Beginner course

An Introduction to Generative AI for Beginners 2026

Generative AI for Beginners: Master LLMs Image Creation Tools, VAE Concepts, Ethical AI, and Prompting, Video Generation

Rating: 4.55,689 ratings12,218 students9 total hours73 lectures
An Introduction to Generative AI for Beginners 2026 Beginner

Course facts

  • Last updated 05/2026
  • English English [Auto], Dutch [Auto] , 5 more
  • Instructor: Avnish Singh, Pavan Kumar
  • practical AI capability and workflow improvement

What you'll learn

Practical outcomes

  • Tech Leaders: Learn to harness AI tools for innovation and team efficiency.
  • Creative Professionals: Explore generative AI for art, writing, and design.
  • Business Innovators: Leverage AI for automation, marketing, and product creation.
  • Aspiring Managers: Understand AI's role in workflows and strategic decisions.
  • AI Enthusiasts: Dive deep into generative AI applications and future trends.
  • Entrepreneurs: Utilize AI to enhance productivity and create cutting-edge solutions.
  • Students: Gain practical insights into AI’s impact on careers and industries.
  • Tech Enthusiasts: Explore advanced AI models like GPT, DALL-E, and GANs.
  • Content Creators: Use AI tools to streamline creative processes effortlessly.
  • Managers: Drive AI adoption in organizational strategies and decision-making.

