Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer just a buzzword — it’s becoming a skill that every professional, student, and business owner needs. But here’s the good news: you don’t need to be a programmer or data scientist to start.
In 2025, there are plenty of AI courses online for beginners that teach the fundamentals in simple, step-by-step ways. These courses are designed for absolute beginners with no coding or math background, and many of them can be completed in just a few weeks.
In this guide, we’ve carefully reviewed the 7 best AI courses online for beginners. Each one is beginner-friendly, practical, and gives you skills you can use immediately.
Whether you’re a student, a small business owner, or just curious about AI, you’ll find a course here that’s right for you.
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Why Beginners Should Learn AI in 2025
AI is changing the world faster than any technology before it. Businesses are automating tasks, professionals are saving hours every week with AI tools, and students are using AI for research, projects, and even creativity.
Here’s why learning AI in 2025 is a smart move:
- Boost your career opportunities – AI skills are in demand across industries.
- Save time & money – Automate repetitive work and focus on what matters.
- Stay relevant – Professionals who understand AI will outpace those who don’t.
- Make smarter business decisions – Learn how to integrate AI tools into your workflows.
And here’s the best part: you don’t need a tech background to get started.
What Makes a Beginner-Friendly AI Course?
When choosing AI courses online for beginners, we focused on a few key factors:
- No prerequisites required – courses must be designed for absolute beginners.
- Clear and simple teaching – step-by-step, jargon-free explanations.
- Hands-on learning – projects, exercises, and real-world applications.
- Affordable and accessible – available online, often at low cost or free.
- Optional certification – add credibility to your resume or LinkedIn profile.
Best AI Courses Online for Beginners (2025)
| Course | Best For | Duration | Cost | Certificate | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google AI Essentials (Coursera) | Beginners wanting workplace AI skills | ~10 hours | Paid (Coursera, free trial available) | Yes | Enroll Here |
| AI For Everyone – Andrew Ng (Coursera) | Non-technical beginners curious about AI | ~6 hours | Paid (Coursera, free trial available) | Yes | Enroll Here |
| Elements of AI (Univ. of Helsinki) | Beginners wanting a free, conceptual intro | ~30 hours | Free | Yes (digital cert) | Start Free |
| IBM Applied AI Professional Certificate (Coursera) | Students & career changers | 3–6 months | Paid (Coursera) | Yes | Enroll Here |
| Prompt Engineering (DeepLearning.AI) | Business owners, ChatGPT beginners | 2–5 hours per course | Paid (Coursera) | Yes | Explore Courses |
| Microsoft Generative AI for Beginners | Beginners wanting free structured lessons | ~15–20 hours | Free | No | Start Free |
| LinkedIn Learning – AI Foundations | Professionals & business owners | 1–2 hours per course | Paid (LinkedIn Premium) | Yes | View Courses |
The 7 Best AI Courses Online for Beginners in 2025
1. Google AI Essentials (Coursera)
Best for: Complete beginners who want practical skills fast
Google’s brand-new AI Essentials course is one of the most practical introductions to AI in 2025. It teaches you how to use AI tools in your daily work — writing emails, creating presentations, and analyzing data.
- Duration: ~10 hours, self-paced
- Skill level: Absolute beginner
- Certificate: Yes (Coursera/Google)
✅ Pros:
- No coding or math required
- Focused on real workplace use cases
- Short and highly practical
❌ Cons:
- Doesn’t go deep into technical AI concepts
👉 Check Google AI Essentials on Coursera
2. AI For Everyone – Andrew Ng (DeepLearning.AI / Coursera)
Best for: Beginners curious about what AI is (without coding)
Andrew Ng’s “AI For Everyone” is a classic beginner AI course. Instead of diving into algorithms, it explains in plain English how AI works, what it can do, and what its limitations are.
- Duration: ~6 hours, self-paced
- Skill level: Beginner / non-technical
- Certificate: Yes (Coursera/DeepLearning.AI)
✅ Pros:
- Clear explanations from one of the world’s top AI educators
- Short and easy to complete
- Helps you understand AI’s impact on business and society
❌ Cons:
- More conceptual than hands-on
- No projects or coding
👉 Explore AI For Everyone on Coursera
3. Elements of AI (University of Helsinki)
Best for: Anyone who wants a free introduction to AI concepts
“Elements of AI” is one of the most famous free AI courses online in the world, taken by over 1 million people. It’s a great way to get a strong foundation in AI, without needing any prior experience.
