Introduction to Generative AI
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Introduction to Generative AI
This course is part of Large Language Model Operations (LLMOps) Specialization
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What you'll learn
Learn to utilize Generative AI for automation.
Develop Generative AI software solutions.
Build solutions with Prompt Engineering to enhance Generative AI output.
Skills you'll gain
Details to know
15 assignments
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There are 4 modules in this course
This introductory course is designed for beginners with no prior knowledge of generative AI. You will start by gaining a high-level understanding of what generative AI is and how it works. Through interactive lessons and hands-on examples, you will learn fundamental skills like providing effective prompts and iteratively improving the generated outputs. As the course progresses, you will dive deeper into specific major generative AI models, including their unique capabilities and limitations. Finally,, you will get practical experience using leading systems like GitHub Copilot, DALL-E, and OpenAI to generate code, images, and text. By the end, you will have developed core knowledge to start experimenting with generative AI in a responsible and effective way for a variety of applications. This course aims to provide a friendly introduction to prepare complete beginners for further exploration of this rapidly evolving technology.
In this module, you will learn what generative AI is and how it has evolved from early AI to the large language models used today. You'll understand how these models work in applications by learning about model architectures and the training process. The module provides an overview of major foundation models like ChatGPT and Hugging Face, highlighting their capabilities and limitations. You'll explore the generative AI landscape, comparing options like open source models, local models, and cloud APIs. By the end, you'll have a solid base of knowledge about the foundations of this technology and options for accessing and leveraging different AI systems.
What's included
21 videos11 readings4 assignments1 discussion prompt
21 videosβ’Total 78 minutes
- Meet your course instructor: Alfredo Dezaβ’2 minutes
- Meet your course instructor: Derek Walesβ’1 minute
- About this Courseβ’3 minutes
- Introductionβ’1 minute
- What is Generative AI?β’3 minutes
- Brief history and Evolution of AIβ’5 minutes
- How do Large Language Models Work in applications?β’5 minutes
- How are Large Language Models created?β’8 minutes
- Summaryβ’1 minute
- Introductionβ’1 minute
- What are LLMs and how do they work?β’5 minutes
- Benefits and risks of using LLMsβ’6 minutes
- Mitigating risks of LLMsβ’6 minutes
- What are foundation models?β’5 minutes
- Summaryβ’1 minute
- Introductionβ’1 minute
- OpenAI and ChatGPTβ’6 minutes
- Hugging Face and Open Source modelsβ’5 minutes
- Using local modelsβ’5 minutes
- Cloud-based solutionsβ’4 minutes
- Summaryβ’1 minute
11 readingsβ’Total 110 minutes
- Connect with your instructorsβ’10 minutes
- Course structure and Discussion Etiquetteβ’10 minutes
- Report a problem with the course β’10 minutes
- Key Termsβ’10 minutes
- History of artificial Intelligenceβ’10 minutes
- Understanding Large Language Modelsβ’10 minutes
- Key Termsβ’10 minutes
- External lab: trigger inaccuracy in a modelβ’10 minutes
- Foundation models and the next era of AIβ’10 minutes
- Key Termsβ’10 minutes
- External lab: Interact with hosted modelsβ’10 minutes
4 assignmentsβ’Total 540 minutes
- Graded Quizβ’0 minutes
- Knowledge checkβ’180 minutes
- Knowledge checkβ’180 minutes
- Knowledge checkβ’180 minutes
1 discussion promptβ’Total 10 minutes
- Meet and Greet (optional)β’10 minutes
In this module, you will learn the fundamentals of prompt engineering to interact effectively with generative AI models. You'll understand the concept of few-shot prompting and practice basic prompting techniques using context and examples. Building on this, you'll learn methods for improving prompts through personas, detailed instructions, and iteration based on feedback. Finally, you'll explore more advanced skills like breaking down tasks, chaining prompts, and other useful techniques to overcome context limitations.
What's included
18 videos5 readings4 assignments
18 videosβ’Total 60 minutes
- Introductionβ’1 minute
- What is Prompt Engineering?β’5 minutes
- Zero, one, and few-shot promptingβ’6 minutes
- Basic prompting with contextβ’4 minutes
- Using examples in promptsβ’4 minutes
- Summaryβ’1 minute
- Introductionβ’1 minute
- Setting tone and personaβ’5 minutes
- Refining on previous contextβ’4 minutes
- Better instructions through feedbackβ’5 minutes
- Understanding limitationsβ’4 minutes
- Summaryβ’1 minute
- Introductionβ’1 minute
- Limitations of contextβ’6 minutes
- Breaking down into smaller tasksβ’4 minutes
- Using Chain of Thoughtβ’3 minutes
- Other useful prompting techniquesβ’4 minutes
- Summaryβ’1 minute
5 readingsβ’Total 50 minutes
- Key termsβ’10 minutes
- External lab: Practice Zero, one, and few-shot promptingβ’10 minutes
- Key Termsβ’10 minutes
- Strategies for better results with prompt engineeringβ’10 minutes
- Key Termsβ’10 minutes
4 assignmentsβ’Total 570 minutes
- Graded Quizβ’30 minutes
- Knowledge checkβ’180 minutes
- Knowledge checkβ’180 minutes
- Knowledge checkβ’180 minutes
In this module, you will explore different types of generative AI applications, including API-based, embedded model, and multi-model systems. You'll learn the fundamentals of building robust applications using techniques like Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) to improve context. Through hands-on exercises, you'll gain experience testing an application locally and deploying it on the cloud.
