“AI won’t replace you, but the person using AI will.” It’s a popular phrase these days.
Everyone’s talking about it, and you’re probably thinking, “Hmm, maybe I should check out what this is all about.”
But where do you start? Well, your search ends right here!
Whether you’re a total beginner or just looking to level up your knowledge, we’ve rounded up the 5 best free AI courses for beginners in 2024.
The coolest part? These courses are taught by industry experts who really know their stuff.
So let’s jump right into it!
1. AI For Everyone
AI For Everyone, offered by DeepLearning.AI and instructed by Andrew Ng, is a top-rated course that has already captured the interest of over 1,243,000 learners. A great course for beginners who want to grasp the fundamental concepts of AI getting into complex technical terms.
You’ll learn about the practical applications and potential impact of AI on businesses and society, making it perfect for those looking to understand its real-world implications.
The best part? It’s free if you choose to audit the course, so you can dip your toes into this field without breaking the bank. Plus, with just 2 hours a week over 3 weeks, it won’t take up much of your time either!
Offered by: DeepLearning.AI
Platform: Coursera
What you’ll learn: Understand AI concepts, applications, and implications for business and society.
Time commitment: 6 hours (3 weeks x 2 hours/week)
Price: Free to audit; fees apply if you opt for certification.
2. Google AI for Anyone
Google AI for Anyone is a course provided by Google that helps beginners understand what Artificial Intelligence is and get to know about AI and Machine Learning in a way that’s easy to understand.
In this course, you’ll discover the ins and outs of AI, explore how AI, Machine learning, and Deep Learning all work together, find out why data is super important in AI, and explore the various ways AI impacts our daily lives.
Plus, you’ll get a sneak peek into programming AI as well. This will give you a good start for digging deeper into this cool field and learning even more.
The best thing about it? It won’t cost you a cent. Plus, you can go at your own pace and take all the time you need to finish it.
Offered by: Google
Platform: edX
What you’ll learn: Understand what Artificial Intelligence is, the relationship between AI, Machine Learning, and Deep Learning, the importance of data, various AI applications, and the basics of programming AI.
Time commitment: Self-paced
Price: Free; fees apply if you opt for certification.
3. Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI), presented by IBM and instructed by Rav Ahuja, has already caught the attention of over 331,000 learners and has an impressive rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars from 12,650 reviews!
This course is perfect for beginners who are curious about AI. You’ll get to learn all about what AI is, check out its real-world applications, and grasp important concepts like machine learning, deep learning, and neural networks.
Plus, you’ll explore important topics such as ethics, bias in AI, its impact on jobs, and tips from pros on getting into an AI career. And as a bonus, you can even demonstrate your new knowledge with a practical mini-project displaying AI in action!
What’s great about it? It takes approximately 8 hours to finish, and the best part is that you can try it out for free on Coursera with a 7-day full-access trial!
Offered by: IBM
Platform: Coursera
What you’ll learn: Overview of AI, applications, machine learning, deep learning, neural networks, ethics, and career advice in AI.
Time commitment: 8 hours
Price: 7-day access to Coursera with a free trial.
4. Introduction to Generative AI Learning Path
Introduction to Generative AI Learning Path, offered by Google Cloud Skills Boost, is perfect for beginners looking into topics like Introduction to Large Language Models, Introduction to Responsible AI, and yes, Generative AI Fundamentals.
So if you’re curious about how these things work or just love anything tech-related, this course is definitely worth checking out!
You can sign up for the course and enjoy your first month for free. It only takes around 7 days to complete, but you can take more time if you have to.
Offered by: Google
Platform: Google Cloud Skills Boost
What you’ll learn: Introduction to Generative AI, including large language models and responsible AI principles.
Time commitment: Around 45 minutes for the introductory courses
Price: Free, $29/month after one free month.
5. AI For Business Specialization
The AI for Business Specialization is offered by the University of Pennsylvania and instructed by Michael R Roberts and 7 other instructors. With over 21,000 learners already interested in it and a rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars, it’s clear that this course is something special!
This specialization teaches beginners and pros about using AI in different business situations. In other words, it gives you the skills and knowledge to make AI work for you in your job or any business project you’re working on!
The program includes 4 courses that cover, AI fundamentals for non-data scientists, AI applications in marketing and finance, AI applications in people management, and AI strategy and governance.
This course series will only take you about a month to finish if you dedicate around 10 hours per week to it. The cool thing is, you can give it a go for free with a 7-day free trial on Coursera.
Offered by: University of Pennsylvania
Platform: Coursera
What you’ll learn: Fundamentals of AI and Machine Learning, Incorporating AI, ML, and Big Data into your organization.
Time commitment: 1 month at 10 hours a week.
Price: 7-day access free trial on Coursera.
Wrap-up and Next Steps
So, there you have it!
Learning AI isn’t just about gaining knowledge; it’s also a gateway to high-income skills.
For example, as an AI engineer, Glassdoor reports an average salary of $115,623 per year in the United States – now that’s something worth aiming for!
So these courses might be a great start for your career – who knows where your newfound skills could take you!