- Duration: ~30 hours
- Skill level: Beginner
- Certificate: Free digital certificate
✅ Pros:
- 100% free
- Global reputation and recognition
- No coding required
❌ Cons:
- Focuses more on theory than hands-on skills
👉 Start Elements of AI for Free
4. IBM Applied AI Professional Certificate (Coursera)
Best for: Beginners who want a career-oriented path
IBM’s Applied AI certificate is a structured career track that introduces you to AI tools like chatbots, natural language processing, and computer vision. It even covers some Python basics later on, making it a bridge into intermediate skills.
- Duration: ~3–6 months (flexible pace)
- Skill level: Beginner → intermediate
- Certificate: Yes (Coursera/IBM)
✅ Pros:
- Hands-on with real AI tools
- Recognized IBM certificate
- Great for students and career changers
❌ Cons:
- Includes light coding later in the program
👉 See IBM Applied AI Certificate on Coursera
5. DeepLearning.AI – Prompt Engineering Short Courses
Best for: Business owners & beginners who want to master ChatGPT
Prompt engineering is the skill of communicating with AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. DeepLearning.AI offers several short beginner courses that teach you how to get the most out of AI in your daily work.
- Duration: 2–5 hours per course
- Skill level: Beginner
- Certificate: Yes (DeepLearning.AI)
✅ Pros:
- Highly practical, immediate ROI
- Taught by top AI experts
- No coding required
❌ Cons:
- Narrow focus (prompting, not broader AI concepts)
👉 Check Prompt Engineering Courses
6. Microsoft “Generative AI for Beginners” (Free Learning Path)
Best for: Beginners who want a free structured curriculum
Microsoft’s free Generative AI learning path is a collection of 18 short lessons that introduce you to generative AI step by step.
- Duration: ~15–20 hours
- Skill level: Beginner
- Certificate: None
✅ Pros:
- Free and beginner-friendly
- Covers a wide range of generative AI tools
- Perfect for students and professionals testing the waters
❌ Cons:
- Limited depth compared to paid courses
- No certificate of completion
👉 Start Microsoft’s Generative AI for Beginners
7. LinkedIn Learning – AI Foundations Series
Best for: Professionals upskilling at work
LinkedIn Learning offers several short courses under their “AI Foundations” collection. These are practical, business-oriented lessons for professionals who want to understand how to use AI in everyday work.
- Duration: 1–2 hours per course
- Skill level: Beginner
- Certificate: Yes (LinkedIn Learning)
✅ Pros:
- Short, bite-sized lessons
- Perfect for professionals
- Included in LinkedIn Premium subscription
❌ Cons:
- Less in-depth than Coursera or edX courses
👉 View AI Foundations on LinkedIn Learning
How to Choose the Right Beginner AI Course for You
Not every beginner has the same goals. Here’s how to choose:
- Total beginners with no background: Start with Google AI Essentials or AI For Everyone
- Budget-conscious learners: Pick Elements of AI or Microsoft’s free path
- Career-focused students: Go for IBM Applied AI Certificate
- Business owners/professionals: Choose Prompt Engineering or LinkedIn Learning’s AI Foundations
FAQs – AI Courses Online for Beginners
What is the best AI course for someone with zero experience?
👉 Google AI Essentials and AI For Everyone are both excellent starting points.
Do I need coding skills to start learning AI?
👉 No! Several beginner AI courses are designed for non-coders.
Are free AI courses worth it?
👉 Yes — Elements of AI and Microsoft’s Generative AI path are globally recognized and great introductions.
How long does it take to finish a beginner AI course?
👉 Most take between 5–30 hours, depending on depth. Career-oriented programs like IBM’s certificate can take a few months.
Conclusion – Start Learning AI Today
Learning AI may seem intimidating, but in 2025, it’s easier than ever. These 7 beginner-friendly online courses will help you build confidence, understand AI fundamentals, and even start applying AI in your daily work.
👉 Don’t wait for the future to arrive — pick a course today and take the first step toward becoming AI-savvy.
