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5 Courses to Make Sense of Artificial Intelligence

May 28, 2024 | Activate Learning | 9 min read

When it comes to technology, new innovations often find themselves having to balance the line between hype and hypotheticals. We watched the rise and fall of Crypto, experienced the short-lived buzz that everyone would soon be living in the metaverse, and now we find ourselves under constant barrage about generative AI.

When it comes to generative AI, however, we’re beyond the hypotheticals because beneath the hype, there’s a reality. Generative AI is already being deployed and fundamentally revolutionizing the way we work. A recent Gartner poll showed that more than half of executives have generative AI projects in development, with 10% in production.

From finance to fashion, healthcare to hospitality, generative AI is permeating nearly every industry, demanding new strategies, policies, and skills. It’s impacting jobs at every level. In fact, according to the World Economic Forum, 44% of employers predict that workers’ skills will be disrupted in the next five years — and that six in 10 staff members will require training before 2027.

But even if you’ve submitted a few prompts into OpenAI’s ChatGPT, you still might be asking yourself: what is artificial intelligence, really? What makes generative AI so much more powerful than traditional AI? What’s the difference?

And you’re not alone. Our annual IT Skills and Salary Report, an in-depth survey of over 5,700 tech professionals worldwide, showed that while AI is the top investment area for tech leaders, 43% say their team’s skills are at least somewhat low to low.

In response, we’ve compiled a list of five courses on artificial intelligence to help neophytes make sense of all the recent hype and get a jump start on their reskilling and upskilling journey.

1. An Introduction to Generative AI

As expected, the first course you can take to make sense of generative AI is a foundational introduction course.

This beginner course from Skillsoft, An Introduction to Generative AI, starts with an overview of generative AI, exploring some notable examples of generative models, including OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google Bard.

Next, you will look at the use of prompt engineering when interacting with AI chatbots before exploring the risks and ethical considerations associated with generative AI, such as unintentional use of copyrighted data, the use of personal data for training, and the creation of malicious deepfakes using AI (more on the ethical use of AI later).

By the end of the 11-video course, complete with an assessment and opportunity for a digital badge, you will have learned:

  • The definition of generative AI
  • A brief history of generative AI
  • The applications of generative AI
  • The risks and ethical considerations associated with generative AI (including deepfakes)

TAKE THE COURSE →

Go a Step Further

 “An Introduction to Generative AI” is the first course on our Generative AI and Introduction Aspire Journey, which is suited for professionals looking to deepen their understanding of generative AI and leverage its capabilities within their respective industry. During the series, you will progress from basic concepts towards more complex topics before ending with a project that allows you to apply your knowledge to build a generative AI model.

Similar courses you can check out:

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2. ChatGPT & Its Practical Use Cases

In the spirit of exploring the exciting possibilities of generative AI, this Skillsoft course, ChatGPT & Its Practical Use Cases, was built using several AI technologies paired alongside Skillsoft's trusted design methodologies. For instance, generative AI was used to draft the curriculum plan and on-screen text, while AI text-to-speech services were used for the narration. Generative AI was also used to produce the course assessment and AI assistive technologies helped translate the course captions into multiple languages.

In this course, you will focus on the purpose and key features of ChatGPT compared to other language models. Next, you will explore the different uses of ChatGPT, including how it can be used in real-world applications. Finally, you will examine the potential benefits and limitations of using ChatGPT, as well as the ethical considerations surrounding its use.

By the end of the 14-video course, complete with an assessment and opportunity for a digital badge, you will be able to:

  • Describe the purpose and characteristics of ChatGPT
  • Summarize how ChatGPT differs from other language models
  • Outline different uses cases of ChatGPT and how it can be used in real-world applications
  • Evaluate the potential impact of ChatGPT on society and culture
  • Write different prompts for ChatGPT and analyze its responses

TAKE THE COURSE →

Go a Step Further

This course, “ChatGPT & Its Practical Use Cases,” is the first course on our Aspire Journey, Practical ChatGPT: From Use Cases to Prompt Engineering & Ethnical Implications. This journey provides learners with a very thorough exploration of ChatGPT, starting with the introduction, progressing through practical applications, advanced techniques, industry impacts, and important ethical considerations.

Similar courses you can check out:

3. Navigating AI Ethical Challenges and Risks

We’ve talked a lot about the promises of generative AI, but it’s also incredibly important to discuss its pitfalls. While generative AI can produce impressive results, it can also generate misinformation, fake news, or inappropriate content — especially when deployed without proper oversight.

Additionally, there are ethical dilemmas which need to be addressed, such as copyright infringement, data privacy, and discrimination since AI systems can inadvertently perpetuate or amplify biases present in the data used for training. 

That’s why this Skillsoft course, Navigating AI Ethnical Challenges and Risks, is essential for everyone to gain a foundational understanding of the ethnical challenges and risks associated with generative AI. This course will also provide you with decision-making frameworks so you can navigate ethical challenges and make responsible choices when working with this new technology.

