Boost productivity and enhance your work
Feeling swamped? Like there’s not enough time in the day to get to the work that matters? We get it. With Google AI Essentials, you’ll learn how to use generative AI to help speed up daily tasks, make more informed decisions, and develop new ideas and content.
Why this program is right for you
See what's in store
MODULE 1 • 1 HOUR
In this module, you’ll discover how AI works, explore foundational AI concepts like machine learning (ML) and learn about the rise of generative AI. By the end of this module, you’ll have an understanding of the capabilities and limitations of AI tools and how to use generative AI in the workplace.
MODULE 2 • 2 HOURS
In this module, you’ll learn how to use generative AI tools to address common workplace challenges and examine the important role humans play in the effective use of AI. By the end of this module, you will be able to determine if AI is appropriate for a given task and use AI to accelerate workflows.
MODULE 3 • 2 HOURS
In this module, you’ll understand how generative AI tools produce output and learn how to use prompting techniques, such as few-shot prompting, to write effective prompts and get the output you want. By the end of this module, you will be able to write clear and specific prompts and produce and evaluate outputs that help accomplish workplace tasks.
MODULE 4 • 1 HOUR
In this module, you’ll learn how to recognize the potential security risks of using AI in the workplace by applying an AI harms framework to workplace scenarios. By the end of this module, you will understand how to use AI responsibly and effectively by mitigating unfair biases and inaccuracies.
MODULE 5 • 2 HOURS
In this module, you’ll learn about the ways organizations have leveraged AI and consider how these innovations may inspire your own AI-powered workplace solutions. By the end of this module, you will develop a strategy to stay up-to-date with future AI developments.
Watch a course preview
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Discover new opportunities with AI
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21x
Increase in job postings mentioning AI technologies1 -
1.75
Average hours saved each day reported by employees who use generative AI2
Hear from course graduates
What you'll walk away with
Don’t just learn about AI, learn how to actually use it
Why wait to supercharge your work with AI? Discover all the ways you can use AI to assist, empower, and inspire you.
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Frequently asked questions
You probably already know that AI is short for artificial intelligence. But what does that mean exactly? AI refers to computer programs trained to do complex actions that usually require human brain power — and potentially a lot of time and effort — to accomplish. Simply put, AI can help with challenging tasks. When you learn to use AI tools effectively in your job, it can help you speed through some of those not-so-fun, routine tasks you dread to tackle, which can give you the time and space you need to concentrate on big-picture thinking or reach your goals more quickly.
For example, you can use AI tools to help summarize notes, analyze dense spreadsheets, and create an engaging presentation. You can even use AI tools to help draft a detailed sales report and highlight key insights that you can share with your coworkers and managers. By learning how to augment your work with AI, you can set yourself up for success in today’s dynamic workplace — and you don’t even need programming skills to use it.
Generative AI is a specific form of AI that focuses on creating new content like text, images, or other media based on examples it’s been trained on. Some AI tools accept text or speech as input, while others also take videos or images.
An exciting feature of generative AI tools is that you can give them instructions with natural language, also known as prompts. So, no coding is needed. During Google AI Essentials, you’ll practice using a conversational AI tool like Gemini, where you’ll experience using natural language to ask Gemini questions or brainstorm with it.
In the workplace, you can use generative AI tools to get creative inspiration, boost your productivity, and make your ideas even bigger. For example, let's say you need to develop a new promotional product. You can prompt the AI tool to help brainstorm ideas. Then, after reviewing the output, you can refine your ideas with additional prompts. You can even use an AI tool to generate a presentation outline to explain the product further and an image generator to create visuals for your presentation.
AI is quickly transforming today’s workplace. It makes sense, then, that developing a strong understanding of how to use the technology could give you a competitive edge in a variety of industries. But beyond helping you cultivate a fruitful career, AI can make your days at work more productive, too.
AI can tackle routine tasks on your to-do list, help you enhance the quality of your work, empower you to make informed decisions, and generate new content for you. Stuck for ideas at the beginning of a project? Use AI as a creative collaboration tool. Drowning in a sea of emails? Use AI tools to help draft responses so you can clear out that inbox quickly. Need to make a quick promo video to market a new product? Just prompt an AI tool with your ideas and assets.
Google AI Essentials is taught by AI experts at Google who are working to make the technology helpful for everyone. In under 10 hours, they’ll do more than teach you about AI — they’ll show you how to actually use it. You’ll get practical, hands-on experience augmenting your current and future work tasks with AI. Through videos, readings, and interactive exercises, you’ll learn how to use generative AI tools, create effective prompts, use AI responsibly, and select the right AI tools for your work needs.
This self-paced course is accessible to everyone and is designed to fit into busy schedules. You don’t need any technical experience to begin, and the skills you’ll learn can be applied to a variety of roles across industries. After you complete the course, you’ll earn a certificate from Google to share with your network and potential employers.
This course is designed for anyone who feels swamped - like there’s never enough time to tackle the work that actually matters to them and their company. It’s created for anyone who wants to supercharge their skillset and improve their productivity. With Google AI Essentials, you can develop the essential AI skills you need to be successful in today’s workplace, zero experience required.
Within each module, there are hands-on activities to practice using AI tools across many different real workplace scenarios. These activities provide an opportunity to learn by doing - learners will develop practical skills that can be applied immediately to their work or can be showcased to employers. For example, in module 3 where you’ll discover the art of prompt engineering, you’ll use a conversational AI tool to help develop ideas and generate content to promote a product. You’ll incorporate AI into creative tasks such as brainstorming ideas for a presentation.
After you complete the course, you’ll earn a certificate from Google to share with your network and potential employers.
Having a certificate from Google is a concrete way to show current and future employers your competency in this essential skill set, like using generative AI tools, prompt engineering, and using AI responsibly.
Yes, Google AI Essentials is an online course that you can complete at your own pace. Google AI Essentials is available on Coursera, an online learning platform that offers access to online courses. Google has worked with Coursera to make Google AI Essentials available on their platform.
We understand that technology is moving fast, so we update our content regularly to make sure it stays relevant.
Google AI Essentials costs $49 on Coursera. When you purchase the course, you’ll have access to all course materials, including videos, activities, readings, and graded assessments. When you complete the course, you’ll earn a certificate from Google to share with your network and potential employers.
If you are interested in financial assistance for Google AI Essentials, you may be eligible for financial aid via Coursera through the course page. Recipients of financial aid have full access to course content and assignments required to earn a certificate. To apply, go to the course page on Coursera and click the “Financial aid available” link next to the “Enroll” button.
Google AI Essentials is currently available in English with the following languages coming soon: French, Spanish, Polish, Portuguese (BR), and Japanese. Please check back here for updates.
Footnotes
1 Future of Work Report: AI at Work. LinkedIn, August 2023
2 Closing the Global Skills Gap: Preparing the Workforce for New Skills, Generative AI Literacy, and More. Visier, 2023