Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing industries and transforming the way we live and work. And it's not just for tech enthusiasts or programmers— AI offers immense opportunities for non-technical professionals as well! I've curated a list of the best online courses that provide a solid foundation in AI concepts, applications, programming fundamentals, and ethical considerations, catering specifically to non-techies!

This is not an exhaustive compilation, but a curated selection aimed at pointing you towards the very best in online AI education. Stay tuned for a separate article catering to those looking to dive into AI from a coding perspective
Here are my top picks of the best beginner-friendly online courses in AI for non-programmers.
1. "AI for Everyone" by DeepLearning.ai on Coursera (Andrew Ng)
Not a techie? No worries! Andrew Ng of DeepLearning.ai and the co-founder of Coursera, breaks down AI concepts for non-techies, showing how it shapes businesses.
This course course consists of 4 modules and covers fundamental AI concepts, delving into common terminology like neural networks, machine learning, deep learning, and data science. It will enable you you identify opportunities to apply AI to problems in your own organization. You will gain insights into the process of building machine learning and data science projects, and formulate an AI strategy tailored to your company's needs. It also examines the ethical and societal discussions surrounding AI.
Level: Beginner
Duration: Approx. 10 hours (Self-paced)
Assessment: Quizzes and assignments
Shareable Certificate: Yes
Cost: Fee for graded assignments and certification. Check Coursera for pricing and financial aid options.
Free Audit available: Yes.You can "audit" the course to preview the course materials for free.
Learn the basics of AI and Machine Learning from world class instructors at the Wharton School.
In this 4-course specialization program, you will learn the basics of using AI, Big Data, and Machine Learning for business and create a strategy to integrate these technologies into your organization. You'll also learn effective marketing strategies using data analytics, and how personalization can enhance the customer journey and lifecycle.
I've taken other courses by UPenn; their content and delivery is world-class.
This self-paced program consists of 4 courses:
You can choose to take these as individual courses or opt for the specialization in AI For Business.
Platform: Coursera
Level: Beginner
Duration: Typically 1 month at 10 hours a week (Self-paced)
Shareable Certificate: Yes
Assessment: Quizzes and hands-on exercises
Cost: Fee for graded assignments and certification. Check Coursera for regional pricing and financial aid options.
Free Audit available: Yes.You can "audit" the course to preview the course materials for free.
This 4-course specialization program offers a comprehensive introduction to the fundamental concepts of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
I like this one because of its hands-on approach. Not only will you learn essential topics such as the basics of AI, machine learning, and AI ethics, but you will also experiment with prompt engineering techniques for generative AI and learn to build AI chatbots for a website without any coding! By the end, you will have practical experience deploying AI solutions. How cool is that?
The program is designed to be accessible to everyone, including those without a technical background, making it an ideal choice for beginners interested in understanding the foundations of AI. The program introduces IBM Watson AI services, allowing you to integrate pre-built AI intelligence into your projects.
This self-paced program consists of 4 courses:
You can choose to take these as individual courses or opt for the specialization.
Platform: Coursera
Level: Beginner
Duration: Typically 1 month at 10 hours a week (Self-paced)
Shareable Certificate: Yes
Assessment: Quizzes and hands-on exercises
Cost: Fee for graded assignments and certification. Check Coursera for pricing and financial aid options.
Free Audit available: Yes.You can "audit" the course to preview the course materials for free.
"Fundamentals of AI" is a free 3-course program on IBM's learning platform, Cognitive Class.
Comprising three short, beginner-friendly courses, this program offers a jargon-free introduction to AI concepts. From exploring the evolution of AI to grasping machine learning and neural networks, and delving into ethical considerations, this program equips you with foundational skills and is great for business managment professionals and leaders.
I also recommend exploring some of the other courses and guided projects on Cognitive Class.
Platform: IBM Cognitive Class
Level: Beginner
Duration: 3 hours. Self-paced
Certificate of Completion: Yes, IBM-recognized certificate of completion.
Assessment: Quizzes and hands-on exercises
Cost: Free
If you're a non-programmer but want to look beyond the business applications and experiment with the technical side of AI, the IBM Applied AI Specialization on Coursera is tailor-made for you!
Designed for beginners, this comprehensive 7 course series does not require programming skills as a prerequisite. It aims to provide foundational knowledge in AI concepts and tools, allowing individuals without a programming background to understand and apply AI technology effectively.
Not only will you learn the basics of Python programming, but you'll also apply your learning through real-world projects. You will create chatbots and AI-based applications using IBM Watson AI services and APIs.
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You are free to take the full specialzation program or choose one or more courses from the curriculum below.
Platform: Coursera
Level: Beginner/Intermediate
Duration: Approx 3 months at 10 hours a week to complete all 7 courses.
Projects: Hands-on projects, including building AI chatbots, practicing Python for data science, creating custom image classifiers, and deploying computer vision web applications to the Cloud.
Certification: Professional Certificate from IBM and Coursera, and a digital badge from IBM
Cost: Fee for graded assignments and certification. Check Coursera for pricing and financial aid options in your region.
Free Audit available: Yes.You can "audit" the course to preview the course materials for free.
Want to learn about the practical aspects of implementing an AI strategy in your own organization? Check out this course by Delft University of Technology and the Innovation Center for Artificial Intelligence (ICAI).
This program explores real-world examples from leading global companies in healthcare, finance, retail, and telecommunications. You will learn about effective management of AI applications, lifecycle aspects, and implementation challenges, gaining valuable insights for applying AI in your organization.
This course is a part of the DelftX Professional Certificate program "AI in Practice". You can take it as a standalone course or opt for the larger Certificate program.
Platform: EdX
Level: Beginner
Duration: Approx 20 hours. Self-paced.
Projects: Hands-on projects, including building AI chatbots, practicing Python for data science, creating custom image classifiers, and deploying computer vision web applications to the Cloud.
Certification: Professional Certificate from IBM and Coursera, and a digital badge from IBM
Cost: Fee for graded assignments and certification. Check EdX for pricing in your region.
Free Audit available: Yes. You can "audit" the course to preview the course materials for free.
Note: While this list comprises only a select few, each course has been meticulously chosen for its content quality, affordability, and credibility. Platforms like Coursera and EdX allow learners to "audit" a course to gain limited access to the content for free without a certificate or graded assignments. They may also provide financial aid options.
AI is a game-changer, and you don't need to be a technical expert to harness its potential. These online courses provide a solid foundation in AI concepts, applications, and ethical considerations, catering specifically to non-techies. By investing your time and effort into these courses, you'll gain the knowledge and skills to navigate the AI landscape confidently, unlocking new opportunities in your professional journey.
If you know of other great AI courses for non-programmers, let me know in the comments. Feel free to reach out if there's a specific subject you'd like me to review courses for. Subscribe to BuildThatSkill to receive curated learning recommendations in your inbox.
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