As you have probably noticed, AI is everywhere, and it’s not going away anytime soon. This is especially true in the workplace, with a recent LinkedIn study revealing that 44% of business leaders intend to ramp up their use of AI in the next year.
However, learning a new skill can be daunting, especially if you’re not technically minded. The good news? There are lots of resources out there to help you learn AI, and many are free.
One company that is providing an abundance of free AI training right now is commerce giant Amazon. We detail the courses available below that will help you get a leg up in your career
How Does Online AI Training Work?
If you’re not familiar with online courses, then you might be envisioning a huge class Zoom call, where at any moment you could be picked on to explain what generative AI is.
To put your fears at rest, these online courses are usually pre-recorded videos, hosted by an instructor, who talks through the concepts of the module. At the end of a module there is usually a quiz, where you can demonstrate how well you have understood the training.
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The good news is that because the sessions are pre-recorded, you’re free to go at your own pace, although we’d recommend sticking to a schedule so you commit to the course. Some courses can be completed in an hour, while others are broken down into separate modules and will take several sessions to complete. Most of the ones we’ve picked from Amazon here are short, with one clocking in at just 13 minutes.
Free Amazon AI Courses
1. Generative AI for Executives
If you’re looking to get started in the world of AI, this course is a great choice, as it will explain the basics of AI and answer those questions that you were too afraid to ask out loud.
The course is split into five mini modules, which cover what generative AI actually is, why now is the best time to embrace it, enterprise use cases, training a workforce to use AI, and why AWS (Amazon Web Services) is the best place to build with AI.
You will notice in a lot of these courses that AWS is front and center, which is probably fair enough considering that Amazon is offering these services for free.
The best thing about this course? It’s only thirteen minutes long, which means you could finish it over breakfast before your coffee has a chance to go cold.
Enroll for Generative AI for Executives
2. Introduction to Machine Learning: Art of the Possible
Got questions about machine learning? Such as, what exactly is machine learning? This is the course you’ll want to take, as it covers all the basics, and beyond.
The four module course takes just thirty minutes to complete, and takes you on a whistle-stop tour of AI, machine learning, the impact machine learning has on businesses, the potential it can have on underutilized markets, and more.
You’ll also develop an understanding of how machine learning works, as well as the potential problems with the technology.
Enroll in Introduction to Machine Learning: Art of the Possible
3. Amazon CodeWhisperer – Getting Started
If you’re a developer, you might be wondering how using AI can help you improve your skills and save you time. Amazon’s CodeWhisperer, a coding companion powered by AI, could be the answer, and this short course will let you know if it’s right for you.
The course, only thirty minutes long, is intended as an introduction to the platform, and illustrates how to install and configure CodeWhisperer, it’s advantages, how to use it to code, as well as additional resources.
CodeWhisperer is a free tool for individuals with a limited feature set. If you like what you see, you can pay for the professional tier which unlocks more capabilities.
Enroll in Amazon CodeWhisperer – Getting Started
4. Foundations of Prompt Engineering
To get the most out of an AI model, you need to be familiar with prompts. These are essentially the instructions to the AI for what you want it to achieve. AI is a powerful tool, but a good prompt is essential to get the best results.
This course defines prompt engineering, covers best practice, prompt techniques for specific AI models, and identifying potential prompt misuse.
This seven module course is a little longer than some of the others in this list, coming in at four hours, but it’s packed with essential information, and by the end you’ll be a prompt expert.
Enroll in Foundations of Prompt Engineering
5. Unleashing Innovation: The Generative AI Revolution
This fundamental 90 minute course will cover a lot of ground for AI newbies, as you learn about concepts such as machine learning, traditional and deep learning algorithms, how artificial neural networks work, the practical applications of generative AI, and more.
Of all the courses in this list, this is the best all rounder, for the sheer amount of information you’ll be exposed to, and the new concepts that will be explained. Even if you only have a passing interest in AI, there’s enough here to keep you engaged and build on whatever your current knowledge level is.
If you really get into this one, the course ends with further suggestions for online courses and learning pathways.
Enroll in Unleashing Innovation: The Generative AI Revolution
More AI Training from Amazon
In the list above, we’ve mainly covered Amazon’s more general AI courses that will have a wide appeal, but if you’re looking to hone your skills with a specific Amazon platform, there is a wealth of free training courses available to you, for tools such as:
- Amazon Kendra
- Amazon Bedrock
- Amazon Lex
- Amazon Q
- Amazon Sagemaker
With the Amazon Skill Builder portal, there are also more advanced courses available, for a fee. Some examples include how to built a chatbot that can answer questions, as well as machine learning deployment.
Of course, Amazon isn’t the only option when it comes to free AI courses. We have found plenty from the likes of Harvard, Google and Microsoft.
