Finding the Best Artificial Intelligence Training for You

Upskilling in AI is perhaps one of the most productive uses of your time right now. As artificial intelligence technology continues to advance rapidly, the demand for AI-related skills grows in parallel. A global study by Deloitte highlighted a significant AI skills gap, with 68% of executives reporting moderate-to-extreme difficulty in meeting their needs. To help bridge this knowledge gap, major tech companies and educational institutions have been releasing high-quality AI learning content.

Whether your goal is to specialize in a particular area of AI or simply to gain a better understanding of the current landscape and future trajectory, investing time in the best artificial intelligence training will undeniably yield substantial rewards.

The challenge lies in navigating the vast sea of available online AI courses. Some are of questionable quality, while others carry hefty price tags. I’ve spent time researching and evaluating numerous online AI courses to pinpoint the most effective, practical, and reasonably priced options currently available.

The courses featured in this list are specifically curated for beginners looking to integrate AI into their professional lives. Don’t let any feelings of imposter syndrome hold you back; these resources are designed to be accessible and provide foundational knowledge in artificial intelligence.

Why Invest in Artificial Intelligence Training?

Instead of dwelling on questions like “will AI take my job?”, a more constructive approach is to learn how to effectively leverage AI to enhance your own work. Because if you don’t adapt, the answer to that question may very well be a definitive yes.

Regardless of your personal feelings about AI, it is becoming an indispensable tool for virtually every knowledge worker seeking to improve their performance. This holds true across diverse roles, including writers, programmers, project managers, HR professionals, marketers, salespeople, and many others. The ability to work alongside and utilize artificial intelligence and automation is becoming a key skill.

The encouraging news is that you don’t need to be a tech expert to begin learning how to use AI. The current buzz around AI isn’t just about the power of new models, but also their accessibility. If you have internet access, you can start using AI tools today. These eight training programs can provide the foundational knowledge needed to embrace artificial intelligence in the workplace effectively.

Top Picks: Best Artificial Intelligence Training Courses for Beginners

Here’s a quick overview of some of the top artificial intelligence training courses for those just starting out:

Now, let’s delve into the specifics of each of these highly-rated artificial intelligence training programs.

1. AI for Everyone (DeepLearning.AI)

Screenshot of DeepLearning.AI website homepage promoting the AI for Everyone course, listed among the best artificial intelligence training options.

DeepLearning.AI is an educational technology company exclusively dedicated to teaching the world about AI. Founded by Dr. Andrew Ng, a globally recognized leader in artificial intelligence, you can be confident in the quality of any course offered through this platform. While these beginner courses focus on using AI as a tool, the field itself involves complex development, including selecting the top programming language for artificial intelligence.

DeepLearning.AI offers a wide variety of AI courses, and surprisingly, many are quite affordable. A large selection of their shorter courses are hosted directly on the DeepLearning.AI website and are free to enroll in once you register. Some courses, such as “AI for Everyone,” are hosted on Coursera. For these, the cost to take the final assessment and earn a certificate of completion typically ranges from $39 to $79.

As a co-founder of Coursera, Andrew Ng’s extensive course content is also widely accessible through a Coursera subscription, which often offers a free trial period. His “AI for Everyone” course on Coursera is exceptionally popular, having attracted nearly 1.5 million students and receiving over 40,000 positive reviews, solidifying its place as a leading option for artificial intelligence training.

This introductory course covers essential ground across its four modules, exploring topics like integrating AI into business strategies and understanding AI’s broader societal implications. While the course duration is listed as under 6 hours, the content is substantial, featuring 8-10 videos per module and quizzes after each section. It could easily take longer to complete, depending on your pace and engagement with the material. If you’re seeking a shorter commitment, other options on this list might be more suitable.

Price: Free for course content access (read-only); $49 to take the final assessment and receive a certificate of completion.

2. Applying Generative AI as a Business Professional (LinkedIn)

Screenshot of the LinkedIn Learning course page for Building Generative AI Skills for Business Professionals, highlighted as a top artificial intelligence training option.

LinkedIn, a platform inherently focused on professional development and upskilling, is a natural place to find valuable educational content. A search on LinkedIn Learning reveals a wealth of video content related to artificial intelligence.

