Artificial intelligence is changing how people work, learn, create, and solve problems. From Generative AI and ChatGPT to machine learning, large language models, and AI agents, learners can explore many areas of artificial intelligence.

If you are new to AI, choosing the right course can be challenging. Some courses introduce the core concepts of artificial intelligence, while others focus on practical AI tools, prompt engineering, Generative AI, machine learning, or specific applications.

Great Learning Academy offers a range of free AI courses online covering these areas. Whether you want to understand AI, learn Generative AI tools, improve your prompting skills, or explore AI agents, you can choose a course based on your learning goals and current level.

In this guide, we cover 9 AI courses available on Great Learning Academy, what they teach, and how you can build your AI skills step by step.

Free Online AI Courses

Course	Level	Duration	Rating	Learners	Key Topics
Introduction to Artificial Intelligence	Beginner	3 hrs	4.48/5	217K+	AI, ML, neural networks, NLP, computer vision
Generative AI for Beginners	Beginner	3 hrs	4.53/5	119K+	Generative AI, LLMs, GPT, AI applications
Prompt Engineering for ChatGPT	Beginner	3 hrs	4.58/5	230K+	Prompt engineering, ChatGPT, LLMs, GPT models
Generative AI with Machine Learning and LLMs	Beginner	2.25 hrs	—	300+	Machine learning, deep learning, LLMs, Transformers
Beginner's Guide to Generative AI Tools	Beginner	8.25 hrs	—	—	ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, GitHub Copilot
AI Applications in Healthcare	Beginner	3 hrs	4.63/5	41K+	Healthcare AI, LLMs, medical imaging, diagnosis
Applications of AI	Intermediate	45 mins	4.48/5	52K+	AI applications, architecture, history, ethics
Agentic AI with ChatGPT and AutoGPT	Beginner	3 hrs	4.77/5	1K+	AI agents, AutoGPT, Agent Mode, automation
Agentic AI and Leadership Transformation	Beginner	1.5 hrs	4.6/5	1K+	AI agents, GenAI strategy, leadership

Free AI Courses from Great Learning Academy

Artificial intelligence covers a wide range of technologies, from machine learning and neural networks to large language models, Generative AI, prompt engineering, and AI agents.

Great Learning Academy offers free AI courses covering introductory AI concepts, Generative AI, prompt engineering, machine learning, LLMs, AI tools, healthcare applications, and Agentic AI. 

The courses vary in duration and depth, so you can choose one based on your current knowledge and learning goals.

Below is a detailed look at each AI course, including what it covers, the main topics, and who it suits.

1. Introduction to Artificial Intelligence

Level: Beginner
Duration: 3 hours
Language: English and Spanish

The Introduction to Artificial Intelligence course provides a beginner-friendly overview of AI and its major areas. It covers machine learning, neural networks, natural language processing, and computer vision.

The course also introduces how these technologies are used in real-world applications. It is a useful starting point for learners who want to understand AI before exploring specialized topics.

Topics Covered

• Artificial intelligence and its applications
• Machine learning
• Artificial neural networks
• Deep neural networks
• Natural language processing
• Sentiment analysis
• Chatbots
• Computer vision
• Image classification
• Object detection
• Semantic segmentation
• Video analysis
• Real-world AI use cases

What Will You Learn?

You will understand how different AI technologies fit together. You will learn how neural networks support machine learning, how NLP works with language data, and how computer vision systems analyze visual information.

Who Is This Course For?

This course is suitable for absolute beginners, students exploring technology careers, business professionals who want to understand AI, and non-technical learners looking for an introduction to artificial intelligence.

2. Generative AI for Beginners

Level: Beginner
Duration: 3 hours

Generative AI for Beginners introduces the basics of Generative AI, large language models, and GPT-based systems. It explains how generative models create content and how they differ from traditional AI.

The course also covers AI hallucinations and business applications of Generative AI. It can help beginners build a foundation before moving into LLMs, prompt engineering, or AI automation.

Topics Covered

• Generative AI
• Traditional AI vs Generative AI
• Generative AI models
• Large Language Models
• GPT-based models
• Text generation
• Word prediction
• AI hallucinations
• Business applications of Generative AI
• Real-world Generative AI use cases

What Will You Learn?

You will learn how Generative AI differs from other AI approaches, how LLMs generate text, how GPT-based systems work at a high level, and where Generative AI can be applied in business.

The course also introduces tools and technologies associated with Generative AI, including TensorFlow, PyTorch, and Hugging Face.

Who Is This Course For?

It suits beginners, students, working professionals, business users, and anyone who wants to understand Generative AI before moving into areas such as prompt engineering, LLMs, or AI automation.

