

• Is it better to just learn a specific AI tool like ChatGPT, or to learn broader AI strategy?

  Learning a broad AI strategy is more valuable for a leader than mastering a single tool. A tool may become outdated, but a strategic framework for identifying opportunities, managing implementation, and ensuring ethical compliance is a timeless leadership skill. This program focuses on that broader strategy while still providing hands-on experience with over 16 current tools like ChatGPT.

  • Strategic Foundation: The program begins with "AI Literacy for Business Leaders" to build a strong strategic framework.

  • Technical Depth: It covers the entire "Generative AI Tech Stack" and "LLMOps" for scalable, long-term deployment.

  • Holistic View: It addresses crucial topics like AI ethics, compliance, and economics that transcend any single tool.

  • Practical Skills: You still gain hands-on proficiency with 16+ modern AI tools, ensuring practical skills are developed.

  • Applied Learning: The 12 industry projects require you to apply strategy using these tools, connecting theory to practice.

•  How can my small business benefit from Generative AI without a massive budget?

  A small business can benefit by focusing on low-cost, high-impact applications like workflow automation and content creation. Using accessible tools to automate marketing emails, generate social media content, or handle initial customer service inquiries can provide significant value without requiring large investments in custom models or infrastructure.

  • The program covers workflow automation using accessible tools like Zapier.

  • You learn AI-powered lead generation and content creation for marketing.

  • Implementing AI chatbots can enhance customer service efficiency at a low cost.

• What's the most important factor for a successful AI implementation: The technology or the business strategy?

  While technology is important, a clear business strategy is the most critical factor for a successful AI implementation. A project without a strategic goal, defined ROI, and ethical guidelines is likely to fail, regardless of how advanced the technology is. This program is designed around a business-first approach to AI.

  • Strategy-First Curriculum: The program's structure begins with strategy ("AI Literacy") before diving into specific digital technologies.

  • Business Integration: The curriculum focuses on integrating AI across business functions to enhance decision-making.

  • Optimization Focus: It teaches you to lead AI initiatives to optimize specific areas like sales and marketing.

  • Responsible Deployment: Modules on AI economics and ethics ensure your strategy is sound and responsible.

• How do you actually measure the return on investment (ROI) of a Generative AI project?

  You measure the ROI of a Generative AI project by comparing the financial gains (e.g., increased revenue, cost savings from automation) against the total costs of implementation (e.g., software, development, ongoing maintenance). The module on "Ethics and Economics of Generative AI" provides a framework for this calculation.

  • You will learn to assess initial and ongoing costs, including software, development, and maintenance.

  • The course teaches you to quantify financial gains through increased revenue, cost savings from automation, and enhanced efficiency.

  • The program's "Ethics and Economics of GenAI" module provides a specific framework for these calculations and for evaluating trade-offs.

• Can AI really help with highly creative tasks like product design and branding?

  Yes, Generative AI is a powerful tool for augmenting creative tasks. It can rapidly generate design variants, create virtual prototypes, automate market research for new ideas, and help maintain brand consistency in content. The program includes a module on using AI for Product Research & Development.

  • Market Research: Learn to use AI for automated market research and product idea validation.

  • Prototyping: The curriculum covers auto-generating design variants and virtual prototyping.

  • Brand Management: One of the hands-on projects involves managing brand consistency with Generative AI.

  • Campaign Creation: Another project uses ChatGPT and DALL-E to create an AI-powered social media campaign.

  • Product Lifecycle: A dedicated project involves managing the entire "Fit Smart" product lifecycle with ChatGPT, from research to launch.

• After the program, will I be able to build an AI model from scratch?

  This program is designed to teach business transformation leaders how to strategically deploy AI and manage AI projects, not how to become a machine learning engineer who builds models from scratch. You will learn about the AI tech stack, foundation models, and how to integrate AI tools, but the focus is on business application, not deep coding.

  • The curriculum is designed for strategic leaders like C-suite executives, senior managers, and consultants.

  • You will learn about foundation models like GPT-5/GPT-4 and how to use their capabilities, not how to build them.

  • The primary goal is to equip you to lead AI initiatives and manage implementation, focusing on business application rather than deep coding.