20 Best AI Courses & Certifications in 2025: Free & Paid

Artificial intelligence (AI) has gradually become part of our daily lives. This creates new job opportunities, making it important for people who want to work in digital careers to learn about AI.

According to Grandview Research, the global artificial intelligence market was valued at $196.63 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $1.81 trillion by 2030.

To help you get started with your AI education, we’ve put together a list of the top 14 free online AI courses. These courses cover a wide range of topics, letting you learn about different areas of AI and gain useful skills.

In addition to the best free AI courses, there are also six best paid AI courses and certifications that can boost your qualifications. Paid courses often offer more in-depth content, hands-on projects, and direct access to instructors that can enhance your learning experience.

AI certifications can help you stand out to employers and show your expertise in this fast-growing field.

Table of Contents Table of Contents

1. Key Takeaways
2. 6 Best Paid AI Courses & Certifications
3. 14 Best Free AI Courses to Start Building Your Skills Today
4. The Bottom Line
5. FAQs
6. References

Show Full Guide

Table of Contents

1. Key Takeaways
2. 6 Best Paid AI Courses & Certifications
3. 14 Best Free AI Courses to Start Building Your Skills Today
Show Full Guide
4. The Bottom Line
5. FAQs
6. References

6 Best Paid AI Courses & Certifications

What are the best AI courses to take? If you’re just starting out, or you’re looking to boost your skills, let’s explore some of the best paid AI courses and certifications.

1. Artificial Intelligence Engineer

The Artificial Intelligence Engineer certification offered by the Artificial Intelligence Board of America (AIBoA) is a way to show that you’re an expert in AI engineering. AIBoA offers different training materials, such as online courses and webinars, to teach you the basic ideas behind AI and machine learning.

With this certification, you show that you can create AI applications and solutions for various industries. This can help you get better job offers and advance your career more quickly.

The Artificial Intelligence Engineer certification covers important topics, such as DevOps and programming tools, ensuring you have a solid understanding of the basics of AI and machine learning. To get certified, you have to pass an exam that includes multiple-choice questions.

2. Certified Artificial Intelligence Scientist

The Certified Artificial Intelligence Scientist certification from the United States Artificial Intelligence Institute aims to help you become an expert in AI and machine learning. Through this program, you’ll learn how AI systems work, how to create them, and how to use them in real life.

The certification includes important concepts such as deep learning, machine learning algorithms, neural networks, and natural language processing. You’ll also discover how to manage data and use AI tools to solve problems in fields such as healthcare, finance, and technology.

By earning this certification, you’ll demonstrate a strong understanding of AI, which can help you stand out in the job market and open up more opportunities for AI-related jobs. This certification is perfect if you want to advance your career in AI or move into specialized AI roles?. It’s geared toward senior AI professionals and business leaders who have limited technical knowledge.

3. Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Engineer Associate

The Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Engineer Associate certification is designed for those who want to work with AI using the Microsoft Azure platform. As an AI engineer, you’ll use a variety of tools, such as natural language processing, computer vision, machine learning, and speech recognition, to create AI solutions.

To earn this certification, you have to pass the AI-102 exam that tests your ability to design and build AI solutions using Azure.

This certification proves that you have a good grasp of AI concepts and can use Azure to build, deploy, and maintain AI applications. It’s perfect if you want to advance your career in AI or if you already have experience with Azure and want to focus on AI technologies. Microsoft offers AI training courses designed to help you prepare for the certification exam.

4. Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Business Strategy

The Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Business Strategy offered by MIT teaches you how AI can change and improve your business. You’ll learn about different AI technologies, such as natural language processing and machine learning, and how they’re being used in various industries. This online course shows you how to use AI to find new opportunities and make your business operations more efficient. This AI training course also covers predictive and generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT.

In addition, you’ll look at real examples of organizations that have used AI successfully. A key part of the course involves a project where you’ll create a plan for how to use AI in your organization or another business. When you finish this AI learning course, you’ll receive a digital certificate of completion from the MIT Sloan School of Management.

5. Advanced AI: Deep Reinforcement Learning in Python

In the Advanced AI: Deep Reinforcement Learning in Python course offered on Udemy, you’ll learn about deep reinforcement learning, which is a way for computers to figure out how to make decisions by interacting with their surroundings.

Using Python, a widely used programming language, you’ll get practical experience creating your own AI models. The course teaches key ideas, such as Q-learning and policy gradients, that are essential for training AI systems to solve tough problems.

You’ll also work on real projects to help you better understand these concepts. By the end of the course, you’ll have a strong understanding of deep reinforcement learning techniques, and you’ll be ready to tackle advanced AI projects or begin a career in AI development. And you’ll also receive a certificate of completion.

6. AI for Everyone

The AI for Everyone online course offered by Andrew Ng on Coursera is one of the best AI courses for beginners. This course aims to help you learn artificial intelligence without needing any technical or coding background. It’s perfect for people in non-technical roles or anyone curious about how AI is used in the real world.

The course explains what AI is, how it can be applied to different industries, and how it can influence businesses and society. You’ll learn about important concepts, such as data science and machine learning, but in simple terms that focus on how they’re used in real life without going into technical details.

AI for Everyone is one of the AI certificate programs, so you’ll receive a certificate of completion when you finish the course.

