IBM's longer foundation credential covering the main branches of AI, including language processing, computer vision, machine learning, chatbots and neural networks, plus ethics and AI career paths. It suits someone who wants to understand how AI works under the hood rather than just use tools.
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
Explain natural language processing, computer vision and machine learning
Describe how neural networks and deep learning work at a conceptual level
Discuss AI ethics and real-world applications
Understand the steps of running an AI model in IBM Watson Studio
Recognise AI-related job roles and skills
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
Provider lists 10+ hours; real time may be longer
Credly lists the badge as intermediate level
Includes graded quizzes, final assessments and practice simulations
Free SkillsBuild account required
The course itself opens after signing in to IBM SkillsBuild; this link goes to IBM's public page for the credential
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
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