Curriculum

11 sections • 73 lectures • 8h 47m total length

Introduction to Generative AI 20266 lectures • 29min
  1. Welcome and Course Overview03:30
  2. What is Artificial Intelligence?04:49
  3. Explaining AI Concepts to a Non-Technical Executive
  4. Understanding Machine Learning Basics06:12
  5. Diagnosing a Machine Learning Failure Due to Data Issues
  6. What Makes Generative AI Different : Traditional AI vs Generative AI07:08
  7. Advising Leadership on Choosing the Right AI Model
  8. The Evolution of Generative AI06:49
  9. Presenting the Business Case for Generative AI Investments to Leadership
  10. Section 1 : Introduction to Generative AI Quiz 5 questions
  11. Section Recap: Key Concepts & Downloadable Notes00:06
Neural Networks - The Foundation7 lectures • 46min
  1. How Neural Networks Work - Part 108:55
  2. Demo - Google Teachable Machine — train Image model02:41
  3. Explaining Neural Network Basics to Non-Technical Executives
  4. How Neural Networks Work - Part 209:57
  5. Demo - TensorFlow Playground — Watch learning visually02:31
  6. Explaining Forward Propagation and Activation Functions to Assist Architecture Decisions
  7. Training Neural Networks10:09
  8. Diagnosing and Addressing Model Overfitting and Reliability Issues
  9. Understanding Model Parameters11:25
  10. Explaining Parameter Counts and Deployment Strategies for AI Models
  11. Neural Networks - The Foundation 5 questions
  12. Section Recap: Key Concepts & Downloadable Notes00:06
Large Language Models (LLMs)13 lectures • 1hr 19min
  1. Introduction to Large Language Models LLMs10:36
  2. Demo: ChatGPT — Next-word completion and text Generation02:10
  3. Transformers Architecture Explained11:53
  4. Demo: Translation EN → Spanish → Japanies01:49
  5. Demo — Transformers Visualization01:45
  6. How ChatGPT and GPT Models Work13:26
  7. Demo: Summarize a WhatsApp-style paragraph01:48
  8. Addressing Executive Concerns on LLM Hallucinations and Reliability
  9. Tokenization and Text Processing10:39
  10. Demo– Tokenizer and Token ID02:13
  11. Managing Tokenization Costs and Context Overflow in LLM Projects
  12. Embeddings and Vector Representations09:51
  13. Demo - Embedding Simulator03:06
  14. Convincing Leadership and Engineering to Implement Semantic Search with Embeddings
  15. The Generation Process09:36
  16. Balancing Creativity and Consistency in AI Text Generation
  17. Large Language Models LLMs 5 questions
  18. Section Recap: Key Concepts & Downloadable Notes00:06
AI Image Generation11 lectures • 1hr 31min
  1. Introduction to AI Image Generation11:21
  2. Demo - DALL-E Stable Diffusion — Text→Image generation – Gemini Nano banana02:53
  3. Variational Autoencoders (VAEs) Explained12:16
  4. Explaining Variational Autoencoders (VAEs) and Latent Spaces to Non-Technical Stakeholders
  5. Demo - Image Generation With AI06:53
  6. Demo - Inpainting — Remove object01:51
  7. Explaining the Evolution and Business Impacts of Modern AI Image Generation
  8. Understanding Diffusion Models13:46
  9. How Text-to-Image Generation Works14:03
  10. Prompting for Image Generation12:20
  11. Explaining Text-to-Image Prompt Sensitivity to a Cross-Functional Team
  12. GANs - An Alternative Approach12:28
  13. Explaining and Advocating for GAN Usage in Speed-Critical Applications
  14. Demo: GAN Simulator03:06
  15. Recommending Diffusion Models over GANs for Product Development
  16. Image Generation AI Quiz 5 questions
  17. Section Recap: Key Concepts & Downloadable Notes00:06
AI Audio and Video Generation10 lectures • 1hr 19min
  1. Text-to-Speech and Voice Generation14:24
  2. Demo Voice Text to Generation03:19
  3. Explaining Neural TTS to Support Business Decisions
  4. AI Music and Audio Generation13:16
  5. Demo - Generate Songs and Music04:28
  6. Calibrating Expectations for AI-Generated Music with a Creative Team
  7. AI Video Generation Technologies16:00
  8. Deepfakes and Face Synthesis13:44
  9. Demo - Use Heygen for Audio and Deepfake Video Generation02:44
  10. Advising Leadership on Ethical Use of Deepfakes in Marketing
  11. Demo - Image Generation with AI06:53
  12. Demo - Video Generation With AI04:01
  13. Audio and Video Generation Quiz 5 questions
  14. Section Recap: Key Concepts & Downloadable Notes00:06
AI Training and Fine-Tuning5 lectures • 50min
  1. The Pre-Training Process16:20
  2. Fine-Tuning Explained15:51
  3. Data Requirements and Quality15:30
  4. Demo - Small model vs Large model text response02:15
  5. Justify a Pre-Training Run for a Foundation Model
  6. Training and Fine-Tuning Quiz 5 questions
  7. Section Recap: Key Concepts & Downloadable Notes00:06
Prompt Engineering Mastery6 lectures • 1hr 6min
  1. Introduction to Prompt Engineering13:21
  2. Coaching a Non-Technical Product Manager on Writing Effective Prompts for Customer FAQs
  3. Core Prompting Techniques13:32
  4. Advanced Prompting Strategies16:57
  5. Prompt Engineering for Different Modalities17:23
  6. Demo - Bad Prompt VS Good Prompt Results and Style Prompting04:33
  7. Designing a Reliable Few-shot Prompt for Legal Clause Summarization
  8. Prompt Engineering Mastery Quiz 5 questions
  9. Section Recap: Key Concepts & Downloadable Notes00:06
AI Limitations and Challenges8 lectures • 1hr 1min
  1. AI Ethics : Hallucinations and Factual Accuracy13:40
  2. Demo - Hallucination example02:47
  3. Mitigating Hallucination Risks in AI-Generated Reports
  4. AI Ethics : Bias and Fairness Issues14:24
  5. Addressing Gender Bias in AI Hiring Assistant Outputs
  6. AI Ethics :Technical Limitations12:43
  7. AI Ethics : Ethical and Safety Concerns12:52
  8. Demo - Safety Refusal Examples02:21
  9. Demo - Bias correction Rewrite in Positive Tone02:18
  10. Deploying Generative AI Responsibly in Business Functions
  11. Limitations and Challenges 5 questions
  12. Section Recap: Key Concepts & Downloadable Notes00:06
Industry use cases for Generative AI Demos3 lectures • 9min
  1. Demo - Otter Meeting Agent - AI Notetaker, Transcription, Insights02:43
  2. Demo - Generating Email Response02:46
  3. Demo - Marketing Headline Variations for a Product Image03:28
The Future of Generative AI4 lectures • 19min
  1. The Path to Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)06:07
  2. Career Opportunities in Generative AI06:16
  3. Course Conclusion and Next Steps06:08
  4. Course Full Downloadable Resources00:07
Generative AI Practice Test0 lectures • 0min
  1. Generative AI Practice Test 100 questions

Who it is for

  • Tech Leaders and Managers: Understand AI's strategic value in driving business innovation.
  • Creative Professionals: Enhance your creative workflows using generative AI tools.
  • Business Professionals: Learn to automate tasks and improve decision-making with AI.
  • Aspiring Leaders: Gain insights into how AI reshapes industries and leadership roles.
  • Entrepreneurs: Leverage AI to streamline operations and create unique solutions.
  • AI Enthusiasts: Explore the latest trends and applications of generative AI.
  • Students: Develop AI-related skills that boost career prospects in various domains.
  • Content Creators: Learn to create unique, high-quality content efficiently with AI.
  • Innovators: Discover how AI tools can foster innovation in your projects or startups.
  • Anyone Curious About AI: Accessible for beginners interested in AI's potential impact.