Much of the free AI video content available is highly beneficial for gaining a foundational understanding of using AI in a professional context. It’s presented at a general level applicable across most industries. Conveniently, LinkedIn organizes much of this material into structured learning paths.

For those completely new to AI, the “Career Essentials in Generative AI” path provides a good introduction to what generative AI is and its potential workplace applications. However, the “Applying Generative AI as a Business Professional” path is particularly practical. This path includes content demonstrating how to craft effective prompts, utilize generative AI for writing and research tasks, and even create AI-generated images using tools like Midjourney. It essentially covers key ways to leverage generative AI to enhance productivity in your job. Understanding concepts like artificial intelligence and automation is a core part of maximizing efficiency with these tools.

Completing this learning path requires approximately 15 hours, comprising seven chapters, including six hours of video content and quizzes. Successfully passing the final exam can also earn you a Professional Certificate from Microsoft, which you can feature on your LinkedIn profile.

A subscription to LinkedIn Learning typically includes a free one-month trial period, offering an excellent opportunity to complete one or both of these courses within that time, depending on your availability.

Price: Free for the first month; $39.99/month thereafter (or $24.99/month with annual billing).

3. Introduction to Generative AI Learning Path (Google)

Screenshot of the Google Cloud Skills Boost page for the Introduction to Generative AI Learning Path, listed among the best artificial intelligence training programs.

Unsurprisingly, Google is also a significant provider of online AI courses and educational resources. Among Google’s AI offerings, the “Introduction to Generative AI Learning Path” stands out for the volume of course material it provides, making it a strong contender for comprehensive artificial intelligence training.

This is an introductory path designed to give you a solid overview of generative AI, delve into large language models (LLMs), and discuss the crucial aspects of using AI responsibly. The learning path consists of five distinct courses, delivered through Google Cloud’s Skills Boost program.

Google suggests dedicating one day per course, working through videos, reading materials, and quizzes. The amount of material varies between blocks, and completing a course earns you 300 credits within the program.

You can access and consume all the course content for free. However, to take a “Lab” – designed to test your knowledge and earn a completion badge for your Google profile – you need either a subscription or sufficient credits. The Google Cloud’s Skills Boost subscription includes a free trial for the first month, after which it costs $29 per month.

Price: Free for content access; $29/month after the first free month (or $299 for an annual subscription) to earn completion badges via Labs.

4. AI for Business Specialization (University of Pennsylvania)

Screenshot of the Coursera course page for the AI for Business Specialization offered by the University of Pennsylvania, a recommended option for artificial intelligence training focused on business applications.

The University of Pennsylvania offers an “AI For Business Specialization” course on Coursera that covers a wide array of business-related AI topics. This specialization is structured into four core modules:

• AI Fundamentals for Non-Data Scientists
• AI Applications in Marketing and Finance
• AI Applications in People Management
• AI Strategy and Governance

Designed for beginners, the content is particularly relevant for business leaders and managers. It provides a comprehensive overview of how these different AI areas intersect and can be applied within an organization. The specialization offers guidance on effectively implementing AI across various business functions and leveraging it for competitive advantage. Module 2 delves into practical applications, including how AI is used in marketing and finance, touching upon topics relevant to understanding market indicators and even concepts like ai brain stock.

This program is taught by professors from the Wharton School, a top-ranked business school globally, adding significant credibility to the artificial intelligence training provided. The entire specialization is estimated to take around one month to complete, assuming approximately 10 hours of study per week. Each module includes peer-reviewed assessments, and successful completion earns you a shareable certificate for your LinkedIn profile.

Coursera provides a seven-day free trial, allowing you to complete roughly one module (about 10 hours of content) to assess if the specialization meets your expectations before committing financially. After the trial period, a Coursera subscription costs $59 per month.

Price: 7-day free trial; $59/month thereafter or $399 for an annual subscription.

5. AI Foundations for Everyone Specialization (IBM)

Screenshot of the Coursera course page for the AI Foundations for Everyone Specialization from IBM, highlighted as a strong artificial intelligence training choice for beginners.

IBM provides several entry-level AI courses through various online learning platforms. A notable example is the “AI for Everyone: Master the Basics” course on EdX, which offers a solid overview of AI within just eight hours of content.

