AI
AIshala
.

Learn AI

Courses
Topics
Skills
Roles

AI Jobs

Find Jobs
Career Paths

AI Community

Chapters
Events

AI Resources

Tools
By Provider
Guides
🌐
EN
Home
/
Courses
/
Generative AI for Beginners
Microsoft
Microsoft

Generative AI for Beginners

Microsoft's 21-lesson open-source curriculum teaching the fundamentals of building generative AI applications.
free
beginner

24 hrs

course

About this course

This Microsoft-authored course teaches you the fundamentals of building generative AI applications from the ground up. Over 21 lessons, you'll explore how modern AI systems work, from understanding large language models to prompt engineering and building practical applications. Microsoft's deep expertise in AI and commitment to open-source education make this a trusted resource for anyone starting their generative AI journey.

What you'll learn

  • How large language models (LLMs) work and the core concepts behind generative AI
  • Prompt engineering techniques to get better results from AI models
  • How to build practical applications using generative AI APIs and tools
  • Ethical considerations and responsible AI practices
  • Real-world use cases across different industries and domains
  • The fundamentals of fine-tuning and customizing AI models
  • How to evaluate and measure AI application performance

Who this is for

You're a good fit for this course if you're curious about AI but have no prior machine learning background. Whether you're starting your career, exploring a new field, or simply want to understand the AI tools reshaping your work—this course meets you where you are.

  • Students — build AI literacy early and stand out in campus placements and entry-level roles across tech companies
  • Working professionals — quickly understand generative AI fundamentals to apply these tools in your current role

Prerequisites

None — this course is beginner-friendly. You'll need basic comfort with technology and the internet, but no coding, math, or AI background required.

Why this matters for Indian learners

Generative AI skills are becoming table stakes in India's tech sector. Companies like TCS, Infosys, and Wipro are actively hiring AI-literate professionals, and startups across fintech, edtech, and e-commerce are building AI-first products. This course gives you the foundation to compete for these emerging roles without the traditional gatekeeping of expensive bootcamps or university degrees.

Whether you're aiming for a role at a multinational tech company or building your own AI-powered startup, understanding how to work with generative AI opens doors across India's digital economy—from customer service automation to content creation and data analysis.

Frequently asked questions

Is this course really free?

Yes, completely free. Microsoft provides this curriculum as open-source learning material with no hidden costs or paid upgrades.

How long will it take to complete?

The course is designed for 24 hours of learning. That's roughly 2 hours per week over 12 weeks, or you can move faster if you have more time. Work through lessons at whatever pace fits your schedule.

Will I get a certificate?

This course doesn't issue a formal certificate. However, you'll gain real skills you can demonstrate to employers through projects, your work, or by building something with what you've learned.

At a glance

Provider
Microsoft
Level
Beginner
Duration
24 hrs
Format
Self-paced
Language
En
Certificate
False
Price
free (0 )

More free courses

Other AIshala-vetted free courses
Hugging Face
Hugging Face

The LLM Course (updated from NLP Course)

Hugging Face's flagship LLM course (formerly the NLP Course), expanded with new chapters on fine-tuning LLMs and building reasoning models. Free, code-along, certificate available.
free
Certificate
15 hrs
intermediate
Hugging Face
Hugging Face

AI Agents Course

Hugging Face's free hands-on course on building AI agents with smolagents, LlamaIndex, and LangGraph. Includes a certificate of completion and an agent-vs-agent challenge.
free
Certificate
10 hrs
intermediate
Hugging Face
Hugging Face

Model Context Protocol (MCP) Course

Hugging Face's free course on Model Context Protocol (MCP) — Anthropic's open standard for connecting AI assistants to tools and data sources. Hands-on with practical implementations.
free
Certificate
4 hrs
intermediate
NVIDIA
NVIDIA

Generative AI Explained

NVIDIA DLI's free self-paced introduction to generative AI concepts, applications, and the challenges and opportunities of the field. Foundational for anyone new to GenAI.
free
Certificate
2 hrs
beginner
Anthropic
Anthropic

AI Capabilities and Limitations

Anthropic Academy's neutral generative-AI literacy course. Helps general audiences understand what current AI can and cannot do, with concrete examples and failure modes.
free
Certificate
1 hrs
beginner
Anthropic
Anthropic

Cowork — Claude for Non-Technical Roles

Anthropic Academy course aimed at analysts, legal, finance, and research professionals — how to use Claude effectively without writing code. Practical workflows for non-engineering roles.
free
Certificate
2 hrs
beginner
AI
AIshala
.

India's free AI learning hub. Aggregating the best free AI education on the internet, organized for Indian learners.

Learn

All Courses
Topics
By Provider
By Persona
Blog & Guides

Community

City Chapters
Events
Become Ambassador
Submit a Course

About

Our Mission
Contact
Partner with Us
Press Kit

Languages

English
हिन्दी (Q2 2026)
தமிழ் (Q3 2026)
తెలుగు (Q3 2026)
© 2026 AIshala. Made with ❤️ in India.
Twitter
LinkedIn
YouTube
GitHub