Artificial intelligence (AI) is a rapidly growing field, with companies across a wide range of industries rushing to implement AI capabilities. Deloitte predicts that the number of AI job postings will increase by almost 40% by 2024. As AI transforms businesses, employees with practical AI skills will be invaluable. Fortunately, Microsoft provides free online AI courses and professional certification, allowing anyone to affordably gain career-advancing AI skills.
- Microsoft Professional Program in AI Fundamentals
- Microsoft AI Classroom Series: Technical AI Learning
- Microsoft Learn Teaches Job-Ready AI Skills
- FAQs
- What artificial intelligence courses does Microsoft offer?
- What does the Professional Program in Artificial Intelligence Fundamentals teach?
- What is the AI Classroom Series?
- What is Microsoft Learn?
- Who can take Microsoft’s AI courses?
- Are the AI courses self-paced online?
- Do the courses offer AI certifications?
- What is the cost of these AI courses?
- What are the advantages of Microsoft’s AI credentials?
- Do companies hire candidates who hold these certificates?
- Conclusion
Microsoft Professional Program in AI Fundamentals
Microsoft’s Professional Program for AI Fundamentals offers an excellent introduction to core artificial intelligence concepts through a series of online courses that fit any schedule. Participants achieve well-rounded AI literacy without the need for complex math or coding by spending 8-12 hours per course on self-paced instruction.
Course modules include:
- AI Business Applications evaluate real-world use cases.
- Data science fundamentals for working with AI algorithms.
- Developing AI solutions and teaching lifecycle methodology.
- Responsible AI practices for ethical and fair AI systems.
One notable advantage is that the Professional Program in AI Fundamentals combines conceptual instruction with practical lessons. For example, a key course module teaches how to use pre-built Microsoft Azure AI services such as cognitive APIs for natural language processing, speech recognition, and computer vision. Using cloud AI development tools allows you to quickly create intelligent apps/processes without requiring extensive programming or data science knowledge.
Overall, Microsoft created this Professional AI program to help non-technical business users, managers, analysts, and anyone new to AI understand modern approaches. Earning the AI Fundamentals certificate demonstrates essential proficiency.
Microsoft AI Classroom Series: Technical AI Learning
For those looking for a more rigorous hands-on education in AI engineering and development, Microsoft’s extensive AI Classroom series is free. These online interactive courses progress across three competent skill levels, utilizing curated Azure cloud resources:
AI Fundamentals is an entry-level AI training course that introduces data science tools such as Azure ML Studio, Power BI data visualization, and prebuilt cognitive services for vision, speech, and chatbots.
The AI Engineer – Intermediate skills in building, deploying, and managing machine learning models based on regression, classification, and reinforcement learning algorithms, as well as frameworks such as PyTorch and TensorFlow.
AI Expert – Advanced techniques for improving model performance, including natural language processing, conversational AI chatbots, computer vision classifiers, predictive forecasting, and other complex AI capabilities in Azure.
Combined, these free online AI courses quickly prepare students to create innovative AI solutions using cutting-edge Microsoft cloud infrastructure and services via guided hands-on assignments. Each step allows participants to practice real-world code applications.
While initially technical, these free Azure AI learning pathways significantly accelerate practical AI skills for aspiring data scientists or developers looking to advance. Final assessments also allow candidates to earn Microsoft certification, which confirms new AI qualifications for employers.
Microsoft Learn Teaches Job-Ready AI Skills
Microsoft Learn’s hands-on online training catalog includes a wide range of artificial intelligence modules for both business and technical learners. The microsoft Learn allows anyone to access user-friendly tutorials at their own pace to learn immediately relevant AI skills using Microsoft Azure cloud tools.
Job-specific AI lessons teach you how to complete practical tasks such as:
- Creating ML models with Azure Machine Learning Designer
- Creating virtual AI assistants/chatbots using Azure Bot Service
- Analyzing data and training computer vision models with Azure Cognitive Services
- Forecasting using Azure Time Series. insights for predictive analytics
- Automating business processes with AI using Microsoft Power Platform
Microsoft Learn prepares people for high-demand AI roles in virtually every industry by combining practical knowledge with Azure-hosted lab environments where they can practice real-world job activities. For those new to technology, Microsoft Learn also provides AI guides that focus on the core data concepts and methodologies needed to successfully apply AI.
Resources are appropriate for all backgrounds and are freely available online at any time.
FAQs
What artificial intelligence courses does Microsoft offer?
Microsoft Learn provides the Professional Program for AI Fundamentals, the AI Classroom Series, and a comprehensive set of AI modules. These address both business and technical AI concepts and skills.
What does the Professional Program in Artificial Intelligence Fundamentals teach?
This program covers core AI literacy topics such as AI applications in business, data science fundamentals, AI solution development lifecycles, and responsible AI practices. It provides broad conceptual training to AI business users.
What is the AI Classroom Series?
The AI Classroom Series provides hands-on technical training for data scientists and developers across three levels: Fundamentals, Engineer, and Expert. It teaches you how to create, deploy, and manage AI models using Microsoft Azure services.
What is Microsoft Learn?
Microsoft Learn is a collection of free online training resources for applications, software, and technologies such as artificial intelligence. It provides interactive tutorials for learning job-specific AI skills using Azure tools.
Who can take Microsoft’s AI courses?
Anyone can take Microsoft’s free online AI courses. They are intended for all learners, including business users and technical engineers who want to improve their skills and obtain certifications. The prerequisites are minimal.
Are the AI courses self-paced online?
Yes, all Microsoft AI courses are available as self-paced online learning to fit any schedule. Most last between 8 and 12 hours and include video lessons, demonstrations, and hands-on modules.
Do the courses offer AI certifications?
The Professional Program in AI Fundamentals and AI Classroom Series provide final exams that result in Microsoft certificates/badges demonstrating your AI competencies.
What is the cost of these AI courses?
All AI courses, training materials, and certifications available through Microsoft Learn or Professional Programs are entirely free and self-contained. There are no paid services required.
What are the advantages of Microsoft’s AI credentials?
Key advantages include gaining AI knowledge, hands-on cloud platform skills, Microsoft certifications to validate capabilities, and job/career readiness as AI adoption spreads across industries.
Do companies hire candidates who hold these certificates?
Yes, many companies are actively seeking candidates with practical Microsoft AI skills and credentials, as AI becomes increasingly important in all business domains. These programs were designed to meet the needs of employers.
Conclusion
As artificial intelligence adoption in business/society grows, every organization requires more employees who can responsibly use AI tools on the job. Microsoft offers numerous free online AI learning resources, including certification for all skill levels. Whether you work in business leadership, analytics, IT engineering, development, or another field, these convenient Microsoft courses provide affordable training for an AI-powered future. Gaining official AI credentials also demonstrates competitive qualifications to employers looking for workers who are eager to drive innovation.