However, my top recommendation from IBM is the “AI Foundations for Everyone Specialization” available on Coursera. This is also a beginner-focused program, but its modules are slightly more practical and specialized, designed to equip you with more actionable knowledge for integrating AI into your work. This makes it a valuable option for practical artificial intelligence training.

The specialization is delivered in four parts. The first introduces AI and its applications in the workplace. The following two parts focus on generative AI, covering applications, use cases, and the mechanics of prompting. The final part is more hands-on, providing an introduction to IBM’s generative AI product, IBM Watson, and guiding you through building a simple chatbot using Watson without requiring coding. While it serves partly as a demonstration of IBM’s tools, it also offers practical insights into how major tech companies develop these applications and how they could potentially be integrated into your organization.

Similar to the University of Pennsylvania specialization, you can potentially complete this entire course within Coursera’s seven-day free trial period, making it accessible for foundational artificial intelligence training.

Price: 7-day free trial; $59/month thereafter.

6. Elements of AI (University of Helsinki)

Screenshot of the Elements of AI course website from the University of Helsinki, a widely recognized free option for artificial intelligence training.

Launched in 2018 (and regularly updated) by the University of Helsinki in partnership with MinnaLearn, the introductory “Elements of AI” course has reached over a million students and is available in 26 languages, making it a highly accessible form of artificial intelligence training globally.

Hosted on the University’s own MOOC (massive open online course) platform, the course includes six main blocks covering topics such as AI problem-solving, machine learning, neural networks, and the ethical and societal implications of AI. If AI ethics and implications are particularly interesting to you, the University also offers an “Ethics of AI” course worth exploring.

This course is excellent and incorporates practical exercises throughout each block, allowing you to apply the concepts you’re learning. While there’s no official certificate of completion, the course is entirely free and can be completed at your own pace, offering flexible artificial intelligence training.

One important consideration: if you are a highly visual learner, you might find this course challenging. To maintain accessibility across many languages, the course is entirely text-based with no accompanying videos.

Price: Free.

7. Increase productivity using AI (Zapier)

Screenshot of the Zapier Learn course page titled 'Increase productivity using AI', presented as a concise artificial intelligence training resource.

The “Increase productivity using AI” course by Zapier introduces you to powerful generative AI tools and demonstrates practical applications for your work. In under 30 minutes, this concise artificial intelligence training teaches you how to craft effective prompts, shows you how to seamlessly pair artificial intelligence and automation, and even guides you through building your own basic AI chatbot, even if you have no prior app building experience.

If you prefer a hands-on approach – seeking a rapid introduction to the basics before diving into practical AI usage – this course is an excellent starting point. Upon completion, you can explore Zapier further to experiment with various AI tools and integrate them with the other applications you use daily for work, putting your artificial intelligence training into immediate practice.

Price: Free.

8. AI for Marketing Course (HubSpot)

Screenshot of the HubSpot Academy course page for the AI for Marketing Course, recommended for those seeking artificial intelligence training tailored for marketing professionals.

You don’t need to be a paying HubSpot customer or even a HubSpot user to enroll in their “AI for Marketing Course.” This introductory artificial intelligence training program covers essential AI marketing concepts without requiring any interaction with the HubSpot dashboard.

Instead, the course features insights from a range of marketing experts, both from HubSpot and external to the company. They provide clear overviews and share how they are currently using AI in their own campaigns.

This six-lesson video course covers significant ground, from practical tips on using and optimizing AI prompts to generate desired content, to leveraging data for AI-driven marketing decisions. The scope makes it valuable for marketing beginners through to business owners and leaders seeking artificial intelligence training relevant to their field.

A particularly notable aspect of this course is its informal yet informative delivery style and the relatable nature of the discussions. Many online AI video courses can feel overly formal and scripted, sometimes even robotic. Featuring a variety of speakers makes this particular artificial intelligence training more engaging and dynamic for the learner.

Price: Free.

Put Your Artificial Intelligence Training to Work

Regardless of which course you choose from this list, any time invested in educating yourself about AI represents a smart investment in your future. If you have a specific area of interest within AI not directly covered here, conducting a search is worthwhile to see if learning content on that topic is already available.

For every hour you spend absorbing knowledge about AI through training, dedicate an hour to actively experimenting with AI tools. Platforms like ChatGPT and Zapier Chatbots offer easy and accessible ways to start putting your artificial intelligence training into practice immediately.