Learn the different ways of finding useful AI training for yourself and your organization. Leveraging AI’s full potential opens endless business possibilities!

AI is a highly useful tool that is here to stay.  It is essential to develop a deep understanding of how it works in order to give your business an edge and to thrive.

But, how do you find useful AI training?

This guide will walk you through the best strategies to find AI training tailored to your needs.

1. Identify Your AI Goals and Skill Level

Before diving into AI learning platforms, think about your skill level and experience. (The last thing you want is an advanced course when you are a beginner.)

Since AI is a vast field, different training programs focus on different skill levels and goals. Think about these questions when assessing your skills and goals:

• What is your current knowledge of AI – beginner, intermediate, or advanced?

• What area of AI interests you, or do you want to specialize in?  (e.g., customer service chat bots, machine learning, sales automation, marketing, predictive analytics)

• What do you want to achieve with AI training? (e.g., business automation, cutting costs, training employees)

Once you know this information, you can find tailored AI training for your needs. 

2. Explore Online Learning Platforms

There are countless AI courses, tutorials, and certifications. While some platforms are free, others could require a subscription or one-off payment.

If certificates are important to you, invest in platforms that offer them. 

Here are some popular and well-established options for useful AI training:

• “Coursera” – Coursera offers AI courses, specializations, and certificates. Courses are usually a combination of video lectures, readings, and exercises to help you learn the ropes. What makes Coursera so respected is that many courses are from top university professors. 

• “Udacity” – Udacity offers AI-focused courses, including “AI for business leaders”, “Generative AI”, and “How to use Chat-GPT.” Based on reviews, these courses are intensive and often involve real-world projects, making them effective for a practical skill set.

• “Udemy” –  Udemy offers in-depth courses making this platform one of the more accessible ones since the courses are more affordable. Some relevant AI business curricula include: “AI Chat-GPT For Business”, “AI Playbook for CEOs, Business Owners, and Leaders”, and “Generative AI for Beginners.”

A quick tip:

When searching for your ideal AI course on these platforms use the filter options. 

You can usually filter courses based on language, video duration, hands-on practice, difficulty level and more, making it easier to narrow down your search.

3. Consider Specialized AI Platforms and Resources

Beyond general learning platforms, there are specialized ones that provide AI training in niche areas or industries. 

These platforms tend to be a bit more advanced and in-depth, with AI certifications included. (They can also be pricier.)

Here are some specialized platforms to explore:

• “Kaggle” – Kaggle is an online community mainly for data science and machine learning. It hosts competitions, and tutorials perfect for learners looking to refine their skills in machine learning and AI. The platform also offers micro-courses, which are short but still effective.

• “Microsoft Learn” – Microsoft offers an AI learning hub to build technical skills. It is tailored for businesses, individuals, and organizations and offers certificates for course completions.

• “edX” – edX offers high-quality courses, degrees, and certifications while partnering with top universities like Harvard, Stanford, and MIT. There are countless AI courses with specific start and end dates for business leaders and founders.

4. Join AI Communities and Attend Workshops

Joining AI communities and attending various workshops, webinars, or conferences can help you not only learn from experts but also network with peers.

You can find AI communities on:

• LinkedIn (e.g., “AI Mindshare”, “Digital Marketing & AI”)
• Reddit (e.g., subreddits like r/MachineLearning, r/Entrepreneur and r/artificial)
• X (formerly known as Twitter) 
• Facebook Groups
• Stack Overflow (for more technical AI learning) 

Remember you don’t have to join every AI community. Just choose a few that resonate with you and your needs. 

Make sure to ask questions, and learn from resources people share.

I recommend you make note of the mistakes people have made and successes they’ve had with AI so you can use it as efficiently as possible.

Another great thing about communities is they help you stay up to date with AI developments so that you always know what’s coming next. 

5. University Degree Programs or Certifications

If you prefer a more traditional educational route, there are always university degrees. 

Countless universities offer degree programs or certifications in AI and related fields. Here are some examples:

• Master’s and PhD Programs – You can find plenty of undergraduate and graduate-level programs in AI, machine learning, and data science. These subjects help you dive deep and can come with research opportunities. Some universities that offer undergraduate and graduate AI degrees include Stanford, Carnegie Mellon, MIT, and the University of Michigan. 

• Professional Certifications – Several universities and online platforms offer professional certifications as well. MIT offers the “MIT Professional Education AI and Machine Learning Certificate” which helps professionals demonstrate expertise in the field without having to complete a full-time degree program.

6. Follow the Experts 

AI constantly evolves, and staying updated with the latest trends, research papers, and news can help your understanding. 

Along with AI communities, you can follow experts.

Make it a habit to stay up to date on what experts are saying on social platforms like LinkedIn, X (Twitter), Medium and SteemIt.

You can follow websites like VentureBeat AI, and TechCrunch AI for AI news and developments. Also, since these websites can be a huge gold mine, think about holding your team accountable for staying up to date with AI. 

AI Training Exists For Every Skill Level

 AI training is easy to find; you just need to know what you’re looking for. Always consider your current experience level and skill set goals as you explore the web for resources like the courses, specialized platforms, communities, and degree programs suggested here. 

As AI continues to expand, you may need a team by your side to help guide you. 

Fortunately, we at the Allyson Group have familiarized ourselves with AI’s various use cases in marketing, making us a great asset for you. 

If you’d like to learn more about what we do, schedule a call here.