Strategic Risk Management in the Age of AI

This six-week course equips professionals with an evidence-based toolkit for identifying, assessing and managing emerging risks in rapidly evolving environments.

Learners will develop robust approaches to risk management, with particular emphasis on emerging technologies but also relevant to other long-term challenges. Special attention is given to AI, exploring how it acts both as a direct source of risk and as an amplifier of other global challenges.

Participants will engage with frameworks from across the risk analysis field, including existential risk studies, decision sciences, organisational science and behavioural economics—frameworks particularly valuable for understanding AI-related risks, where traditional risk assessment methods often fall short due to deep uncertainty and unprecedented challenges. The course blends academic rigour with practical application, ensuring that learners can immediately apply these insights to real-world contexts.

Learners will explore advanced methods such as structured expert elicitation, scenario planning, systems thinking and causal analysis, gaining tools to make confident, future-ready decisions. Designed for both risk professionals and senior decision-makers navigating strategic uncertainty, the course helps build the internal capability needed to evaluate complex risks, respond to regulatory change and shape long-term strategy in a world increasingly defined by technological transformation.

This course dives into strategic risk management, focussing on complex and emerging environments. Learners systematically identify, assess and mitigate risks, especially those related to technological advancements like AI. Each module builds on the last, offering practical tools and hands-on tasks to equip participants with the skills needed to make effective decisions in the face of uncertainty. By the end of the course, learners will have a comprehensive risk assessment and communication plan, tested through a project based on real-world scenarios.

• Foundations of strategic risk assessment

• Horizon scanning, risk drivers and interconnected risks

• Causal analysis for strategic risk assessment

• Expert judgement: from individual opinion to collective intelligence

• Scenario planning and strategic foresight

• From assessment to action: effective communication of risk

By the end of the course you will be able to:

• Apply systematic approaches to identifying strategic risks in complex environments.

• Create comprehensive risk assessments that account for systemic interconnections and cascade effects.

• Select and implement structured expert elicitation processes to gather and evaluate evidence about emerging risks.

• Analyse scenarios for long-term risk assessment and strategic planning.

• Translate risk insights into practical strategies and recommendations.

• Effectively communicate complex risk assessments to diverse stakeholders.

On successful completion of the course, you’ll receive a certificate from the University of Cambridge and a digital badge to display on your LinkedIn profile. These Cambridge credentials not only showcase your knowledge and expertise, but also demonstrate your commitment to professional development – helping to future-proof your career.

The course is designed for professionals who find themselves responsible for understanding, assessing or managing strategic risks, whether or not their job title explicitly reflects this role. This includes those tasked with producing risk assessments or reports, compiling risk registers, developing risk prioritisation methods, identifying emerging trends or evaluating expert advice on complex risks. The course is particularly beneficial for professionals who:

• need to make or contribute to long-term strategic decisions

• are responsible for identifying and assessing emerging risks

• must evaluate and act on risk assessments or expert advice

• need to communicate complex risks to diverse stakeholders

• are developing or implementing risk management frameworks.

Our inclusive approach recognises that strategic risk management responsibilities often extend beyond traditional risk management roles, making the course valuable for a broad range of professionals engaged in future-focused decision-making. This includes professionals working in:

• private sector organisations, particularly those adapting to new regulatory frameworks like the EU AI Act or developing long-term risk management strategies

• industries grappling with technological change and regulatory compliance, such as banking, manufacturing, IT, healthcare and insurance, all of which face increasing regulatory pressures and emerging risks

• government and policy, including:

  • departments and agencies involved in policy development, technology assessment and national preparedness

  • think tanks and research organisations focused on long-term risks and emerging technologies

  • international organisations engaged in strategic planning and risk assessment and other large public sector organisations.

The course would be particularly valuable for those who have encountered challenges such as reconciling contradictory expert opinions, determining how to prioritise different types of risks or understanding how various risk assessment methodologies derive their conclusions.

Our flexible, online courses – delivered via a world-leading learning platform – reflect the University of Cambridge experience and values, with low learner-to-tutor ratios and academically rigorous standards.

Our online learning model is designed to help you advance your skills and specialise in emerging areas that address real-world challenges. We will help you build your network through an engaging and impactful learning journey that encourages collaboration with academics and fellow learners.

Courses are delivered in weekly modules, allowing you to plan your time effectively around existing commitments. The assessment criteria will be presented to you at the start of the course, so you can approach your studies with confidence and motivation, knowing exactly what’s expected of you and how to meet those expectations.

Throughout your online learning experience with Cambridge Advance Online, you’ll have digital access to a dedicated course tutor, an expert in the field, who will help steer your learning and provide you with support and guidance every step of the way.