Best AI Courses for Beginners (Free & Paid)

AI is transforming industries, and learning the basics can open doors to exciting opportunities. Whether you want to explore AI for business, research, or personal projects, these beginner-friendly courses will set you on the right path.

At a Glance

• AI For Everyone (DeepLearning.AI) – Non-technical AI overview by Andrew Ng.
• Elements of AI (University of Helsinki) – Free, self-paced AI fundamentals course.
• Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (IBM) – Covers machine learning and deep learning basics.
• Practical Deep Learning for Coders (fast.ai) – Hands-on deep learning for beginners.
• Artificial Intelligence A-Z™ (Udemy) – Project-based AI learning.
• AI For Everyone: Master the Basics (Microsoft) – AI concepts for non-technical learners.
• CS50’s Introduction to AI with Python (Harvard) – Beginner-friendly AI and Python coding.

1. AI For Everyone (DeepLearning.AI)

By: Andrew Ng
Pricing: Free (Certificate available for a fee)
Why it’s good: A clear and accessible introduction to AI, focusing on its impact rather than technical details. Ideal for business professionals and anyone curious about AI.
Learn more

2. Elements of AI (University of Helsinki)

By: University of Helsinki & MinnaLearn
Pricing: Free
Why it’s good: Designed for complete beginners, this self-paced course explains AI in an engaging, easy-to-understand way. Great for those without a technical background.
Explore the course

3. Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (IBM)

By: IBM
Pricing: Free (Certificate available for a fee)
Why it’s good: Covers essential AI concepts, including machine learning and neural networks, with real-world applications. Good for those looking for an introductory technical overview.
Check it out

4. Practical Deep Learning for Coders (fast.ai)

By: fast.ai
Pricing: Free
Why it’s good: A hands-on course that teaches deep learning by building models from scratch. Best for beginners who prefer a coding-first approach.
Start learning

5. Artificial Intelligence A-Z™ (Udemy)

By: Kirill Eremenko & Hadelin de Ponteves
Pricing: Around $20 (varies with discounts)
Why it’s good: A project-based course that helps learners build AI models step by step, covering deep learning and reinforcement learning. Ideal for practical learners.
See the course

6. Microsoft AI Fundamentals

By: Microsoft
Pricing: Free
Why it’s good: A non-technical course that explains AI concepts, applications, and ethics in a simple way. Great for professionals who want to understand AI without coding.
Join the course

7. CS50’s Introduction to AI with Python (Harvard)

By: Harvard University
Pricing: Free (Certificate available for a fee)
Why it’s good: Covers AI fundamentals with hands-on Python coding, making it a great introduction for beginners who want to learn both AI and programming.
Enroll now

Final Thoughts

These courses make AI accessible to everyone, whether you’re a complete beginner or looking to apply AI in your career. Choose a course based on your learning style, whether theory, coding, or hands-on projects.

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Check out our recommended AI books for beginners.