Learn the fundamentals of AI with these courses

PwC describes artificial intelligence (AI) as “the biggest business opportunity of the next decade.”

The technology is already affecting roles in the workplace today, and is expected to continue to do so in the coming years. 

“Automation and AI will lift productivity and economic growth, but millions of people worldwide may need to switch occupations or upgrade skills,” it said.

AI underpins a lot of what we do today — from driverless cars to facial recognition technology to the pre-written message response we get when typing emails. 

There’s no running away from the technology, but for those who are keen on gaining new skills to pivot their career — or merely to fulfil a curiosity about the field — there are a number of courses that will teach you the fundamentals of AI. 

Here are three worth exploring: 

AI Foundations for Everyone Specialization

This course is offered by IBM via Coursera and takes approximately three months to complete.  

This course is ideal for those with little or no background in AI, and without any programming skills. It is designed to give you a firm understanding of what is AI, its applications and use cases across various industries. 

Students will become acquainted with terms like Machine Learning, Deep Learning and Neural Networks. 

By the end of this course, learners will have had hands-on interactions with several AI environments and applications, and have built and deployed an AI enabled chatbot on a website – without any coding.

Professional Certificate in Foundations of AI

According to edX, this programme is meant for those with little or no background in AI, computer science, or data science; it does not require any programming skills. 

This course will help learners understand AI basics, its applications and use cases, and how it’s transforming our lives; identify various Watson AI services from IBM and what they can be used for; and describe how AI-powered chatbot technology works and its applications, to name a few.

The entire programme costs less than 300 US dollars.

Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Business Strategy 

Do you want to understand AI, but via a business lens? This six-week online course by MIT will give you a practical grounding in AI and its business applications. 

Students will be equipped to lead informed, strategic decision-making and augment business performance by integrating key AI management and leadership insights into the way their organisation operates.

Their modules include an introduction to AI, robotics in business, and AI in business and society, to name a few.