DataCamp
Understanding Artificial Intelligence is a free-to-learn beginner course from DataCamp, online. Some parts are paid. It takes about 2 hours and ends with a certificate.
A short, no-code primer for anyone who needs the basics before a work conversation about AI. In about 2 hours you get 16 videos and 49 exercises, including how to build AI-driven organisations, and 2.8 CPE credits are available via a qualified assessment. It's free to start, but full access needs a DataCamp subscription and no price is shown. For a fully free alternative, try AI Foundations from OpenAI Academy.
No-code DataCamp course with 16 videos and 49 exercises on AI subfields, capabilities and limits, how systems learn from data, building AI-driven organisations, and ethics and safety.
More courses on machine learning and on generative AI.
Everyone (no background needed), Business professionals.
Level: beginner (as stated by the provider). Delivery: online, self-paced.
None
Free to learn. Some parts paid. Free to start; full access needs DataCamp subscription.
Certificate: certificate. Statement of accomplishment; 2.8 CPE credits via qualified assessment.
DataCamp is based in the US. We checked this course on the provider's own page on 3 Oct 2026.
If you want a free, government-backed start instead, AI Skills Boost gives every adult in the UK free AI courses, and finishing selected ones earns an AI foundations badge.
None of the UK funding schemes we track pays for this course. See free and funded training by nation for what is funded where you live.
Other UK courses on AI literacy and fundamentals: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI) - Online (Forth Valley College), Living with AI (Scottish AI Alliance), An Introduction to AI (North East Scotland College).
See also: free and funded training by nation.
Free to learn. Some parts paid.
About 2 hours, self-paced.
Yes: certificate. The provider calls it "Statement of accomplishment; 2.8 CPE credits via qualified assessment".
It's a beginner course. Prerequisites: None.
Start any time.
Yes, every one we list is free or free to learn, including AI Fundamentals (skill track) and Understanding Artificial Intelligence.
Cardiff and Vale College
Next intake not announced
Cardiff and Vale College
Next: 8 Mar 2027
Cardiff and Vale College
Next: 18 Jan 2027
| Course | Delivery | Cost | Level | Hours | Certificate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI Capabilities and LimitationsAnthropic Academy | Online, self-paced | Free | Beginner | Not stated | Free certificate |
| AI Fluency: Framework & FoundationsAnthropic Academy | Online, self-paced | Free | Beginner | Not stated | Free certificate |
| AI FoundationsOpenAI Academy | Online, self-paced | Free | Beginner | 1.5 | Free badge |
| AI in primary computingNational Centre for Computing Education | Online, self-paced | Free | Beginner | 1.5 | Certificate not stated |
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