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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Google Skills offers more than 3,000 classes in AI, many for free.
- The AI classes are geared toward novices, business pros, and developers.
- You also get 35 free credits each month to sign up for hands-on labs.
With generative AI all the buzz, many organizations need people with the right expertise in artificial intelligence. That’s true whether you already work for such a company or are looking for a new job that requires AI skills. Now, Google is hosting a new online platform that offers thousands of AI classes.
Unveiled on Tuesday, the new Google Skills site is home to more than 3,000 different AI courses and hands-on labs. The virtual classroom integrates training from Google Cloud, Google DeepMind, Grow with Google, and Google for Education, all in one spot. As the courses run the gamut from basic to advanced, they’re geared for anyone from novice students to business professionals to experienced developers. So you should find useful training no matter where you are in your career or education.
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As Google illustrates, you can map out your own path through the right online courses. You might start with an entry-level class like Google AI Essentials as you prepare to get a certification from Google Cloud. You may be seeking a career in AI research and want to learn about large language models (LLMs) through Google DeepMind’s AI Research Foundations. Or maybe you’re looking for a quick AI tutorial, in which case the 10-minute AI Boost Bites material may suit you.
Many of the classes also offer hands-on experience. AI-driven labs can teach you how to code through Gemini Code Assist. After learning workplace skills in AI, you can acquire badges as well as certificates, and certifications. You can also track your progress and even share your results with other people or on social media.
How to access classes
To check out the array of classes, head to the Google Skills website and log in with your Google account. Here, you should sign up for Google’s Innovators program, through which you receive 35 free credits each month to enroll in the hands-on labs. You’re then placed at your own personal Dashboard from where you’re able to manage your training and achievements.
You’ll probably want to start by examining the course catalog. Here, you can sort the classes by level, format, or the type of badge you receive. You’re also able to search the catalog for courses by name. The catalog displays each class with a brief description and the amount of time it takes to complete. Selecting a specific course shows you more information and provides a Start button to kick off the training.
Beyond viewing individual courses, you can review different paths with a series of courses and labs that specialize in a particular area. For example, one path called “Build and Modernize Applications With Generative AI” features 12 activities on such topics as Gemini for developers, generative AI apps on Google Cloud, and configuring Gemini Code Assist.
Since this is Google, the training naturally focuses on Google AI products and services. That means you’re not going to find any courses on learning ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot. But even Google-centric courses should give you a good framework for AI in general.
Although many courses are available for free, the hands-on labs tend to be credit-driven. For these, you’ll have to use some of the 35 free credits given each month. If you run out, you can sign up for a Pro subscription that costs $29 per month and provides free access to thousands of courses and labs.
“Google Skills is your go-to platform for building essential AI and technical capabilities amid an ever-growing skills gap,” Google said in its Tuesday blog post. “It offers extensive no-cost options for learners at every level, like our Generative AI Leader learning path. Plus, with hundreds of courses for those new to AI, no prior experience is necessary.”
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