AI courses for beginners

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly redefining the way people work, learn, and communicate. Build familiarity and literacy with this world-changing technology with AI courses for beginners from reputable education providers.

Why learn AI?

AI is already reshaping the workplace. According to edX's Spring 2025 survey about AI and the workforce, 82% of managers believe ongoing education is essential at least once a year to stay competitive in their field. Over one-third rank AI and machine learning as the top skill area for career advancement.

From the worker's perspective, that expectation often translates into career decisions. In edX's Fall 2025 survey, 51% of respondents said they would invest in learning AI to improve their career prospects, whether to earn a promotion, increase job security, or prepare for a new role.

As AI skills become more common across roles, understanding how they're used in real work settings can help you navigate a changing job market.

A March 2025 analysis from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) noted AI's influence on job growth projections for software developers, database architects, and database administrators. From 2023 to 33, these careers are poised for very high growth rates ranging from 8.2% (database administrators) to 17.9% (software developers).

However, you don't need to work in tech to benefit from strong AI skills. Professionals in fields including architecture and engineering are already using AI tools to aid design, modeling, and resource allocation tasks. Lawyers, paralegals, financial analysts, and data scientists also use AI to conduct research, verify findings, and extract targeted information from very large data sets.

In short, AI literacy can make you more efficient, effective, and employable — especially if you hone technical skills in AI management and its business applications.

Ways to learn AI on edX

Get a degree

Earn an online bachelor's or online master's degree in AI technology from an accredited institution. Study online for maximum flexibility and save money.

Develop targeted skills

Looking to enhance your knowledge of AI integrations, use cases, or technical requirements? Executive education and certificate programs offer an efficient and affordable path.

Build foundational knowledge

Start with standalone online AI courses for beginners and develop your knowledge of fundamental concepts.

Learn AI with courses and programs

FAQ about beginning AI courses

Should we be worried about AI taking over the world?

While many experts stress that AI could have potentially serious unintended impacts on human society, its current forms are not capable of staging any kind of technological takeover. Still, observers widely believe that careful regulation and governance are critical to responsible AI development.

What types of jobs will AI affect the most?

In the near term, AI could displace many entry-level roles in fields like customer service, bookkeeping, data entry, and financial services. It also appears poised to impact manufacturing, computer programming, translation, legal research, and education, among other fields.

Who invented AI?

No single person can be properly credited with inventing AI. However, figures including Alan Turing, John McCarthy, and Christopher Strachey often merit mention as highly influential figures in the initial conception and development of this technology.

Why is everyone talking about AI now?

The early 2020s witnessed rapid development in the quality and capabilities of generative AI, and ongoing improvements in computing power and networking technologies have made these technologies more accessible and easier to integrate. These factors have fueled an AI boom, which has been accompanied by a great deal of mainstream hype.