How to Learn Artificial Intelligence (Plus Helpful Courses and Skills)

Augments, algos, agents — oh my.

Artificial intelligence (AI) terminology is seemingly endless. As many organizations are considering how to approach work in this new era, AI-related vocabulary is making its way into conversations across all kinds of industries.

If you want to help drive the future of AI as a professional in your field, you’ll not only need to know these buzzwords. You’ll also need to learn what they mean and how they work.

How Do I Start Learning AI?

The best way to start learning artificial intelligence is by getting hands-on experience with it, according to Dr. Vik Muiznieks, an assistant professor of management science and information systems at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU).

“Try it,” he said. “And talk to others about what you find interesting as well as strange/unexpected.”

With more than 40 years of experience in IT and networking careers, Muiznieks is a member of the SNHU Campus AI Liaison committee and has presented at university forums and summits on a variety of AI-related topics, including AI-powered assistants, AI-ready class assignment ideas and the use of generative AI in projects.

In addition to experimenting with AI, he said you can:

• Follow AI influencers and subscribe to newsletters
• Observe demonstrations and participate in discussions at AI tradeshows
• Watch webinars and listen to podcasts

Currently, Muiznieks is drawn to thought leadership from AI researcher Ethan Mollick and newsletters such as The Neuron.

Read more: What is Artificial Intelligence?

Can I Learn Artificial Intelligence by Myself?

Yes, you can. And when you’re ready to delve deeper into the subject, Muiznieks recommended signing up for classes — particularly during this period of exponential growth.

"Taking courses helps accelerate the process (of developing skills) and provides insights into key topics and priority areas to focus on,” he said. “The field is changing so quickly, it is hard for anyone to keep up by themselves.”

Read more: Are Artificial Intelligence Courses Worth It?

Which AI Course Should I Take?

There are many courses to choose from, ranging from basic to advanced, and spanning a variety of AI tools intended for different goals. Consider what aspects of AI you’re looking to learn more about, and what skills or understandings you’re hoping to gain as a result.

Maggie Aubin, an AI integration specialist at SNHU, said you might look into courses and certifications offered by:

• IBM
• Google
• LinkedIn Learning

It’s important to note that a technical background is not required to learn artificial intelligence. With a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Fiction from SNHU and experience as an advisor and instructor, Aubin brings a liberal arts and people-focused perspective into her role. She noted that curiosity is valuable if you want to get into AI.

“I found myself in this work due to my overwhelming curiosity about how things work,” Aubin said. “Give yourself time to learn and open your mind to the possibilities, and that will help you navigate this ever-changing space.”

You could also consider learning opportunities at colleges and universities. SNHU, for instance, offers a few options:

• Introduction to AI Literacy: A foundational 8-week course resulting in 3 undergraduate credits
• Generative AI: Concept to Innovation: A 6-week skills course resulting in a badge
• Generative AI Concentration: A 4-course concentration you may be able to add to your undergraduate program, exploring topics such as AI implementation, ethics and policy

If you’re ready to really dig into the technical elements of AI, though, you might choose to earn your master’s in computer science with a concentration in artificial intelligence. A graduate program will allow you to study the intersection of AI and computer science, as well as advanced topics such as deep learning, machine learning and AI application development.

What Skills for AI Should I Focus On?

Whether you’re just looking to use AI to assist with daily tasks or you want to build your career around it, Muiznieks advised that you first focus on your prompt-crafting skills. A prompt is the language you use to engage with AI on the platform of your choice. There's a science to developing these prompts — known as prompt-crafting — to make sure the AI works the way you want it to.

“You need to be able to provide clear direction, break down tasks into sequential steps, and gauge understanding,” Muiznieks said. Gauging understanding includes the ability to evaluate that outputs are:

• Accurate
• Reasonable
• Unbiased

He said it’s also important to get comfortable having conversations with generative AI, using it differently than the traditional search engine you’re accustomed to.

Those interested in working in AI should also study how large language models (LLMs) work. According to IBM, LLMs are a type of deep learning that uses text patterns from the data it's trained on to understand and generate natural language. They're probably what come to mind when you think about AI, with tools such as ChatGPT and Gemini being widely used.

Muiznieks said it's helpful to understand how LLMs are created and trained, as well as know their strengths and weaknesses.

Beyond that, the skills you might need or want to learn will vary. Depending on what you hope to do with AI, you might want to learn:

• Agentic AI
• AI for data analysis
• How to build LLMs and machine learning algorithms
• Retrieval-augmented generation (RAG)

With all the technical skills and terminology that go into AI use, Aubin stressed the need to prioritize the human skills too — including adaptability, communication, creativity and emotional intelligence.

“The most important skills right now really stem from taking advantage of what AI cannot utilize,” she said.

Rebecca LeBoeuf Blanchette '18 '22G is a writer at Southern New Hampshire University, where she fulfills her love of learning daily through conversations with professionals across a range of fields. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a minor in Professional Writing at SNHU’s campus in Manchester, New Hampshire, and followed her love of storytelling into the online Master of Arts in English and Creative Writing at SNHU. Connect with her on LinkedIn.