3. Prompt Engineering for ChatGPT

Level: Beginner
Duration: 3 hours
Language: English and Spanish

Prompt Engineering for ChatGPT introduces the concepts behind effective prompting and Generative AI. It covers LLMs, GPT architecture, tokenization, inference, and prompt refinement.

The course goes beyond basic prompt writing by explaining how AI models process instructions and generate responses. It's useful for learners who regularly use ChatGPT or other LLM-based tools.

Topics Covered

• Large Language Models
• LLM training and inference
• GPT architecture
• OpenAI model evolution
• Tokenisation
• Model deployment
• Generative AI operations
• Prompt engineering
• Zero-shot prompting
• Few-shot prompting
• Prompt refinement
• ChatGPT
• GPT-4.5
• o1
• o3-mini

What Will You Learn?

You will learn how prompts influence AI outputs, how LLMs process information, and how to structure prompts for clearer and more useful responses.

The course also helps you understand the relationship between prompts and model behavior rather than treating prompt engineering simply as a collection of prompt templates.

Who Is This Course For?

The course can be useful for content creators, marketers, developers, analysts, students, business professionals, and anyone who regularly uses Generative AI tools.

4. Generative AI with Machine Learning and LLMs

Level: Beginner
Duration: 2.25 hours

This course connects traditional AI and machine learning concepts with modern Generative AI and large language models. It introduces machine learning, deep learning, neural networks, Transformers, and LLMs.

It also covers Generative AI models such as GANs and VAEs, along with relevant probability and statistics. The course is useful for learners who want to understand the technology behind modern AI systems.

Topics Covered

• Artificial intelligence
• Narrow AI and general AI
• Supervised learning
• Unsupervised learning
• Reinforcement learning
• Classification
• Regression
• Machine learning applications
• Neural networks
• Deep learning
• CNNs
• RNNs
• Large Language Models
• Transformer architecture
• Generative AI
• GANs
• VAEs
• Probability and statistics for Generative AI

What Will You Learn?

You will understand how AI, machine learning, deep learning, LLMs, and Generative AI are connected.

The course is particularly useful if you want to understand what happens behind AI-powered applications instead of only learning how to use individual AI tools.

Who Is This Course For?

It can help students, aspiring data professionals, AI learners, working professionals, and anyone planning to move toward machine learning, LLMs, or Generative AI.

5. Beginner's Guide to Generative AI Tools

Level: Beginner
Duration: 8.25 hours

Beginner's Guide to Generative AI Tools introduces several popular AI tools used for writing, coding, research, and productivity. The course covers ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot, Claude, and Gemini.

Rather than focusing on one platform, it helps learners understand how different AI tools support different tasks. It's useful for beginners who want hands-on experience with multiple Generative AI tools.

Topics Covered

• ChatGPT
• Prompt creation
• AI-assisted writing
• Content strategy
• GitHub Copilot
• AI-assisted coding
• Java coding with Copilot
• SQL coding with Copilot
• Visual Studio Code
• Claude
• Claude API
• Gemini
• Generative AI productivity

What Will You Learn?

You will learn how different AI tools can support different types of work.

For example, ChatGPT can support writing and content workflows, GitHub Copilot can assist with programming, Claude can support AI interactions and API-based applications, and Gemini can support Generative AI tasks.

Who Is This Course For?

It is suitable for beginners, content creators, marketers, developers, students, and working professionals who want to incorporate Generative AI tools into everyday workflows.

Free AI Courses for Specific Applications

AI is being used across industries such as healthcare, finance, transportation, education, marketing, and technology. Learning about specific applications can help you understand how AI concepts translate into practical use cases.

6. AI Applications in Healthcare

Level: Beginner
Duration: 3 hours
Language: English and Spanish

AI Applications in Healthcare explores how artificial intelligence and Generative AI are being used across healthcare. Topics include medical imaging, diagnosis, drug discovery, patient monitoring, and healthcare operations.

The course also introduces AI risks, privacy, and responsible AI considerations. It includes a pneumonia detection case study to demonstrate how AI can be applied to medical imaging.

Topics Covered

• AI in healthcare
• Generative AI
• Large Language Models
• Medical diagnosis
• Medical imaging
• Treatment planning
• Drug discovery
• Wearable devices
• Patient monitoring
• Anomaly detection
• Hospital records
• Healthcare operations
• Pneumonia detection
• AI ethics
• Privacy
• AI risks and limitations

What Will You Learn?

You will understand where AI can be used in healthcare and how AI supports both clinical and administrative workflows.

The pneumonia detection case study also gives learners a practical example of how to apply AI to medical imaging data.

Who Is This Course For?

