Artificial intelligence is everywhere in 2025.
Just this week, we’ve seen the rapidly evolving technology serve as a silver bullet that one IT consulting firm used to quasi-justify laying off thousands, while social platform company Meta has announced it’ll incorporate data from users’ AI chatbot conversations in order to hyper-target ads on its platforms.
Also this week: A new survey took a look at the “AI debt” incurred by inaccurate AI workflows and a big new AI regulation took effect in California. Who knows what more news will drop over the weekend?
On the bright side, you might have finished a few of these new free online courses by the time the week’s over. Below, we’ve listed a few learning courses focused on a range of AI-related business interests and functions. Most of them are four hours or fewer, but we threw in a few 40-hour-long picks for all you overachivers.
Take a look at your options. AI likely isn’t going away any time soon, and these courses offer a few quick lessons in figuring out what it all means for your own career.
Microsoft: Get Started With Data Analytics
Length: ~2 hours
Have a free afternoon? Then you’re ready to learn about data analytics with this quick online guide that includes an overview, covers the roles available in working with data, and explains the tasks of a data analyst.
While not a course solely focused on AI, this look at the ins and outs of data analysis overall does include plenty of overlap with the new technology. You’ll learn about predictive analytics as well as the ways in which data is crucial for powering AI and for benefiting from AI output.
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Granted, this is just the start of a journey that won’t be entirely free. Microsoft counts this online lesson as the first segment of a $165 course that aims to certify users as “Power BI Data Analyst Associates,” which can help them get ahead in companies that rely heavily on Power BI, Microsoft’s business analytics platform.
Take a look today by heading over to the company’s learning hub here.
University of Pennsylvania: AI For Business Specialization
Length: 40 hours
You’ll need to dedicate four weeks to this Ivy League online course. You’ll emerge with a better understanding of AI’s place in the business world.
The lessons include topics like “Fundamentals for Non-Data Scientists,” as well as AI applications in marketing and finance, people management, and strategy. Can AI actually craft effective marketing strategies? With the help of the industry leaders who’ve contributed their viewpoints, you’ll find out.
The online course is available from Coursera here, for free when you sign up for an account, and it already boasts 297,521 learners who’ve given it a shot.
Google: Prompting Essentials Specialization
Length: 4 hours
Figuring out what types of prompts will trigger the generative AI responses you need is a key part of interacting with today’s AI chatbots, from Gemini to ChatGPT. This quick course takes users through Google’s approach to prompting.
You’ll learn about techniques for common white collar business tasks, how prompts can help with data analysis or crafting presentations, and what specific five steps to keep in mind in order to turn out an effective prompt in the first place.
By the end of the four-hour-long online course, you’ll be able to create a homebrew AI agent capable of conversing with you. You’ll also have an understanding of lesser known AI-related concepts, from prompt versioning to prompt chaining. Once completed, the course includes a credential that you can add to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV.
Check out the course today, over on Coursera here.
LinkedIn Learning: AI and Digital Marketing Trends
Length: ~3 hours
This biweekly ongoing series offers a different format in comparison to the typical online lesson plan: Users will be able to check out fresh, frequently updated videos from marketing and social media expert Martin Waxman, explaining the latest ways marketers are engaging with generative AI.
Past topics include a wide range of interests: mobile, voice search, video and live streaming, artificial intelligence and virtual reality. You’ll hear about the ways social media is evolving, and how regulations like the EU’s GDPR data protection law are impacting marketers.
In an industry that’s constantly evolving to address consumers where they are, it makes sense to have a consistently updating source of trend information.
There’s one catch, however. This course is available from LinkedIn Learning, which isn’t available for free on an ongoing basis. You’ll be able to get a generous month-long free trial, but you’ll have to pay after that. Check out this course here, and take a look at the other ones available on LinkedIn before your month runs out.
Vanderbilt University: Generative AI Strategic Leader Specialization
Length: 40 hours
Need to lead AI implementation at your organization but don’t know where to start? This course might be for you.
Across a four-week period, you’ll figure out how AI systems work, how to scale them up across your business, and how decision making can factor in AI. There’s a focus on AI agents, the chatbots that can converse with users and suggest implementation and strategy decisions by themselves, often using custom data to do so.
This course is geared towards ChatGPT, with an entire module covering prompt engineering for the popular OpenAI tool. You’ll also get a “Generative AI Primer” and the aforementioned guide to AI agents. If you complete it, you’ll gain a career certificate to show off on your resume.
Like all the courses listed here, it’s free, entirely online, and available to start with a few clicks. Head over to Coursera to check it out here.
Just How Important Are AI Tools, Anyway?
It’s tough to predict the future, but given that AI-related stocks currently account for 75% of all S&P 500 returns since the launch of ChatGPT, there’s a real chance that we’re in an AI bubble.
When it pops, we might face a dot-com style bust and recession, and everyone’s interest in the future of AI might suddenly shift. Until then, however, we all need jobs. AI upskilling is still a top way to maintain your job security or move to the next rung in your personal career ladder. Hopefully the courses we’ve listed above help.
Once you’ve add those AI skills, you may still find yourself looking for additional ways to shore up your white collar career. If that’s the case, consider checking out two additional guides: We have advice on the best way to negotiate your next raise, as well as a guide for landing a flexible and fully remote job.