Course description

Overview

Welcome to Generative AI for Beginners, your gateway to exploring one of the most transformative technologies of our time. Unlock the Power of Generative AI, LLMs, Transformers, and Prompt Engineering for the Modern Professional Are you ready to understand the revolutionary technology that's transforming industries worldwide? Welcome to the most comprehensive Generative AI course designed specifically for business leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs, and curious minds who want to master artificial intelligence without writing a single line of code. Generative AI is no longer just a buzzword—it's the driving force behind ChatGPT, DALL-E, Midjourney, and countless tools reshaping how we work, create, and innovate. Whether you're a business professional seeking competitive advantage, a creative looking to amplify your capabilities, or a decision-maker navigating AI strategy, this course provides the deep conceptual understanding you need to thrive in an AI-driven world.

What Makes This Course Different? Unlike coding bootcamps or superficial overviews, this course takes you on a comprehensive journey through the architecture, mechanisms, and principles powering modern Generative AI systems. You'll understand not just what these tools do, but how they actually work—from neural networks and transformers to Large Language Models (LLMs) and diffusion models. Comprehensive Learning Path: Foundation Building: Start with essential AI and machine learning fundamentals, progressing to neural networks—the building blocks of all generative systems. Understand supervised learning, unsupervised learning, and reinforcement learning through practical, real-world examples. Large Language Models Demystified: Dive deep into LLMs like GPT-4. Understand transformer architecture, attention mechanisms, tokenization, and how these systems generate human-like text. Learn why transformers revolutionized natural language processing and became the foundation of modern AI. Image Generation Mastery: Explore three powerful approaches to AI image generation: Variational Autoencoders (VAEs), Diffusion Models, and Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs). Understand exactly what happens when you prompt DALL-E, Midjourney, or Stable Diffusion. Prompt Engineering Excellence: Master the most valuable skill in the Generative AI era—prompt engineering. Learn proven techniques to communicate effectively with AI systems, craft better prompts, and achieve consistent, high-quality results. This skill alone can transform your productivity across writing, design, coding, and business applications. AI Ethics and Responsible Use: Address critical challenges including AI hallucinations, biases, limitations, and ethical considerations. Understand data privacy, copyright implications, and responsible AI deployment—essential knowledge for business leaders and professionals implementing AI solutions. Real-World Applications: Explore how Generative AI transforms marketing, content creation, product development, customer service, healthcare, education, and entertainment. See practical use cases specifically relevant to professionals and business leaders.

Who Should Enroll: Business Leaders and Executives making strategic AI decisions Professionals wanting to leverage AI in their careers Entrepreneurs exploring AI-powered business opportunities Marketing and Creative Professionals using AI tools daily Managers leading teams in AI adoption Students preparing for an AI-driven future Anyone curious about understanding transformative technology What You'll Master: ✓ Generative AI fundamentals and how it differs from traditional AI ✓ Neural networks, deep learning, and backpropagation ✓ Transformer architecture and why it revolutionized AI ✓ Large Language Models (LLMs) including GPT, BERT, and beyond ✓ Tokenization, embeddings, and attention mechanisms ✓ Image generation with VAEs, Diffusion Models, and GANs ✓ Audio and video generation technologies ✓ Prompt engineering techniques for optimal results ✓ Training processes, fine-tuning, and model optimization ✓ AI Ethics, limitations, biases, and responsible deployment ✓ Industry applications and emerging career opportunities Course Structure: Ten comprehensive sections with bite-sized 5-10 minute lectures, perfect for busy professionals. Learn during coffee breaks or dive deep on weekends—complete flexibility designed for your schedule. Downloadable resources including lecture notes, diagrams, and glossaries support your learning journey. No Prerequisites Required: This course assumes zero technical background. If you can use a computer and are curious about technology, you're ready. We explain complex concepts using real-world analogies, visual aids, and practical examples—no mathematics or coding required. Transform Your Understanding: By course completion, you'll confidently discuss Generative AI, LLMs, transformers, and AI ethics with technical teams, make informed decisions about AI adoption, and leverage these powerful tools effectively in your professional life. You'll understand both the incredible capabilities and important limitations of Generative AI, positioning yourself as an informed leader in the AI era. Join thousands of professionals already mastering Generative AI. Enroll now and gain the competitive edge that separates leaders from followers in the AI revolution. The future belongs to those who understand it—start your journey today!

Instructor

Avnish Singh, Pavan Kumar

Avnish Singh Full Time Instructor at Udemy Avnish Singh is a passionate educator and technology enthusiast with expertise in AI and leadership. With years of experience in guiding professionals through transformative learning experiences, he creates engaging, practical courses to empower learners. Avnish is dedicated to simplifying complex concepts, making education accessible, and inspiring innovation in today's fast-evolving world.