Get the essentials of generative AI in about 25 minutes. This standalone, condensed version of Generative AI Basics follows an assistant helping organize a community event. You do not need to take the longer course first.
You will learn what models generate, how tokens and prompts shape requests, and how applications supply knowledge and tools. You will finish with practical rules for protecting data and checking answers.
Your 25-minute route
| Chapter | Focus | Lesson time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. What generative AI does | Models, training, inference, and believable mistakes | 4 minutes |
| 2. Tokens and useful prompts | Context limits, clear requests, and checking a draft | 5 minutes |
| 3. Knowledge, tools, and agents | RAG, function calling, and application controls | 5 minutes |
| 4. Use AI responsibly | Privacy, prompt injection, and verification | 4 minutes |
Allow about 18 minutes for reading and short reflection exercises, 4 minutes for the chapter checks, and 3 minutes for the final test. This is an estimate; take extra time wherever a concept is new to you.
Each chapter has one lesson and two questions. The final test has four new questions, one per chapter. You must answer every question correctly to pass a check or the final test. Explanations are shown after grading; for multiple-choice questions, select all correct options.
Keep it practical
There is no setup, coding, or paid tool requirement. All exercises can be completed on paper. Event details and token limits are illustrative, and the lessons are independent of any provider.
This version introduces the ideas without detailed tool schemas, pricing calculations, or implementation exercises. For deeper explanations and more examples, continue with the two-hour Generative AI Basics course.
What you will learn
- Distinguish generation, training, and inference, and explain why answers need verification
- Explain tokens and context limits, and write a clear prompt using relevant facts
- Describe how retrieval supplies knowledge and how applications execute function calls
- Recognize the difference between workflows and agents
- Protect sensitive information and check evidence before publishing or taking action
Before you start
- Familiarity with everyday web applications
- No programming experience, AI account, or paid tools required
Course modules
What generative AI does
Distinguish generation, training, and inference, and recognize why confident answers can be wrong.
Tokens and useful prompts
Understand context limits and give the model a clear task with relevant facts and output requirements.
Knowledge, tools, and agents
Distinguish retrieved information from tool execution and recognize who controls an agent's actions.
Use AI responsibly
Protect private information, recognize untrusted instructions, and verify results before acting.