It is suitable for students, healthcare professionals, freshers exploring health-tech careers, and professionals who want to understand AI's role in healthcare without starting with highly technical material.

7. Applications of AI

Level: Intermediate
Duration: 45 minutes

Applications of AI provides a short overview of how artificial intelligence has developed and how it is used across industries. It covers AI history, architecture, applications, and major development milestones.

The course also introduces responsible AI, ethics, and bias. It's useful for learners who want a concise overview of AI applications and their broader impact.

Topics Covered

• Introduction to AI
• History of AI
• AI development milestones
• AI architecture
• AI blueprint
• Industry applications
• Unique AI applications
• Responsible AI
• AI ethics
• Bias in AI

What Will You Learn?

The course helps you understand how AI evolved, where it is used, what an AI system consists of, and what ethical questions to consider when deploying AI.

Who Is This Course For?

It can be useful for students, professionals, business users, and learners who want a relatively short overview of AI applications and their broader impact.

Free Agentic AI Courses

Agentic AI focuses on AI systems that can perform multiple steps toward a goal by planning tasks, using tools, making decisions, and taking actions.

Great Learning Academy offers courses covering both the practical use of AI agents and the broader organizational implications of Agentic AI.

8. Agentic AI with ChatGPT and AutoGPT

Level: Beginner
Duration: 3 hours

Agentic AI with ChatGPT and AutoGPT introduces AI agents and their ability to perform multi-step tasks. It covers Agent Mode, AutoGPT, goal-based prompting, browser actions, and workflow automation.

The course also explores troubleshooting and limitations when working with AI agents. It can help learners understand how agentic systems differ from standard chatbot interactions.

Topics Covered

• Agentic AI
• AI agents
• AutoGPT
• ChatGPT Agent Mode
• Agent goals
• Multi-step planning
• Goal-based prompting
• Browser-based automation
• Tool usage
• Autonomous actions
• AI workflow automation
• Troubleshooting
• Performance optimisation
• Agent limitations

What Will You Learn?

You will learn how AI agents differ from simple chatbot interactions and how to use them to perform multi-step tasks.

The course also introduces how to configure objectives and prompts for agents and apply agentic AI to research, content creation, automation, and productivity workflows.

Who Is This Course For?

The course is suitable for learners interested in AI automation, developers, analysts, content creators, advanced AI users, and professionals who want to explore autonomous AI workflows.

9. Agentic AI and Leadership Transformation

Level: Beginner
Duration: 1.5 hours

Agentic AI and Leadership Transformation examines Agentic AI from a business and leadership perspective. It explores AI agents, organizational transformation, AI adoption, and real-time decision-making.

The course also covers applications in areas such as autonomous vehicles, robotics, and finance. It is designed for learners interested in the strategic and organizational impact of AI.

Topics Covered

• Evolution of AI
• Industry 5.0
• Generative AI strategies
• AI agents
• Agent autonomy
• AI-powered leadership
• Real-time decision-making
• Autonomous vehicles
• Robotics
• Finance
• AI adoption
• AI-driven innovation

What Will You Learn?

You will learn how AI and Agentic AI are changing organizational decision-making and how AI agents can be applied across different industries.

The course also introduces leaders' strategic role in adopting AI technologies and using AI agents to support innovation.

Who Is This Course For?

This course is useful for business professionals, managers, leaders, executives, students, and learners who want to understand Agentic AI from a business and leadership perspective rather than a programming perspective.

Free AI Courses Based on Your Learning Goal

Learning Goal	Course to Explore
Understand artificial intelligence	Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
Learn Generative AI	Generative AI for Beginners
Learn prompt engineering	Prompt Engineering for ChatGPT
Understand ML, LLMs and Generative AI	Generative AI with Machine Learning and LLMs
Explore Generative AI tools	Beginner's Guide to Generative AI Tools
Learn AI applications	Applications of AI
Learn AI in healthcare	AI Applications in Healthcare
Learn AI agents and automation	Agentic AI with ChatGPT and AutoGPT
Understand Agentic AI for business	Agentic AI and Leadership Transformation

How to Start Learning AI

You do not need to study every area of artificial intelligence at the same time. A better approach is to start with the concepts that match your current knowledge and then move into specialized areas.

Start with Artificial Intelligence Concepts

If you are completely new to AI, start by learning what artificial intelligence is and how areas such as machine learning, neural networks, NLP, and computer vision fit into the wider AI ecosystem.

Move Into Generative AI

After understanding the broader AI landscape, you can learn how Generative AI differs from conventional AI, how generative models work, and how LLMs and GPT-based systems generate content.

