Getting Started with Generative AI

A quick quiz to review what we learned so far.

In this lecture, we explore the origins of AI, from ancient myths and early automation to modern breakthroughs. While AI as we know it is a recent development, the idea of intelligent machines dates back centuries. We begin with early mechanical inventions and philosophical debates that laid the foundation for AI concepts.

Moving into the 20th century, we discuss Alan Turing’s contributions, the official birth of AI in 1956, and the initial optimism surrounding its rapid development. However, AI faced setbacks during the AI Winters of the 1970s and 1980s before making a strong comeback in the 1990s.

Finally, we examine AI’s explosive growth in the 2000s and beyond, from search engines and recommendation systems to deep learning and creative AI tools. This lecture highlights how AI evolved through challenges and successes, shaping the technology we use today.

Answer three questions to check what your learned so far.

A quick three-question quiz to test your knowledge.

Lecture Description: Choosing the Right AI Assistant

Welcome back! Now that we’ve explored how AI is shaping the world, it’s time to get personal—how can AI assist you in your daily life and work?

In this lecture, we’ll introduce three of the most powerful AI assistants available today: ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Microsoft CoPilot. These tools can help you write and edit content, summarize documents, brainstorm ideas, conduct research, and automate tasks. Each one has unique strengths, and choosing the right one depends on how you plan to use AI.

We’ll break down what each tool does best:

• ChatGPT excels at writing, brainstorming, coding, and creative tasks.

• Google Gemini is great for real-time research and deep integration with Gmail, Docs, and Google Search.

• Microsoft CoPilot is the best choice for business productivity, document automation, and Excel data analysis.

• Google NotebookLM: Your grounded assistant that only considers your resources when answering questions. (Lecture added in August 2025).

By the end of this lecture, you’ll have a clear understanding of which AI assistant fits your needs best. In the next sessions, we’ll explore each tool in detail with real-world examples so you can get the most out of AI.

Now that we understand AI in theory, it’s time to put it to work. In this lecture, we’ll explore how ChatGPT can assist you in everyday tasks—from writing emails to summarizing documents and brainstorming ideas.

We’ll start with a guided tour of the ChatGPT interface, walking through the key features so you can navigate it with confidence. Then, we’ll dive into real-world use cases, showing you how to use ChatGPT effectively for writing, research, and productivity.

Test your knowledge by answering these questions on Getting Started with ChatGPT as Your Personal AI Assistant.

In this lecture, we’ll explore Google Gemini, Google’s AI assistant designed for research, summarization, and seamless integration with Google Workspace tools like Search, Docs, and Gmail. If you already use Google’s ecosystem, Gemini can be a game-changer for boosting productivity and simplifying tasks.

We’ll start with an overview of the Gemini interface, including its chat window, file upload options, voice mode, and navigation panel. You’ll also learn how to export content directly to Google Docs or Gmail and manage your activity history.

Test your knowledge about Google Gemini

In this lecture, we explore Microsoft CoPilot, an AI assistant designed to enhance productivity across Windows, Microsoft Office, and Teams. Whether you’re generating PowerPoint presentations, analyzing data in Excel, or managing emails and schedules in Outlook, CoPilot streamlines tasks and saves valuable time.

Test your Copilot knowledge.

In this lecture, we wrapped up our deep dive into AI assistants, comparing ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot. Each tool has its own strengths—ChatGPT excels at writing and brainstorming, Gemini is great for research and Google integration, and Copilot is a productivity powerhouse for Microsoft 365 users.

In this lecture, you’ll discover how to use Google’s NotebookLM, a personalized AI research assistant that works exclusively with the sources you provide. You’ll learn how to upload documents, websites, and notes, then use features like source-grounded Q&A, AI-generated overviews, audio summaries, mind maps, and idea synthesis to deepen your understanding and spark new insights. By the end, you’ll see how NotebookLM can streamline research, support accurate fact-checking, and help you become an expert in your own data.

By the end of this section, students will be able to:

• Use AI-powered tools to edit, enhance, and transform images with ease.

• Generate unique artwork using AI from simple text prompts.

• Create AI-generated videos based on descriptions or scripts.

• Experiment with AI music tools to compose and produce original tracks.

• Understand how AI can be used as a creative partner in visual art, video, and music production.

• Compare different AI tools and determine which best fits their creative needs.

• Explore real-world applications of AI in digital media and content creation.

