One of the questions I get asked most often is: “Where should I start learning about AI?” And honestly, the answer has changed a lot over the past year. The big tech companies have rolled out their own training programs, many of them completely free, and the quality is surprisingly good. These aren’t generic overviews or recycled webinars. They’re structured, hands-on, and built by the teams actually creating the technology.
I’ve spent time exploring each of these platforms, and I wanted to pull them together in one place so you can pick the ones that make the most sense for where you are in your AI learning journey.
AI Training Platforms
1. Anthropic Academy
Link: anthropic.skilljar.com
Price: Free
Anthropic just launched 13 self-paced courses through their Skilljar-hosted Academy. The content covers AI fluency, prompt engineering, Claude API development, the Model Context Protocol (MCP), and Claude Code. What’s interesting here is that the education tracks were co-developed with university faculty and released under a Creative Commons license. That means any school or institution can adapt the materials for their own programs. If you teach in higher ed or work in instructional design, this is worth a serious look.
2. Google Grow with Google AI
Link: grow.google/ai
Price: Free (AI Essentials & AI for Educators) / $49/mo for the full Professional Certificate on Coursera
Google’s AI training hub has grown into something substantial. The flagship offering is a 7-course AI Professional Certificate that walks you through prompting, research with NotebookLM and Deep Research, writing, data analysis, creative media, and even app building. They also offer a free, self-paced Generative AI for Educators course specifically designed for K-12 and higher ed teachers. It’s practical, it’s short enough to fit into a busy schedule, and it comes with a certificate you can present to your district for PD credit.
3. Meta AI Resources
Link: ai.meta.com/resources
Price: Free
Meta’s offering is a bit different from the others. It’s less of a course platform and more of a technical resource hub built around their open-source Llama models. You’ll find developer guides, research papers, case studies, and demos. They also run the AI Learning Alliance (AILA), a program developed with Georgia Tech that provides free deep learning course content through an open Education Hub. This one leans more technical, so it’s a better fit if you’re comfortable with code or want to understand what’s happening under the hood of large language models.
4. NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute
Link: developer.nvidia.com/training
Price: Free (many self-paced courses) / Paid for advanced workshops
If I had to pick a single favorite on this list, NVIDIA’s DLI would be it. Their courses are hands-on, GPU-powered, and cover generative AI, large language models, RAG agents, robotics, CUDA programming, and data science. Many of the beginner courses are free and can be completed in a day or less. Select courses come with certificates of competency. And here’s a detail that doesn’t get enough attention: educators who use NVIDIA Teaching Kits get free access to DLI training for themselves and all of their students.
5. Microsoft Learn
Link: learn.microsoft.com/training
Price: Free
Microsoft Learn has one of the most comprehensive AI learning libraries out there. The AI hub includes curated learning paths for every skill level, covering generative AI, Azure AI, Copilot, machine learning, and responsible AI. They also have dedicated modules for educators that walk you through the free AI tools Microsoft offers to schools. If your institution already uses Microsoft products, this is a natural starting point because the training connects directly to the tools you’re already working with.
6. OpenAI Academy
Link: academy.openai.com
Price: Free
OpenAI’s Academy started as an in-person program for developers and has since expanded into a public, free resource hub. You’ll find on-demand video tutorials on prompt engineering, reasoning, deep research, data analysis, and project workflows. They recently launched two certification courses: AI Foundations, which is built directly into ChatGPT through employer pilot programs, and ChatGPT Foundations for Teachers, available now on Coursera. OpenAI has set a goal of certifying 10 million Americans by 2030, so expect this platform to keep growing.
7. IBM SkillsBuild
Link: skillsbuild.org
Price: Free
IBM SkillsBuild offers over 1,000 free courses, and their AI track is solid. It covers natural language processing, computer vision, machine learning, deep learning, chatbots, and AI ethics. When you complete the AI Fundamentals learning plan, you earn an IBM digital credential verified through Credly that you can add to LinkedIn. No prior experience is required, and the courses are designed for self-paced learning. IBM has also committed to providing free AI training to two million learners worldwide over the next three years.
Where to Start
If you’re new to AI and want something practical and educator-friendly, Google’s AI for Educators and OpenAI’s ChatGPT Foundations for Teachers are the easiest entry points. If you want a broader understanding of AI concepts with a recognized credential, Anthropic’s Academy and IBM SkillsBuild are strong choices. And if you’re ready to go deeper into the technical side, NVIDIA’s DLI is hard to beat.
The point is, the training is out there, and most of it costs nothing. The only real investment is your time.