Understand the Technology Behind Generative AI

If you want to go beyond using AI tools and understand the technology behind them, explore machine learning, neural networks, deep learning, Transformers, LLMs, GANs, and VAEs.

Learn to Write Better Prompts

Once you understand Generative AI and LLMs, you can explore prompt engineering to learn how to structure instructions, use zero-shot and few-shot prompting, and refine AI outputs.

Explore Different AI Tools

If you want to apply AI to everyday work, explore tools such as ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot, Claude, and Gemini. Learning how different tools support writing, coding, research, and productivity can help you identify the right tool for different tasks.

Explore AI Agents

If you are interested in automation and AI systems that can perform multi-step tasks, move into Agentic AI. Learn how AI agents use goals, prompts, tools, and actions to complete workflows.

Learn How AI Is Used in Specific Industries

You can also specialize by application area. For example, the AI Applications in Healthcare course explores medical imaging, diagnosis, drug discovery, patient monitoring, hospital systems, and responsible AI.

What Can You Learn From Free AI Courses?

The AI courses on Great Learning Academy cover different levels and areas of artificial intelligence.

Some courses focus on AI concepts, including machine learning, neural networks, NLP, and computer vision. Others focus on Generative AI, LLMs, GPT models, Transformers, GANs, and VAEs.

For learners interested in practical AI usage, courses covering prompt engineering and Generative AI tools introduce applications involving ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and GitHub Copilot.

Learners interested in automation can explore Agentic AI, including AI agents, AutoGPT, Agent Mode, multi-step planning, and autonomous workflows.

There are also application-focused courses, such as AI Applications in Healthcare, that show how AI can be used in a specific industry and discuss related risks and ethical considerations.

Are Great Learning Academy AI Courses Free?

Great Learning Academy lets learners access course content for free. Certificate availability and fees vary by course, so learners should check the individual course page for the latest certificate requirements before enrolling.

The courses are self-paced, so learners can study on their own schedule.

Start Learning AI for Free

Artificial intelligence is a broad field, so you can start with the topic that best matches your learning goal.

If you are new to AI, begin with artificial intelligence concepts. If you are interested in current AI technologies, explore Generative AI and LLMs. 

If you want to improve your use of AI tools, explore prompt engineering and Generative AI tools. And if you want to understand AI automation, explore Agentic AI and AI agents.

Explore the free AI courses on Great Learning Academy and choose a course based on your interests and learning objectives.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I learn AI online for free?

Yes. Great Learning Academy offers free online AI courses covering artificial intelligence, Generative AI, machine learning, large language models (LLMs), prompt engineering, AI tools, healthcare applications, and Agentic AI.

2. Which AI course is suitable for beginners?

If you are completely new to AI, Introduction to Artificial Intelligence is a good starting point for learning core concepts such as machine learning, neural networks, natural language processing, and computer vision.

If you are specifically interested in Generative AI, Generative AI for Beginners introduces Generative AI, LLMs, GPT-based models, and practical applications.

3. Can I learn Generative AI for free?

Yes. Generative AI for Beginners covers Generative AI concepts, AI models, LLMs, GPT-based models, text generation, hallucinations, and business applications.

If you want to understand the technical concepts behind Generative AI, Generative AI with Machine Learning and LLMs covers machine learning, deep learning, neural networks, Transformers, LLMs, GANs, and VAEs.

4. Do I need coding experience to learn AI?

Not necessarily. Several courses in this guide introduce AI concepts without requiring advanced programming knowledge, including Introduction to Artificial Intelligence, Generative AI for Beginners, Prompt Engineering for ChatGPT, and Agentic AI and Leadership Transformation.

However, courses covering machine learning, deep learning, LLM architecture, or AI development may become more technical as you progress.

5. What should I learn after Generative AI?

The next topic depends on your learning goal. You can explore prompt engineering to improve your interactions with LLMs, AI tools for writing and productivity, or machine learning and deep learning to understand the technology behind AI systems.

If you are interested in automation, you can also explore Agentic AI and AI agents.

6. Can I learn about AI in healthcare?

Yes. AI Applications in Healthcare covers medical imaging, diagnosis, treatment planning, drug discovery, patient monitoring, healthcare operations, and responsible AI.

The course also includes a pneumonia detection case study based on medical imaging.

7. Can I learn how to use different Generative AI tools?

Yes. Beginner's Guide to Generative AI Tools covers ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot, Claude, and Gemini, along with prompting, AI-assisted coding, content creation, and productivity applications.

8. Can I get a certificate after completing a free AI course?

Certificate availability and requirements vary by course. Great Learning Academy provides free access to course content, but a certificate fee may apply if you choose to claim one. Check the individual course page for the latest certificate requirements before enrolling.