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Introduction to Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence is reshaping every industry — from healthcare and agriculture to finance and education. This course gives you a solid foundation in what AI truly is, how it works, and how you can begin applying AI concepts in your daily life and career. No prior coding experience is required. By the end of this 3-week journey, you will understand the landscape of AI, be familiar with machine learning concepts, and be equipped to identify AI-driven solutions to real problems in Africa and beyond.

3 weeks3 weeks of contentOpen enrollment

$120

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  • Flexible learning schedule
  • Certificate of completion
  • Expert instructor support
  • Hands-on projects

What You'll Learn

Understand what Artificial Intelligence is and how it differs from traditional software
Explore the history and evolution of AI from early rule-based systems to modern deep learning
Identify real-world AI applications in healthcare, agriculture, finance, and education
Understand how machine learning models are trained and evaluated
Recognise the ethical implications of AI: bias, privacy, and fairness
Use AI-powered tools confidently in everyday tasks
Articulate AI concepts clearly to peers and stakeholders

Course Syllabus

1

Week 1

What is AI? The Big Picture
  • Definition and scope of Artificial Intelligence
  • History of AI: from Alan Turing to ChatGPT
  • Types of AI: Narrow AI, General AI, and Superintelligence
  • AI vs. Machine Learning vs. Deep Learning — what's the difference?
  • How AI systems perceive: data, features, and patterns
  • Hands-on: Exploring popular AI tools (ChatGPT, Gemini, Midjourney)
2

Week 2

How AI Learns: Machine Learning Concepts
  • What is machine learning and why it matters
  • Supervised, unsupervised, and reinforcement learning explained simply
  • Real-world datasets: what they look like and how they're used
  • How a model is trained, tested, and deployed
  • Introduction to neural networks using visual analogies
  • AI in Africa: case studies from agriculture (Farmcrowdy), health (mPharma), and finance (Flutterwave)
  • Hands-on: Running a simple image classifier online (no code needed)
3

Week 3

AI in the Real World & Ethics
  • AI applications in education, healthcare, transportation, and government
  • The 4th Industrial Revolution and Africa's role
  • Understanding AI bias: causes and consequences
  • Data privacy and surveillance: what you should know
  • Responsible AI: fairness, accountability, and transparency
  • Career paths in AI and how to get started
  • Final project: Present an AI solution to a problem in your community
Prerequisites
  • No prior coding or technical background required
  • Basic computer literacy (browsing the web, using email)
  • A curiosity and willingness to learn
Who This Is For
  • Students exploring technology careers
  • Professionals wanting to understand how AI affects their industry
  • Teachers and educators integrating AI into classroom discussions
  • Entrepreneurs looking to leverage AI for business innovation
  • Anyone curious about how AI works
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Join the next cohort of students transforming their careers with Introduction to Artificial Intelligence.