Generative AI refers to artificial intelligence systems that create content based on the data they’ve been trained on. Using machine learning, these AI tools generate original outputs that mimic human creativity. Their outputs can come in many different forms, including text, images, videos, and music.
As we all know, generative AI has taken the world by storm in recent years. So, why are generative AI skills in demand? To put it simply, learning generative AI tools for content creation and more will guarantee you stay relevant in an increasingly competitive, tech-driven job market. According to a survey conducted by Microsoft, 66% of leaders said they wouldn’t hire someone without AI skills. This indicates that over half of the world’s companies today are exclusively seeking to hire professionals with at least some basic AI skills.
Luckily, there are nearly endless online generative AI courses to explore that help you learn the AI skills and tools you need to remain competitive in the workforce. Top gen AI programs and courses vary in focus — from prompt engineering to LLM (large language model) fine-tuning — but most emphasize hands-on practice with AI tools. No matter your skill level, you’ll find a program that meets your unique needs in the world of gen AI.
Benefits of Taking Online Generative AI Courses
The benefits of taking a generative AI course span far and wide. Pursuing generative AI courses online offers beginners and professionals a way to enjoy accessible, flexible pathways to develop AI skills without committing to a full degree.
Understanding gen AI and learning how to use AI tools can boost your professional performance by up to 40%, according to Harvard Business School. This is due to the fact that using AI tools to automate everyday workflows can free up more of your time to complete other tasks.
Another benefit of taking a gen AI course is that most programs and courses offer a certificate or certification upon completion. Having these credentials can bolster your resume, verifying your understanding of AI and proficiency using generative AI tools — thus solidifying your competitive advantage in the workforce.
In addition, if you’re interested in pursuing long-term prompt engineering and machine learning studies, you may be setting yourself up for a high-paying career down the line. According to Glassdoor, U.S. Prompting Engineers make an average annual salary of $121,000 as of 2025.
How to Choose the Right Generative AI Course
Choosing the right generative AI certifications and courses can be overwhelming. To begin, you’ll need to reflect on what your unique needs and expectations are. Here are some questions to consider:
Do you value certifications?
Are you a beginner, or are you more advanced in AI?
What’s your time commitment?
How much are you willing to invest in your studies, if anything?
Once you have some of these questions answered, it will be easier to refine your search results for finding the best online generative AI course for you.
There are many free generative AI courses and resources out there. At the bottom of this list, you’ll find our FAQs section that highlights some free resources for you to explore. It’s important to note that, although free courses exist and they can be truly excellent in the beginning stages of your studies in artificial intelligence, premium programs often include richer case studies, peer communities, career services, and individualized instructor feedback. So, if you’re someone who requires a more personalized and structured experience to be successful, make sure the program you choose offers exactly what you need.
Best Generative AI Courses Online for 2025 (800 words)
University of Arizona — AI Prompting Certificate Course
Cost: $1,950
Course Length: 5 weeks
Certification Available? Yes, students earn a university-issued Certificate of Completion
Key Highlights:
Created and led by industry experts
Online, on-demand (with optional, weekly live group mentoring sessions)
Hands-on, project-based learning
AI-powered career services
Complimentary 2-month ChatGPT Plus subscription included
Best For: Beginners exploring generative AI tools and effective prompt techniques
DeepLearning.AI — Generative AI with Large Language Models (LLMs)
Cost: A Coursera subscription costs $59/month
Course Length: This is a self-paced course; the approximate number of hours to complete is 16
Certification Available? Yes, however, you must finish the course within 180 days to be eligible for a certificate
Key Highlights
Online, on-demand (self-paced)
Option for audit mode (this is a free version without a certificate)
Complex topics are described in simple ways
Taught by generative AI experts and principal developers
Best For: Intermediate users wantinghands-on learning with large language models (LLMs)
Coursera — Generative AI for Everyone
Cost: A Coursera subscription costs $59/month
Course Length: This is a self-paced course; the approximate number of hours to complete is 5
Certification Available? Yes
Key Highlights
Online, on-demand (self-paced)
Learn real-world applications of generative AI
Hands-on practice through AI projects
Option for audit mode (this is a free version without a certificate)
Taught by generative AI pioneer, Andrew Ng
Best For: A quick, beginner-friendly overview of generative AI
OpenAI — ChatGPT Prompt Engineering for Developers
Cost: Free, with DeepLearning.AI account (limited time offer)
Course Length: 1.5 hours
Certification Available? No
Key Highlights
Online, on-demand
Short course; complete in less than a day
Hands-on practice with OpenAI API
Taught by generative AI pioneer, Andrew Ng
Best For: Developers and advanced users
University of Arizona — AI-Powered Automated Workflows Certificate Course
Cost: $1,950
Course Length: 5 weeks
Certification Available? Yes, students earn a university-issued Certificate of Completion
Key Highlights:
Created and led by industry experts
Online, on-demand (with optional, weekly live group mentoring sessions)
Hands-on, project-based learning
AI-powered career services
Complimentary 2-month ChatGPT Plus subscription included
