Foundational Learning

AI 101
Fundamentals

Start your AI journey with essential tools, basic prompt engineering, and foundational concepts. Curated from Google, OpenAI, Microsoft, and top educational institutions.

Last updated February 2026

Essential AI Tools

Your beginner's starter kit: Get familiar with these tools, download the mobile apps, and create free accounts. Start with 2-3 tools that match your work needs.

Your 3-Step Action Plan:

  1. Get familiar: Click each tool below to visit their website and understand what they do
  2. Download mobile apps: Install the apps on your phone for on-the-go access
  3. Create free accounts: Sign up for 2-3 tools that match your role (start with ChatGPT or Gemini)

🤖 AI Assistants & Chatbots

These tools now support agent-style workflows: multi-step tasks, web search, and file analysis. ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude can research, summarize, and iterate for you.

🔍 AI Search & Research

✍️ Writing & Content Creation

🎨 Image Generation

Learning Videos

Curated video tutorials from official sources: Google, OpenAI, Microsoft, and Anthropic. No influencer content.

Beginner Certifications

Foundational certifications from top institutions and companies. Build credentials while you learn.

Common Questions

Which AI tools should I start with?
Start with 2-3 tools that match your work: ChatGPT or Gemini for general use, Claude for long documents, and Copilot if you use Microsoft 365 daily.
Do I need to pay for AI tools?
No. ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude all offer free tiers. Start free, then upgrade if you hit limits.

Ready for Advanced Skills?

Once you've mastered the fundamentals, move on to AI 201 for advanced techniques, automation, and building AI-powered applications.