Intro to Artificial Intelligence on Microsoft Azure from Coursera

Whether you're just beginning to work with Artificial Intelligence (AI) or you already have AI experience and are new to Microsoft Azure, this course provides you with everything you need to get started. Artificial Intelligence (AI) empowers amazing new solutions and experiences; and Microsoft Azure provides easy to use services to help you build solutions that seemed like science fiction a short time ago; enabling incredible advances in health care, financial management, environmental protection, and other areas to make a better world for everyone.

In this course, you will learn the key AI concepts of machine learning, anomaly detection, computer vision, natural language processing, and conversational AI. You’ll see some of the ways that AI can be used and explore the principles of responsible AI that can help you understand some of the challenges facing developers as they try to create ethical AI solutions.

This course will help you prepare for Exam AI-900: Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals. This is the first course in a five-course program that prepares you to take the AI-900 certification exam. This course teaches you the core concepts and skills that are assessed in the AI fundamentals exam domains. This beginner course is suitable for IT personnel who are just beginning to work with Microsoft Azure and want to learn about Microsoft Azure offerings and get hands-on experience with the product. Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals can be used to prepare for other Azure role-based certifications like Microsoft Azure Data Scientist Associate or Microsoft Azure AI Engineer Associate, but it is not a prerequisite for any of them.

This course is intended for candidates with both technical and non-technical backgrounds. Data science and software engineering experience is not required; however, some general programming knowledge or experience would be beneficial. To be successful in this course, you need to have basic computer literacy and proficiency in the English language. You should be familiar with basic computing concepts and terminology, general technology concepts, including concepts of machine learning and artificial intelligence.

What's inside

Syllabus

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Provides an introduction to AI concepts like machine learning, computer vision, and natural language processing, which are essential for building intelligent applications on Azure

Explores the principles of responsible AI, which helps learners understand the ethical challenges facing developers and promotes the creation of fair and unbiased AI solutions

Prepares learners for the AI-900 certification exam, which validates foundational knowledge of AI concepts and Azure AI services, enhancing career prospects in the field

Requires familiarity with basic computing concepts and terminology, as well as general technology concepts, which may pose a challenge for individuals with limited technical experience

Presented by Microsoft, which is recognized for its contributions to AI and cloud computing, and for its Azure platform, which is widely used in industry

Is the first course in a five-course program, which indicates that learners may need to take additional courses to gain a comprehensive understanding of Azure AI

Reviews summary

Introduction to azure ai fundamentals

According to students, this course serves as a solid introduction and provides a comprehensive overview of core AI concepts within the Microsoft Azure ecosystem. Many found it particularly helpful for preparing for the AI-900 certification exam, citing the way it structures content around the exam objectives. Learners appreciated the explanations of key areas like machine learning, computer vision, and natural language processing, often finding the material clear and easy to understand, even for beginners. While the course is largely well-received, some with prior AI knowledge felt certain sections were too basic. The hands-on labs were frequently mentioned, viewed as a crucial component for practical understanding, though a few noted minor setup difficulties.

Concepts are explained simply and effectively.

"The instructor explains complex topics like neural networks in a way that's easy to digest."

"Found the explanations throughout the modules very clear and concise."

"Material is presented logically and is easy to follow for someone new to the subject."

"Loved how clearly the different Azure AI services were described and differentiated."

Hands-on exercises reinforce learning.

"The practical labs were invaluable for seeing how the concepts work in real life."

"Getting hands-on experience with Azure AI services in the labs was the highlight for me."

"Labs really help solidify the learning, making abstract ideas concrete."

"Found the hands-on activities very useful for applying what was taught in lectures."

Provides a strong base for understanding Azure AI.

"It lays a really good foundation for understanding what Artificial Intelligence is and how it's used on Azure."

"Even with no prior AI experience, I grasped the core concepts like ML, NLP, and Computer Vision."

"A comprehensive introduction covering the main pillars of AI and their Azure implementations."

"Helped me build a solid understanding of the basic terminology and concepts in AI."

Excellent resource for passing the AI-900 exam.

"This course is spot-on for anyone looking to pass the AI-900 Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals exam."

