An AI Piggy Bank: SberUniversity Launches an Online “AI/ML in Finance” Course
SberUniversity, working with Sber’s Finance division, has launched an online course that shows in practical terms how artificial intelligence can be used to forecast financial flows and optimize spending. The program is designed to demonstrate where AI delivers real value in finance, rather than abstract theory.
Steering Financial Flows
SberUniversity is rolling out a new course aimed at anyone looking to apply AI to real-world financial tasks. The program does not require advanced mathematics or programming skills. All learning materials are available on demand, making the course highly flexible and accessible to a broad audience.
“Artificial intelligence is an efficiency booster for everyone. It is becoming increasingly difficult to find an area where AI tools are not useful. I use AI constantly in my own work. It helps me get more done and make better decisions. And we see that employees who master these technologies show higher productivity, sometimes by multiples. Thirty years ago, resumes often listed ‘confident PC user’. Today, what companies need are confident users of artificial intelligence,” said Alexander Vedyakhin, First Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of Sberbank.
The course is designed to show, through hands-on examples, how AI can be used to forecast cash flows, optimize expenses with the help of AI agents, and integrate intelligent models into business projects. Participants also learn when AI adoption makes sense and when it is unlikely to deliver measurable results. The program introduces skills for framing tasks for ML engineers and provides tools for the practical integration of AI into a company’s operations.
Skills That Raise Market Value
The course is expected to strengthen the professional competencies of finance specialists and managers. Graduates will be better positioned to improve operational efficiency, accelerate the rollout of digital services, and take part in the transformation of financial processes. For the labor market, this translates into growing demand for professionals who can manage projects that include AI components and into broader career opportunities across banking and fintech.
Although the program is aimed at a Russian-speaking audience, the development of national expertise creates conditions for Russian specialists to participate in international AI and finance projects in the future.
A key feature of the course is the absence of strict technical prerequisites. This makes it suitable for integration into professional training and upskilling systems within the financial sector. The online format and practical focus allow participants to apply new knowledge immediately, without lengthy preparation.
Data That Speaks for Itself
Sber has been actively developing educational initiatives at the intersection of finance and artificial intelligence. Earlier programs focused on digital competencies and financial analytics, helping students and professionals master applied data analysis. In 2025, Sber launched the course AI-pomoshchnik dlya predprinimateley (AI Assistant for Entrepreneurs), which taught business owners how to use AI tools to manage their projects. At the same time, a series of free online courses on working with AI assistants for students and educators expanded access to modern technologies.
Training for the bank’s own employees has also intensified. AI-focused programs have become mandatory for staff, with the goal of improving internal efficiency and embedding intelligent solutions into everyday workflows. Conferences with educational tracks on analytics and AI, including Sber Process Mining Conf 2026, have helped bridge theory and practice by showcasing real-world cases of machine learning adoption in finance.
At one such conference, Anatoly Popov, Deputy Chairman of Sber’s Management Board, shared telling data: “Forty-two percent of large industrial enterprises have already implemented GenAI (generative AI) or plan to deploy it for production management.”
Saving More Than Pennies
The AI/ML v finansakh (AI/ML in Finance) course reflects a clear market need for programs that combine theory with practical skills for integrating AI into business processes. An always-on online format lowers barriers to entry and makes the course attractive to a wide audience.
Looking ahead to 2030, such programs are expected to become mainstream, both in banking and across educational platforms. As generative models gain traction in the financial sector, the course helps close the gap between theory and practice that many finance teams face. It enables specialists at different levels, from students to experienced fintech professionals, to master modern AI tools.
