Cornell Launches AI in Finance Certificate
There are professionals out there who are facing this sort of onslaught of new terminology, new functionality and new models, and they don’t really know what to do,
said Victoria Averbukh, a professor of practice at Cornell University.
To address that gap, Cornell launched an online certificate program designed to help financial workers understand artificial intelligence tools.
The AI in Finance certificate debuted in spring 2026 with 37 participants. The program is administered via eCornell through a joint effort involving the Cornell Duffield College of Engineering and the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business.
Live Classes Replace Prerecorded Modules
Unlike many online programs that rely on prerecorded videos, this certificate meets live online. Participants interact directly with faculty and industry practitioners during evening sessions.
The program grew out of the Cornell Financial Engineering Manhattan program directed by Averbukh. Master of Engineering students in that track spend their final semester taking courses taught by industry workers.
Curriculum Focuses on Strategy Over Coding
The coursework avoids heavy coding instruction. Instead, it targets decision-making, risk management, and model limitations.
It’s not about coding,
Averbukh said. It’s really to make people more comfortable, to get the terminology under their belts and understand why these models were not created for finance.
Cornell Faculty and Industry Leaders Instruct Technical Foundations
Cornell faculty establish technical foundations before industry leaders explain how financial institutions handle the technology. Instructors include Jamol Pender, David Goldberg, and Jeffrey Varner.
Industry contributors include Andrew Chin from AllianceBernstein, Dhagash Mehta from BlackRock, Kathryn Zhao from OKX, Mohamed Khalifa from J.P. Morgan Global Private Bank, and Joseph Sommer from EY.
Data Quality and Timing in Financial Decisions
Jamol Pender taught data and AI foundations for the program. He emphasized that accurate data can still cause poor decisions if it arrives late.
These courses are exciting and revolutionary because they challenge students to think beyond algorithms and consider the meaning, quality and context of the information they use,
Pender said.
Spring 2027 Registration Details
Registration is open for the spring 2027 offering of the certificate. Instruction takes place live via the internet on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., starting on May 18, 2027.
The final class of the 2027 cohort is scheduled for Thursday, June 24. Enrollment information is available on the eCornell website.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Program
Who is eligible to enroll in the AI in Finance certificate?
The program is built for experienced financial professionals, though the first cohort also included early-career participants. Many enrollees brought more than a decade of experience in capital markets, investment management, and compliance.
What specific financial use cases are covered in the coursework?
Participants examine investment research, credit risk, fraud detection, regulatory compliance, client engagement, and operational efficiency. They also study governance, data security, and AI hallucinations.
How are students evaluated at the end of the certificate?
The program concludes with participants identifying real opportunities for AI adoption. They develop practical strategies to present to corporate boards or investment committees.
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