I Tried the Highly Rated Google AI Learning Course [Google AI Essentials]

This article is for those who are serious about learning AI.
There is a self-paced learning course called Google AI Essentials.

The bar might be set a little high, but it is exceptionally good.

What makes it so good?

This learning course really makes you use your brain.
That is because you cannot pass it without thinking deeply.
As a result, you gain a true understanding.

It is not just about looking at information and finishing.
You won't get a certificate just by watching, listening, and saying 'I see.'

Previous comprehension tests were just
"choosing which is correct or incorrect".

To put it bluntly, even if you hadn't studied the text, you could usually get the right answer by reading the question and choosing the common-sense option.

Individualized instruction via generative AI

However, in the ' dialogue ' section of this course, you must answer using your own words based on what you have learned. If the AI coach determines your understanding is insufficient, it will push back by asking, 'Please explain in more detail,' making it a true test of comprehension.

It feels just like having one-on-one tutoring.
I felt it was truly worthy of being an AI learning course.

There are also so-called 'choose the correct answer' tests, but since the test content changes slightly each time, rote memorization is difficult to rely on.

Other excellent points include:

Educational content that goes beyond mere techniques

There is a subtle 'first-class feel' to the fact that you learn not only prompt techniques but also about responsibility and security in AI usage.

Google Certificate

It consists of the following five parts, and upon completion, a Google certificate is issued that you can add to your LinkedIn profile.

Learning English

Learning English through content in a field you are interested in not only helps you acquire specialized knowledge but also improves your English skills in a natural way. Since you are exposed to English expressions and technical terms used in real-world situations, it is also efficient from an English learning perspective.

Highly rated worldwide

It boasts impressive figures with a 4.7 rating (10,279 reviews) and 1.03 million enrollees. It is provided by the online learning platform Coursera, which offers a 7-day free trial period.‼️Unfortunately, you cannot obtain a certificate without a paid subscription.

How to cancel Coursera

You can cancel by clicking "Cancel Subscription" from your purchased courses.

A slightly better deal for Coursera

The annual fee is 59,789 yen (3,858 yen/month), and a one-month contract is 8,841 yen, but if you click "Cancel Subscription," a 50% discount (4,420 yen) will be offered.

Since the original monthly rate is set quite high, it doesn't feel like much of a bargain, but if you only want to try it for one month, canceling once is a better deal.

Things to consider after learning AI

In Google AI Essentials, you learn not only how to use AI but also about responsible use and what AI is good and bad at.

However, the more deeply you learn about AI, the more the following questions arise.

If you view AI not as "artificial intelligence" but as "alien intelligence" that processes information using a mechanism different from humans, your way of interacting with AI may look a little different.

What should we delegate to AI, and what should we leave to humans?
I have summarized in the next article how to think about maintaining your ability to make judgments while using AI conveniently.

Alternatives to Google AI Essentials

If Google AI Essentials—which, while having Japanese translations and subtitles, is basically in English—and registering for Coursera seem like a hassle, I recommend the YouTube channel I introduced previously, "Tomohiro Ikeda's Generative AI Business Utilization Laboratory".