Best For: Intermediate users looking to integrate AI into business processes
Udemy — 2025 Bootcamp: Generative AI, LLM Apps, AI Agents, Cursor AI
Cost: $17.99 (Option for a monthly Udemy subscription, starting at $20/month)
Course Length: This is a self-paced course; the approximate number of hours to complete is 76.5 hours
Certification Available? Yes
Key Highlights
Online, on-demand
A compact, accelerated version of their 400-hour in-person master’s program
Build traditional and gen AI apps using Cursor AI (no coding required)
Go from no experience to mastering gen AI and developing LLM apps
Best For: Affordable, all-encompassing generative AI curriculum
MIT xPRO — AI Strategy and Leadership Program
Cost: $7,550
Course Length: 12 weeks
Certification Available? Yes, plus CEUs from MIT XPRO
Key Highlights
Online, on-demand
Work on real-world projects using simulations, assessments, case studies, and AI tools
Learn alongside an international community of professionals
Instructed by MIT faculty
Best For: C-Suite and mid-senior level business leaders
IBM — AI Engineering Professional Certificate
Cost: A Coursera subscription costs $59/month
Course Length: This 13-course certificate is self-paced; the approximate number of hours to complete is 160
Certification Available? Yes
Key Highlights
Applied learning through real-world projects
Recognized certification from an AI leader
Integration of generative AI and large language models (LLMs)
Comprehensive curriculum covering core AI concepts
Best For: Intermediate users wanting in-depth AI engineering knowledge
Coursera — Google AI Essentials Specialization
Cost: A Coursera subscription costs $59/month
Course Length: Roughly 5 hours
Certification Available? Yes. Option for audit mode (this is a free version without a certificate)
Key Highlights
Maximize productivity using AI tools
Identify AI’s potential biases to avoid harm
Hands-on practice developing content with generative AI tools
Learn from Google experts
Best For: Beginners wanting a course in AI fundamentals from Google experts.
Carnegie Mellon University — Graduate Certificate in Generative AI and Large Language Models
Cost: $25,452
Course Length: 12 months (3 semesters)
Certification Available? Yes
Key Highlights
Tuition and financing options available
Spearhead the future of Generative AI and Large Language Models
Earn a graduate certificate 100% online
Learn from Carnegie Mellon’s world-renowned faculty
Best For: Professionals with degrees and/or work experience in Computer Science, Data Science, or Software Engineering.
Databricks — Generative AI Fundamentals
Cost: Free
Course Length: 4 videos, self-paced
Certification Available? Yes
Key Highlights
LLM applications
Assess potential risks or challenges of using AI
Earn a badge of completion to showcase on LinkedIn
Free learning
Best For: AI beginners wanting a structured introduction to AI and LLMs.
Udacity — Generative AI
Cost: $999. A Udacity subscription costs $249/month
Course Length: Approx. 62 hours, self-paced
Certification Available? Yes
Key Highlights
Deep learning fundamentals
LLMs and text generation
Create a diffusion algorithm
Build solutions with vector databases
Best For: Intermediate AI users wanting hands-on practice with practical tools.
Common FAQs About Online Generative AI Courses
Online courses can range from 1.5-hour short courses to months-long, in-depth programs. Many course offerings are self-paced, giving you the ability to control how long a course will take to complete.
It all depends on what course you take and how in-depth the curriculum is. No matter what you pursue, even just understanding generative AI fundamentals, tools, and how to use AI in your everyday workflow is extremely important in the professional landscape right now.
Training LLMs from scratch simply means building LLMs (Learning Language Models) from the ground up, rather than using a model that’s already been built. This consists of gathering massive amounts of datasets and texts, designing the model, utilizing powerful computers to train the model, and then improving performance by iterating and educating the model.
There are many ways to learn generative AI for free! Here are some free generative AI courses and resources for you to explore:
Prompt Engineering Guide: https://learnprompting.org/
Hugging Face Courses: https://huggingface.co/learn
IBM’s SkillsBuild Courses: https://skillsbuild.org/adult-learners/explore-learning/artificial-intelligence
AI-Focused YouTube Channels:
In addition, KDnuggets has put together this useful article outlining the best free YouTube playlists for AI courses administered by trusted universities, including Stanford, Carnegie Mellon, MIT, and more.
Final Thoughts and Recommendations
The fact that you’re interested in pursuing any kind of online generative AI course is truly admirable. This field can be daunting. Whether you intend to learn AI fundamentals or to become advanced in your current skillset, you’re laying the foundation to future-proof your career at any stage.
If you’re just starting out, consider exploring the free and budget-friendly resources listed above. From IBM’s free generative AI courses to MIT and Stanford’s free YouTube courses, there are endless possibilities to gain a better understanding of gen AI and the tools that bring it to life.
If you’re more familiar with artificial intelligence and want to advance your studies and skills, we recommend the DeepLearning.AI Generative AI with Large Language Models (LLMs) course as well as the AI Strategy and Leadership Program offered by MIT xPRO.
Again, no matter where you’re at in your AI knowledge journey, getting a better grasp on AI and machine learning will position you for higher earning potential as well as expanded professional skills and capabilities. Just make sure to reflect on your learning style and what you need to be successful, as well as your desired outcome (if you need the credentials or just want the skills).
As a general rule of thumb, we encourage you to constantly be learning, evolving, and expanding — personally and professionally. Good luck in your AI journey!