certificate of completion (free on Google Skills; included in Coursera subscription)
certificate of completion (free)
Open to
Worldwide
Worldwide
Free in
Worldwide
Worldwide
Content written for
United States
Any country
Summary
Google's entry-level course on using generative AI tools at work: generating ideas, researching, drafting and speeding up routine tasks. It also covers prompting basics and how to spot bias and other risks. The same course is sold on Coursera, but Google now offers it at no cost on its own Google Skills platform.
A plain-language introduction to what AI is, how it solves problems and how machine learning and neural networks work, with no programming or heavy maths. It closes by looking at what AI means for jobs and society. One of the most widely taken free AI courses in the world.
Objectives
Use generative AI tools to brainstorm ideas and draft content
Apply AI to research, organisation and planning tasks
Write clearer, more specific prompts
Recognise bias and other risks and use AI responsibly
Keep skills current as AI tools change
Explain what AI is and is not, and how it relates to nearby fields
Describe how AI searches for solutions and handles uncertainty using probability
Tell the main types of machine learning apart and give examples
Outline how neural networks are built and what they are good at
Judge claims about AI in the news more critically
Discuss the likely social and workplace effects of AI
Things to know
Google Skills and Coursera versions list different durations (Google Skills: 2 hr 15 min; Coursera: about 8 hours across five short courses)
Coursera version is subscription-based and cannot be audited
US-centric examples
Google Skills sign-in required
Provider estimates 4 to 8 hours per part across 6 parts, so total time is about 24 to 48 hours
Content predates much of the generative AI wave, so it covers foundations rather than tools like ChatGPT
ECTS credits only available through the Open University of the University of Helsinki
Free account needed to track progress and get the certificate
Company names and logos belong to their owners and are used only to identify their courses. ApplyAI is independent and is not endorsed by, affiliated with or paid by any provider. Prices and details are as at the check date; confirm on the provider's site.