This lecture explores the exciting world of AI-powered photo editing, showing how AI can enhance and transform images with just a few clicks. From Photoshop’s Neural Filters, which allow for landscape transformations and colorizing old photos, to free AI tools like Meta.AI and Canva, which offer powerful, accessible editing features, AI is revolutionizing the way we edit images. The lesson includes step-by-step demonstrations on adjusting landscapes, adding vibrant colors, and using AI-powered enhancements across different platforms. It also covers mobile AI editing apps and how AI is reshaping photography itself. By the end, you’ll see how AI makes professional-level photo editing faster, easier, and more creative than ever! ?

Review what you learned so far about using AI for Photo editing.

This lecture explores the exciting world of AI-generated art and photos, where visuals are created entirely from text prompts. From photorealistic landscapes to surreal paintings and animated scenes, you’ll learn how tools like DALL·E, Meta AI, and Adobe Firefly bring creative ideas to life. You’ll also see how to fine-tune images with reference styles, custom compositions, and lighting controls. Whether you're an artist or a beginner, this session shows how AI makes high-quality visual creation more accessible—and more fun—than ever before.

See the related document in the resources section.

Take a 5-question quiz to review what you learned and test your knowledge.

Discover how AI is transforming video creation—from generating cinematic clips with simple prompts to editing full-featured productions with your own media. This lecture introduces key tools like Sora, InVideo, and RevID AI, and shows you how to bring your video ideas to life using the power of artificial intelligence.

Video generation AI technology is moving fast — and so is this course.

You can expect new lectures to be added regularly, ensuring you always have the most up-to-date skills and tools at your fingertips.

These updates will focus on the latest breakthroughs in AI-powered creativity, giving you practical knowledge you can apply right away.

The August 2025 update introduces two powerful tools to your learning path:

Google Veo 3 – Creating cinematic, high-resolution video scenes from simple text prompts.

RunwayML – Designing short, cinematic clips and connected story sequences with ease.

These additions ensure you stay ahead of the curve in the rapidly evolving world of AI content creation.

In this lecture, we explore how AI is revolutionizing video creation. You'll learn how tools like Sora generate stunning video clips from simple text prompts, how InVideo blends AI automation with manual editing for structured video projects, and why RevID offers a more hands-on, cinematic approach.

We’ll cover each platform's strengths, creative features like blending and remixes, and how to use your own media to bring your ideas to life—without ever picking up a camera.

What did you learn about AI Video Gen with Sora and InVideo?

In this lecture, we take a deep dive into RevID AI, a powerful platform that blends AI-generated content, stock footage, and personal media into customizable videos.

You'll learn how to create a project from scratch, upload and combine your own footage with AI-enhanced elements, choose voiceovers and music, and fine-tune your video using RevID’s timeline editor.

By the end of this session, you'll see just how flexible and creative AI-assisted video editing can be—whether you're building cinematic stories, social content, or marketing material.

What did you learn about AI Video Gen with RevID?

In this lecture, you’ll learn how to use Google’s Veo 3 to create cinematic, high-resolution videos from simple text prompts. We’ll walk through generating a misty forest scene with a fox, exploring how to adjust style settings, download and upscale your clip, and extend your scene seamlessly. By the end, you’ll see how Veo 3 lets you build rich, coherent video stories without traditional filming equipment.

In this lecture, you’ll learn how to create short, cinematic video sequences using RunwayML’s Gen-4-Turbo. You’ll explore both Chat Mode and Tool Mode, using seed images to maintain visual consistency across multiple clips. Through a step-by-step example, you’ll see how to build a connected three-scene story, upscale your videos, and prepare them for final editing.

In this exciting introduction to AI music creation, you’ll learn how artificial intelligence can help you write, produce, and polish original songs—from ambient instrumentals to full-on vocal tracks. We’ll walk through the tools and techniques I personally use, including ChatGPT for lyric writing, Suno AI for generating music, and audio editing platforms like Audacity and Mixea for refining and mastering. You’ll also hear a sample track generated live in the lecture. Whether you're a musician, content creator, or just curious about AI-powered creativity, this session will show you how easy and fun it is to start making music with AI! ?

Learn how to bring your lyrics to life using Suno AI! In this lecture, you'll format your lyrics using Suno's special metatags, write a style prompt, and generate your first custom song. Whether you're creating a high-energy dance track or a mellow ballad, you'll discover how to guide the AI with prompts and metadata to get the sound you want. Get ready to hit "Create" and hear your lyrics transformed into music! ?

Answer a few questions to test what you have learned so far.

In this final lecture of AI for Beginners, we bring everything together—writing, photo editing, image generation, video creation, and music production—to show how AI can transform your creative and professional life. Whether you're building a brand, telling your story, or exploring a new hobby, this section is all about turning knowledge into action.