"I felt well-prepared for the AI-900 certification after completing this course."

"Covers all the key areas outlined in the AI-900 syllabus effectively."

"Took this solely to prepare for the AI-900, and it delivered exactly what I needed."

May be too introductory for experienced learners.

"If you have prior machine learning or data science experience, some sections might feel overly simplistic."

"As someone with a background in AI, I found the pace a bit slow and the content sometimes too introductory."

"Expected a little more depth in certain areas, but it is an introductory course."

"Good for complete beginners, but not much new if you're already familiar with AI basics."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Intro to Artificial Intelligence on Microsoft Azure with these activities:

Review Basic Machine Learning Concepts

Show steps

Reinforce foundational machine learning concepts to better understand the Azure AI services.

Browse courses on Machine Learning

Show steps

Review definitions of supervised, unsupervised, and reinforcement learning.
Research common machine learning algorithms like linear regression and decision trees.
Understand the difference between classification and regression problems.

Review 'Artificial Intelligence: A Guide for Thinking Humans' by Melanie Mitchell

Show steps

Gain a broader understanding of AI principles and limitations to contextualize the Azure AI services.

View Artificial Intelligence: A Guide for Thinking... on Amazon

Show steps

Read the book, focusing on chapters related to machine learning and natural language processing.
Take notes on key concepts and examples.
Reflect on how the concepts relate to the Azure AI services discussed in the course.

Follow Azure AI Tutorials

Show steps

Gain hands-on experience with Azure AI services by following official Microsoft tutorials.

Show steps

Choose a tutorial related to a specific Azure AI service (e.g., Computer Vision, Natural Language Processing).
Follow the tutorial step-by-step, paying attention to the code and configuration.
Experiment with different parameters and inputs to see how they affect the results.

Four other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all seven activities

Review 'Deep Learning' by Goodfellow, Bengio, and Courville

Show steps

Gain a deeper understanding of the deep learning models used in Azure AI services.

View Deep Learning on Amazon

Show steps

Read the relevant chapters on neural networks and deep learning architectures.
Focus on the mathematical foundations and the intuition behind the algorithms.
Relate the concepts to the specific Azure AI services that use deep learning.

Create a Blog Post on Responsible AI

Show steps

Deepen your understanding of responsible AI principles by researching and writing a blog post.

Browse courses on Responsible AI

Show steps

Research the principles of responsible AI (fairness, reliability, safety, privacy, etc.).
Find examples of AI systems that have raised ethical concerns.
Write a blog post discussing the importance of responsible AI and how it can be implemented in Azure AI solutions.
Share your blog post on social media or with your peers.

Build a Simple AI Application on Azure

Show steps

Solidify your knowledge by building a small AI application using Azure AI services.

Show steps

Choose a simple AI task (e.g., image classification, sentiment analysis).
Select the appropriate Azure AI service for the task.
Write code to interact with the Azure AI service and implement the AI task.
Deploy your application to Azure and test it with different inputs.

Contribute to an Open Source AI Project

Show steps

Enhance your skills and contribute to the AI community by participating in an open-source project.

Browse courses on Open Source

Show steps

Find an open-source AI project that aligns with your interests and skills.
Review the project's documentation and contribution guidelines.
Identify a bug to fix or a feature to implement.
Submit a pull request with your changes.

Career center

Learners who complete Intro to Artificial Intelligence on Microsoft Azure will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Artificial Intelligence Specialist

An Artificial Intelligence Specialist is responsible for developing and implementing AI solutions. This requires a strong grasp of key AI concepts including machine learning, anomaly detection, computer vision, natural language processing, and conversational AI. This course helps to build a foundation in these areas, introducing developers to the ethical considerations of AI development, which is essential for any Artificial Intelligence Specialist. The course also provides an introduction to Microsoft Azure, a common platform used to realize AI solutions. This course is particularly useful for anyone wanting to become an Artificial Intelligence Specialist since it offers a blend of practical skills and theoretical insights that are needed in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Artificial Intelligence Specialist

Machine Learning Engineer

A Machine Learning Engineer focuses on building and deploying machine learning models within larger systems. This work requires understanding key machine learning concepts as well as how to use specific platforms and tools. This course introduces this core set of concepts and also provides hands-on experience with Microsoft Azure services. This course may be particularly beneficial for aspiring Machine Learning Engineers who need a comprehensive overview of fundamental concepts and their practical application in a cloud environment.

