Where to Find
the Best Online Artificial Intelligence Courses in 2021
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one of the hottest trends in the tech field. AI is a powerful discipline used to simulate human activities. There are many AI applications, and it is currently used in almost every industry. Some of the most common uses of AI include facial recognition, chatbots, and security measures.
Developing AI skills is a great way to advance your career regardless of your chosen industry. AI is used in healthcare, marketing, finance, and many other industries. Read on to find the best online artificial intelligence courses in 2021.
What Is Artificial Intelligence?
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a computer science discipline that consists of programming machines to perform human-like activities such as recognizing objects or sending automated responses. AI simulates the human brain by using neural networks and natural language processing. AI data is significantly accurate despite its margin of error.
AI commonly uses deep or machine learning to make computers identify patterns by themselves. This means that it can learn from experience without human intervention.
What Will You Learn in an Artificial Intelligence Course?
In an artificial intelligence course, you will learn artificial intelligence skills like natural language processing, neural networks, deep learning, and machine learning. It will also develop your general tech skills in things like Python programming, data science, and big data. Some will also include a machine learning course.
Most courses require you to have a deep understanding of math, statistics, and programming principles. However, if it’s an introductory course, these fundamentals may be taught during the program.
Top Online Artificial Intelligence Courses in 2021 at a Glance
Since AI is becoming such an in-demand skill, many institutions now offer courses for online students to learn AI. Below we’ve rounded up the best artificial intelligence online courses in 2021.
Provider and Course | Price | Length | Certificate |
---|---|---|---|
Coursera AI For Everyone |
Free | Six Hours | Yes |
Coursera Deep Learning Specialization |
Free | Five Months | Yes |
Coursera IBM AI Engineering Professional Certificate |
Free | Eight Months | Yes |
edX AI Applications with Watson |
Free | Three Weeks | Yes, for $99 |
Udacity Artificial Intelligence Nanodegree Programs |
$399/Month | Three Months | Yes |
Udemy Artificial Intelligence A-Z™: Learn How To Build An AI |
$129.99 | 16.5 Hours | Yes |
Udemy Artificial Intelligence Course: Reinforcement Learning in Python |
$199.99 | 14.5 Hours | Yes |
Udemy Beginner’s Guide to Artificial Intelligence in Unity |
$19.99 | 10.5 Hours | Yes |
Udemy Artificial Intelligence Masterclass |
$94.99 | 12 Hours | Yes |
Udemy Artificial Intelligence 2018: Build the Most Powerful AI |
$94.99 | 5 Hours | Yes |
Best Artificial Intelligence Courses of 2021
Below is an in-depth description of each course. Some courses are aimed at people with a background in data science or computer science, whereas others are suitable for beginners. All the information listed in this guide comes from each program’s provider website.
AI For Everyone by Coursera
This course is intended for those who have zero coding experience but want to learn more about artificial intelligence. In this program, you will learn about AI fundamentals like machine learning, neuronal networks, and deep learning.
This program is focused on business applications of AI, so you will learn how to spot potential technology upgrades with AI and develop your own artificial intelligence project within your company. You’ll also participate in ethical discussions about the use of AI.
Deep Learning Specialization by Coursera
This deep learning specialization by Coursera will help you develop fundamental AI skills like Tensorflow, recurrent neural networks, Python programming, neural network architecture, and deep learning.
You will also study other concepts like mathematical optimization, convolutional neural networks, backpropagation, and artificial neural networks. At the end of the program, you should be able to create applications for face and voice recognition, translations, and chatbots.
IBM AI Engineering Professional Certificate by Coursera
If you’d like to enroll in a more immersive program, you can join IBM’s AI engineering certificate course offered by Coursera. This program covers essential topics like supervised and unsupervised learning, deep learning, and Python programming.
In this AI course, you will also learn how to implement deep learning libraries like Tensorflow, SciPy, Kerasand, ScikitLearn, and PyTorch. At the end of the program, you will receive Coursera’s certificate and an IBM badge to showcase your AI engineering skills.
AI Applications with Watson by edX
Watson Discovery is a program used to find and retrieve information in a company’s dataset. In this course, you will learn how to use this tool to extract meaningful information to feed a chatbot. During the course, you’ll develop a functional AI-powered chatbot to provide quick and accurate answers about hotel searches.
