AI Courses for Beginners
Your curated pathway to AI proficiency - from zero to AI-ready
Start Here: Foundation Courses (Weeks 1-4)
AI For Everyone by Andrew Ng
Platform: Coursera
Time: 4 weeks, 2-3 hours/week
Why: The gold standard introduction to AI for non-technical professionals
You'll Learn: AI terminology, capabilities, limitations, and business applications
Perfect For: Any professional wanting to understand AI basics
Introduction to Generative AI
Platform: Google Cloud Skills Boost
Time: 8 hours total
Why: Understand ChatGPT, Claude, and other generative AI tools
You'll Learn: How LLMs work, prompt engineering basics, ethical considerations
Perfect For: Professionals who want to use AI tools effectively
ChatGPT for Everyone
Platform: Coursera
Time: 2 weeks, 3 hours/week
Why: Hands-on practice with the world's most popular AI tool
You'll Learn: Prompt engineering, practical applications, productivity hacks
Perfect For: Immediate practical skills you can use tomorrow
Free Resources to Start Today
🆓 No Budget? No Problem:
Google AI Essentials
Free on Coursera (audit mode)
10 hours of content • Certificate available for fee
Microsoft AI for Beginners
GitHub-based curriculum
Completely free • Self-paced learning
YouTube University
Curated channels for AI learning
"AI Explained" • "Two Minute Papers" • Industry tutorials
LinkedIn Learning Free Trials
1-month free access
Hundreds of AI courses • Professional certificates
Your Learning Investment
Starter (Free-$50/month)
- • Audit Coursera courses for free
- • Use free trials strategically
- • Focus on YouTube and free resources
Growth ($50-150/month)
- • Coursera Plus subscription
- • One specialized course
- • AI tool subscriptions for practice
Pro ($150+/month)
- • Multiple platform subscriptions
- • Fast-track specializations
- • Premium AI tools and coaching
How to Actually Complete These Courses
1.Start with just ONE course
2.Block calendar time (treat it like a meeting)
3.Join the course community/forum
4.Apply learnings immediately at work
5.Share progress with accountability partner
6.Celebrate milestones (every module counts!)