What's included
19 videos5 readings3 assignments1 ungraded lab
19 videosβ’Total 66 minutes
- Introductionβ’1 minute
- Common types of Generative AI Applicationsβ’4 minutes
- Overview of an API-based applicationβ’5 minutes
- Overview of an embedded-model applicationβ’5 minutes
- What is a multi-model application?β’6 minutes
- Summaryβ’2 minutes
- Introductionβ’1 minute
- What is RAG?β’4 minutes
- Overview of a RAG applicationβ’3 minutes
- Managing data for RAGβ’5 minutes
- Verifying embeddings and searchβ’6 minutes
- Using RAG with an LLMβ’4 minutes
- Summaryβ’1 minute
- Introductionβ’1 minute
- Application overviewβ’6 minutes
- Deployment overviewβ’4 minutes
- Setting up cloud componentsβ’4 minutes
- Using the Azure cloud for deploymentβ’6 minutes
- Summaryβ’1 minute
5 readingsβ’Total 50 minutes
- Key Termsβ’10 minutes
- Key Termsβ’10 minutes
- External lab: Create a RAG with LLM using your own dataβ’10 minutes
- Key Termsβ’10 minutes
- External lab: Create a RAG HTTP APIβ’10 minutes
3 assignmentsβ’Total 390 minutes
- Graded Quizβ’30 minutes
- Knowledge checkβ’180 minutes
- Knowledge checkβ’180 minutes
1 ungraded labβ’Total 60 minutes
- Managing data for RAGβ’60 minutes
Here, you will learn the key capabilities of the OpenAI API. You will generate images with OpenAIβs DALL-E, βfine tuningβ LLM models to Reddit questions and answers and summarize videos with OpenAIβs Whisper Model.
What's included
19 videos9 readings4 assignments1 ungraded lab
19 videosβ’Total 68 minutes
- Meet your Course Instructor: Derek Walesβ’1 minute
- DALL-E Overviewβ’2 minutes
- Demo: Environment Set Upβ’2 minutes
- Demo: OpenAI API Generating a Shopping List β’7 minutes
- Demo: DALL-E to Generate an Image β’5 minutes
- OpenAI/DALL-E Summaryβ’0 minutes
- OpenAI Fine Tuning and Project Introβ’1 minute
- Fine Tuning Project: Part One - Env/Data Prepβ’13 minutes
- Fine Tuning Project: Part Two - Starting Fine Tuningβ’9 minutes
- Fine Tuning Project: Part Three - Model Evaluationβ’5 minutes
- Fine Tuning Summaryβ’1 minute
- OpenAI Whisper Model Project Overviewβ’1 minute
- Video Summarizer Walkthroughβ’8 minutes
- Whisper Model API Wrap Upβ’1 minute
- AI Business Environmentβ’2 minutes
- AI Ethics Principlesβ’2 minutes
- Local Machine Learning Models/Next Course Previewβ’4 minutes
- Module Wrap Upβ’1 minute
- Course summaryβ’2 minutes
9 readingsβ’Total 78 minutes
- Key Referencesβ’2 minutes
- How DALL-E 2 Worksβ’15 minutes
- Prerequisites and Getting Startedβ’10 minutes
- Fine Tuning Resourcesβ’10 minutes
- External Lab: Fine Tuning w/GPUsβ’10 minutes
- Key Documentationβ’1 minute
- OpenAI Safety Best Practicesβ’10 minutes
- Next stepsβ’10 minutes
- Share your learning experienceβ’10 minutes
4 assignmentsβ’Total 120 minutes
- Module Quizβ’30 minutes
- Review Questionsβ’30 minutes
- Review Questions β’30 minutes
- Review Questions β’30 minutes
1 ungraded labβ’Total 30 minutes
- Practice on OpenAI/DALL-E β’30 minutes
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Reviewed on Sep 11, 2025
It was very informative, but in some areas, it lacked sufficient detail on the subject.
Reviewed on Jan 23, 2026
This is a very useful course for understanding the Generative AI. The explanations are easily understood. The course structure is designed to keep the learners interest.
Reviewed on Nov 23, 2024
Thank you Coursera!!! Got to learn from great teachers..
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When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.
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