This is an intermediate-level program, so you’ll need to have previous knowledge in different computer science areas like object-oriented programming, Node.js, and IBM Watson Assistant. edX also offers introductory courses in Python and Watson Assistant if you want to learn both tools first in order to meet the program’s prerequisites.
Artificial Intelligence 2018: Build the Most Powerful AI by Udemy
This artificial intelligence program provided by Udemy is a practice-oriented course where you’ll learn how to use AI algorithms to build efficient software. This program is inspired by Google Deep Mind’s dynamic, one of the most reputable AI agencies in the world.
This program will also teach you data science fundamentals and how to use the augmented random search tool for AI purposes. This program comes with a certificate of completion and unlimited access to five hours of training videos.
Artificial Intelligence A-Z™: Learn How To Build An AI by Udemy
This hands-on course by Udemy will cover AI fundamentals from the ground up. It also provides opportunities to practice each lesson. You will develop your own AI application in this course by creating a fictional and virtual self-driving car. You will also use AI to beat game applications.
Some of the subjects covered in this program include Q-Learning, Deep Q-Learning, Deep Convolutional Q-Learning, and A3C. You will have unlimited access to all videos and the option to download one of them. After completing the course, you will receive your certificate which you can share on social media and job search platforms.
Artificial Intelligence Course: Reinforcement Learning in Python by Udemy
Reinforcement learning is a subtopic of machine learning. It consists of training the machine to identify certain patterns. This is done by providing the AI with a reward signal when it shows the correct answers.
Udemy has developed this immersive course to help you understand the reinforcement learning dynamic using Python. This way, you will be able to create more advanced AI applications for advertising and stock trading purposes.
Artificial Intelligence Nanodegree Programs by Udacity
Udacity offers a vast list of tech and nanodegree programs. This includes a set of mini-courses in different fields of AI, including Python programming, machine learning, deep learning, and natural language processing.
The complete Artificial Intelligence Immersive course dives into core fundamentals like constraint satisfaction problems, search optimization, and advanced machine learning.
The program has a self-paced schedule, but typically students spend between 12 and 15 hours a week on coursework. Before enrolling you should already have a deep understanding of algebra, calculus, statistics, and Python.
Beginner’s Guide to Artificial Intelligence in Unity by Udemy
If you are passionate about video games and software development, this course could be a good choice for you. This introductory course will teach you how to implement AI in your projects. You will also learn how to develop and design a non-player character with C#.
You will become familiar with Unity’s software throughout the course. You will also work on different projects across the course to put your new skills into practice.
Artificial Intelligence Masterclass by Udemy
Udemy’s masterclass in AI will help you understand and implement a hybrid intelligence system. You will work with reinforcement learning, meta-learning, and convolutional neural networks to build a functional AI application.
This program is perfect for those who want to become a machine learning engineer, data scientist, or AI engineer. You will work on different projects during the program to practice and implement what you’ve learned.
Artificial Intelligence Certifications
Although there aren’t many AI certifications, some of the courses listed above offer certificates that you can add to your resume. Certificates show that you have attended and completed a certain educational course. You could also take the ARTIBA certification program listed below to further your career.
Artificial Intelligence Engineer Certification by ARTIBA
The Artificial Intelligence Board of America (ARTIBA) provides an artificial intelligence engineering program. This certificate covers regression, cognitive computing, and natural language processing. It also covers deep, supervised, unsupervised, machine, and reinforced learning.
To be eligible for this certificate, you must pass a certification exam and pay a $550 fee. This certificate has been considered an industry standard for AI professional credibility for years. It is recognized across the globe.
Next Steps After Your Course
Once you finish your course, you can decide to continue your education by earning an associate or bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. Most of these courses are introductory programs. Therefore, it’s a good idea to complement your learning with a more advanced educational program. You can also look at gaining work experience to build your portfolio.
Should You Learn Artificial Intelligence?
Learning artificial intelligence is one of the best ways to advance your career. AI skills are in demand. According to PayScale, an AI engineer earns a salary of $125,258, which is significantly higher than most salaries in the US.
It’s not an easy career path. It requires vigorous hours of study to gain the knowledge required to work with AI. However, if you have strong problem-solving, communication, and critical thinking skills, it’s an exciting and promising field to work in.