14 Best Free AI Courses to Start Building Your Skills Today

1. Generative AI Learning Path – Google

Google’s Generative AI Learning Path is one of the best generative AI courses you can take for free. It offers a comprehensive curriculum of 5 courses to equip learners with the knowledge and skills to excel in generative AI.

Designed to be completed in just one day each, these courses cater to individuals of varying levels of expertise.

2. Transform Your Business With AI – Microsoft

The Microsoft learning path allows businesspeople to acquire the knowledge and resources needed to adopt AI. This course focuses on planning, strategizing, and scaling AI projects responsibly.

This course will familiarize participants with existing AI tools, help them understand basic AI terminology and practices, and teach them to build intelligent applications using prebuilt AI.

3. Career Essentials In Generative AI – LinkedIn

The “Career Essentials In Generative AI” training course on LinkedIn offers the opportunity to acquire the skills necessary to apply generative AI in your career.

This course focuses on core concepts of artificial intelligence and generative AI functionality, providing clear, engaging, and informative educational content.

4. AI Foundations for Everyone: Master the Basics – IBM

The “AI Foundations for Everyone: Master the Basics” training course by IBM is a comprehensive specialization that caters to individuals with no prior AI knowledge or programming skills.

It provides a deep understanding of AI, its applications, and use cases across various industries. One of the best AI courses online, it will familiarize you with essential concepts like machine learning, deep learning, and neural networks.

5. Introduction to Artificial Intelligence with Python – Harvard University

Harvard University’s “Introduction to Artificial Intelligence with Python” is a self-paced 7-week course that delves into modern AI’s fundamental concepts and algorithms. The course offers a clear, engaging, informative, and educational experience.

6. Introduction to Artificial Intelligence – Stanford University (Udacity)

The “Introduction to Artificial Intelligence” course on Udacity by Stanford University is a comprehensive program that covers fundamental AI concepts and practical machine learning skills.

With 22 lessons and interactive quizzes, this intermediate-level course provides a solid foundation in AI. It is free to enroll and can be completed in 10 months, dedicating 10 hours weekly.

7. Prompt Engineering for ChatGPT – Vanderbilt University

Vanderbilt University’s free online course on prompt engineering delves into the most effective strategies for maximizing the potential of ChatGPT. With a focus on summarization, simulation, programming, and other techniques, this 18-hour course comprehensively introduces prompts.

It includes sessions on prompt patterns and a module on real-world examples, empowering learners to harness the power of ChatGPT in innovative ways.

8. AI Matters – The Open University (OpenLearn)

The Open University’s “AI Matters” course is a free and comprehensive learning experience. It explores AI’s historical, social, political, and economic aspects while examining its benefits and limitations.

You will be able to engage in discussions about the ethical risks associated with this technology. This six-hour course offers valuable insights and the opportunity to earn a certificate of participation.

9. Elements of AI and Ethics of AI – University of Helsinki

The University of Helsinki’s “Ethics of AI” course is a free online resource exploring the ethical aspects of artificial intelligence.

Designed for anyone interested in AI ethics, the course aims to educate individuals on what AI ethics entails, how to develop AI ethically, and how to approach AI from an ethical perspective.

10. ChatGPT for Beginners – GreatLearning

The “ChatGPT for Beginners” training course by Great Learning is a comprehensive and free two-hour program. It caters specifically to beginners and offers a unique section on coding prompts, a rare find in beginner courses online.

In addition, this AI training course covers a wide range of topics, including email prompting.

11. Foundations of Prompt Engineering – AWS

In this free course offered by Amazon, you will learn the principles, techniques, and the best practices for designing effective prompts — a key ingredient of harnessing LLMs.

The four-hour course introduces the basics, and then progresses to advanced prompt techniques.

12. ChatGPT Prompt Engineering for Developers – DeepLearning / OpenAI

This collaborative course by OpenAI and technology education platform DeepLearning offers hands-on practice writing and iterating prompts yourself using the OpenAI API.

The short course, taught by Isa Fulford (OpenAI) and Andrew Ng (DeepLearning.AI), will help participants understand how LLMs work, provide best practices for prompt engineering, and show how LLM APIs can be used in applications for a variety of tasks.

13. Generative AI Training – AI Director at Seyhan Lee

Hosted directly on LinkedIn, generative AI expert Pinar Seyhan Demirdag covers the basics of generative AI, with everything from what it is, how it works, how to create your own content, different types of models, future predictions, and ethical implications.

The snack-size buffet of courses, along with quizzes, is an easy way to get to grips with GenAI.

14. Introduction to ResponsibleAI – Google

This 30-minute introductory-level microlearning course aims to explain what responsible AI is, why it’s important, and how Google implements responsible AI in their products. It also introduces Google’s 7 AI principles.

The course includes a nine-minute introductory video to see if it’s right for you.

The Bottom Line

Top free AI courses are perfect if you want to improve your career opportunities. They cover important topics, such as machine learning, deep learning, ethics, and how AI is used in business.

In addition to these free courses, the paid AI courses and AI certification programs can give you more in-depth training and recognized credentials, which can help when you’re looking for jobs.

By keeping up with the latest trends in AI and regularly updating your skills, you’ll gain the knowledge you need to succeed in this fast-changing field. No matter your background, the best AI classes can help you stand out and find exciting job opportunities. Start your learning journey today and move toward a successful career in AI.

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