AI in Executive Education: Key Insights from UNICON's European Meet-Up 2025
How European business schools are embracing artificial intelligence to shape the future of executive education
The picturesque city of Lyon, France, served as the perfect backdrop for UNICON's European Meet-Up on September 4-5, 2025, hosted by emlyon business school. This gathering brought together leading voices in executive education to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the landscape of professional learning and development.
AI Usage Frequency Among European ExecEd Leaders
These numbers represent a fundamental shift in how executive education leaders are integrating AI into their daily operations. The data reveals that 69% of leaders are actively using AI on a regular basis, with nearly half incorporating it into their weekly workflows.
Daily Users (25%)
Power users who have fully integrated AI into their workflow, using it for content creation, analysis, and strategic planning on a daily basis.
Weekly Users (44%)
The largest segment, representing leaders who regularly leverage AI for specific projects and recurring tasks throughout the week.
Occasional Users (13%)
Cautious adopters who experiment with AI tools for specific use cases but haven't yet made it a regular part of their routine.
Generative AI Familiarity
Specialized Knowledge in Cutting-Edge Technology
When it comes to Generative AI specifically, the familiarity levels show an even more impressive concentration of expertise among European executive education leaders.
44%
Level 4 Expertise
Advanced generative AI knowledge
38%
Level 3 Proficiency
Solid intermediate understanding
13%
Level 2 Familiarity
Basic working knowledge
6%
Level 1 or 5
Beginner or expert level
Key Insight: The shift toward higher proficiency levels in Generative AI compared to general AI knowledge indicates that leaders are not just aware of AI, but are actively engaging with the most advanced and practical applications.
This data indicates even stronger familiarity with the latest AI technologies, with 82% of participants rating themselves at intermediate to advanced levels specifically for Generative AI. This suggests that European executive education leaders are not just keeping pace with AI developments, but are actively engaging with cutting-edge tools and applications.
The Future of AI in Executive Education
Will AI Transform Executive Education?
81% YES
Believe AI will significantly change executive education in the next 2-3 years
19% UNCERTAIN
Expressed uncertainty with "maybe" or "not sure" responses
0% NO
No participants believed AI would not significantly impact the field
This overwhelming consensus signals a field ready for transformation.
The group employed a number of activities, from Legos to personae creation, to illustrate problems and opportunities that could be addressed via AI:
The unanimous agreement that AI will have at least some impact, with the vast majority expecting significant change, demonstrates unprecedented alignment among European executive education leaders. This consensus creates a powerful foundation for collaborative innovation and industry-wide transformation initiatives.
1
2025: Foundation Year
Current adoption and experimentation phase
2
2026: Integration
Systematic implementation across programs
3
2027: Transformation
AI-native executive education models emerge
Most Popular AI Tools Among European ExecEd Leaders
The landscape of AI tool adoption reveals clear preferences and emerging trends among executive education professionals.
ChatGPT
Leading the pack - The undisputed champion for text generation, analysis, and conversational AI applications in executive education.
Microsoft Copilot
Strong second place - Integrated productivity features make it popular for document creation and workflow optimization.
Claude
Rising star - Gaining traction for its sophisticated reasoning capabilities and nuanced responses.
Runners-up Making Their Mark
- Google Gemini - Multimodal capabilities attracting attention
- Perplexity - Research and information synthesis
- Canva AI - Visual content creation and design
But applications vary widely across content creation, education, and strategic work. The diversity of tools being adopted suggests that leaders are experimenting with specialized solutions rather than relying on a single platform.
Trend Alert: The emergence of specialized AI tools alongside general-purpose platforms indicates a maturing market where leaders are selecting tools based on specific use cases rather than adopting one-size-fits-all solutions.
Beyond ChatGPT: The Multimedia AI Revolution
"It's not just about ChatGPT anymore"- Gabriel Prévot from Inetum
Executive education leaders need to think beyond text-based AI and embrace the full spectrum of multimedia artificial intelligence capabilities that are reshaping how we create, teach, and learn.
Text Generation
ChatGPT remains the gold standard for written content, curriculum development, and conversational learning experiences.
Image Creation
Midjourney enables custom visual content, infographics, and educational illustrations tailored to specific learning objectives.
Video Production
HeyGen revolutionizes video content creation with AI avatars and automated video generation for executive training.
Audio & Music
Google Music AI creates custom soundscapes and audio content to enhance immersive learning experiences.
Code Generation
Codex assists in developing educational platforms, simulations, and interactive learning tools.
3D Objects
Point-E creates three-dimensional models for virtual reality training and immersive case study environments.
Strategic Imperative: The future of executive education lies not in choosing between these tools, but in orchestrating them together to create rich, multimedia learning experiences that engage multiple senses and learning styles.
This multimedia approach represents the next frontier in executive education, where AI tools work in concert to create immersive, personalized, and highly effective learning experiences that go far beyond traditional text-based content delivery.
Staying Connected and Continuing the Conversation
The energy and insights from Lyon demonstrate that European executive education leaders are not just adapting to AI—they're actively shaping its application in our field. This meet-up reinforced UNICON's role as a vital platform for sharing best practices, addressing challenges, and collectively advancing the profession.
For those who couldn't join us in Lyon, don't worry—UNICON has several upcoming opportunities to dive deeper into these topics, announced at the end of the meet up by our Executive Director Melanie Weaver Barnett:
1
VR & AI Webinar
September 9-10
How INSEAD incorporated VR and AI into learning solutions.
Slot 1: Tue, Sept 9th, 5pm CET
Slot 2: Wed, Sept 10th, 9am CET
Slot 2: Wed, Sept 10th, 9am CET
To register, please email tarynstreed@uniconexed.org
2
Leading in Turbulent Times
October 1-2
Business school deans share strategies for current challenges.
Session 1: Oct 1, 6am UTC
Session 2: Oct 2, 3pm UTC
Session 2: Oct 2, 3pm UTC
Members Only
3
Team Development Conference
November 5-7
Real innovation in action at Johns Hopkins Carey Business School.
📍 Washington DC
Early Bird Ends Sept 15!
The future of executive education is being written now, and AI is one of our most powerful co-authors. The question isn't whether AI will transform our field—it's how we'll guide that transformation to create even better learning experiences for the executives we serve.
Special thanks to emlyon business school, Sébastien Plouhinec, Christine Baldy-Ngayo, Professor Rickie Moore, Gabriel Prévot from Inetum, and all the European UNICON members who made this meet-up such a valuable and inspiring experience.
Want to stay updated on UNICON's latest insights and events? Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn for regular updates from the global executive education community.