In this 7-video course, complete with an assessment and opportunity for a digital badge, you will learn how to:

  • Recognize the ethical challenges and risks of generative AI and their impact on society and business practices
  • Identify ethical considerations and risks related to data privacy, algorithmic bias, and human-AI collaboration
  • Use ethical decision-making frameworks to navigate challenges and make responsible choices with generative AI

TAKE THE COURSE →

Similar courses you can check out:

4. Recognizing Hallucinations, Inaccuracies, and Bias in AI

Building on the previous course, Recognizing Hallucinations, Inaccuracies, and Bias in AI offers a deeper dive into how you can mitigate some of the pitfalls associated with generative AI.

One of the reasons generative AI needs to be monitored is due to a phenomenon known as “hallucinations,” which are essentially fictious or inaccurate outputs from the AI model. They can be text, images, videos and audio. If left unchecked, these hallucinations could contribute to the spread of fake news, leading to confusion, mistrust, and even harm both from a societal and brand reputation perspective.

To help mitigate these concerns, this course offers an understanding of the challenges related to hallucinations, inaccuracies, and biases in AI-generated content, including foundational concepts, identification strategies, and mitigation approaches to help you recognize and address these issues responsibly.

By the end of this 7-video course, complete with an assessment and opportunity for a digital badge, you will learn how to:

  • Understand the four steps in the process of reviewing generative AI outputs to ensure output reliability
  • Identify approaches and techniques for mitigating biases in AI models
  • Recognize the importance of promoting ethical and responsible use of AI technologies

TAKE THE COURSE →

Similar courses you can check out:

5. Leading in the Age of Generative AI

Leadership plays a crucial role in the creation of a culture that embraces generative AI-driven innovations while setting proper ethical standards and guidelines for the development and deployment of AI technologies. This involves promoting collaboration between interdisciplinary teams to ensure that AI technologies are developed with careful consideration of their societal impacts.

This Skillsoft course, Leading in the Age of Generative AI, is designed to help leaders learn strategies to foster innovation, embrace experiments, and promote ethical usage to effectively guide your organization through this transformational.

In this 6-video course, complete with an assessment and opportunity for a digital badge, you will learn how to:

  • Identify core applications of generative AI
  • Identify steps to create a generative AI implementation plan
  • Identify the key responsibilities that leaders need to oversee to successfully implement generative AI
  • Identify ways to leverage a framework for using AI responsibly

TAKE THE COURSE →

Go a Step Further

This course, “Leading in the Age of Generative AI,” is part of our Aspire Journey, Generative AI Business Transformation. Throughout this 16-course journey, learners of all levels will develop a shared understanding of what generative AI is, its ethical considerations, and how to build and experiment with the technology in a responsible manner. 

Similar courses you can check out:

Honorable Mentions

There are number of our learning partners who offer courses that are worthy of a mention because of their relevance and reverence in the field.

So, here are a few more courses from our partners to help you make sense of AI:

GOOGLE CLOUD’S INTRODUCTION TO GENERATIVE AI

This no-cost, introductory level microlearning course is one of the top courses aimed at explaining what Generative AI is, how it is used, and how it differs from traditional machine learning methods. It also covers Google Tools to help you develop your own Gen AI apps.

During this 45-minute course, which offers a badge upon completion, you’ll learn how to:

  • Define generative AI
  • Explain how generative AI works
  • Describe generative AI model types
  • Describe generative AI applications

TAKE THE COURSE →

MICROSOFT’S FUNDAMENTALS OF RESPONSIBLE GENERATIVE AI

Responsible implementation of generative AI is essential for addressing ethical concerns, mitigating bias, ensuring legal compliance, enhancing security, and building trust. This involves actively working to mitigate biases in the data used to train these models, ensuring that the generated content does not perpetuate harmful stereotypes or misinformation.

By the end of this free, 50-minute module from Microsoft, you'll be able to:

  • Describe an overall process for responsible generative AI solution development
  • Identify and prioritize potential harms relevant to a generative AI solution
  • Measure the presence of harms in a generative AI solution
  • Mitigate harms in a generative AI solution
  • Prepare to deploy and operate a generative AI solution responsibly

Before starting this module, it’s suggested that you are familiar with the Azure OpenAI service. Consider completing the Introduction to Azure OpenAI Service module before starting this one.

TAKE THE COURSE →

Want to Learn More About AI?

These are just a handful of courses available on the topic of generative AI.

If you’re one of the thousands looking to adapt ChatGPT, the Aspire Journey on ChatGPT may be right for you.

Or, if you’re looking to learn more on how to transform your business with generative AI, whether from a leadership or compliance standpoint, the Aspire Journey on Generative AI Business Transformation could be a better fit.

Interested in more? Request a free demo now to check out our Skillsoft and Codecademy courses.