See salaries and explore the career path for Machine Learning Engineer

Data Scientist

A Data Scientist employs statistical methods and machine learning to extract actionable insights from data. This course can help a Data Scientist understand key AI concepts including machine learning, anomaly detection, and natural language processing. Since this course also covers the fundamentals of Microsoft Azure, it is useful for any Data Scientist who wishes to build solutions on this platform. The course also mentions principles of responsible AI which is useful for any Data Scientist tasked with deploying ethical solutions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Software Developer

A Software Developer builds applications, and, increasingly, those applications use artificial intelligence. This course can help a Software Developer integrate AI functionalities into their work, by introducing core concepts like machine learning, computer vision, natural language processing and conversational AI. The course may be particularly useful to Software Developers seeking to familiarize themselves with AI solutions built on Microsoft Azure. This course is a practical starting point for anyone who wants to develop AI-enabled applications.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Developer

Cloud Solutions Architect

A Cloud Solutions Architect designs and implements cloud computing strategies, and this requires a solid understanding of cloud services and their capabilities. The course's introduction to Microsoft Azure and AI services may be useful because it provides a foundational understanding of how AI solutions are built on this platform. This course provides insight into the practical side of implementing AI solutions on a cloud platform which is useful for any Cloud Solutions Architect.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cloud Solutions Architect

AI Ethics Consultant

An AI Ethics Consultant advises organizations on the responsible development and deployment of AI. This role requires a deep understanding of the ethical implications of AI technologies, and this course may be useful as it explores the principles of responsible AI, and helps individuals understand the challenges of creating ethical AI solutions. The course's discussions on the ethical dimensions of AI development, makes it a good start for anyone working, or planning to work, within this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for AI Ethics Consultant

AI Product Manager

An AI Product Manager defines the strategy and roadmap for AI products. This job requires a clear understanding of both AI capabilities and market needs. This course provides an introduction to key AI concepts and to how AI can be used in various applications and this gives any AI Product Manager a solid base to work from. This course may be helpful for any Product Manager who is working with AI products and wants to build their understanding of the underlying technology.

See salaries and explore the career path for AI Product Manager

Technology Consultant

A Technology Consultant advises clients on the use of technology to achieve their business goals, and this requires staying at the forefront of rapidly evolving fields like artificial intelligence. This course's overview of AI concepts and Microsoft Azure's AI services helps technology consultants understand how the technology can be applied. This course, with its broad coverage of AI concepts and practical platform use, is well aligned with a Technology Consultant's needs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technology Consultant

Technical Trainer

A Technical Trainer develops and delivers training programs on specific technologies. This role requires a strong background in the tech being taught as well as the ability to explain complex topics in a way that is easy to understand. This course may be helpful as it covers the fundamental concepts of AI and Microsoft Azure, and provides a structured approach to learning, which a Technical Trainer can use. This course may be especially beneficial for Technical Trainers who intend to specialize in AI and Azure technologies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Trainer

Data Analyst

A Data Analyst gathers and interprets data to come up with solutions to business problems, and this increasingly requires knowledge of machine learning and AI. This course's exploration of key concepts of machine learning, anomaly detection, and natural language processing offers valuable insights. This course may be useful for any Data Analyst who wants to better understand how to use insights from cloud based artificial intelligence platforms to provide solutions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Technical Writer

A Technical Writer creates documentation for technical products and services. This job requires a solid understanding of the subject matter, and with the growth of artificial intelligence, that increasingly means understanding AI. This course may be useful because it introduces fundamental AI concepts and how these are implemented using Microsoft Azure. This course is therefore beneficial for any Technical Writer aiming to create content around specific artificial intelligence solutions or applications.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer

Business Analyst

A Business Analyst identifies and analyzes business needs and problems, and in today’s world, this increasingly requires an understanding of AI. This course's introduction to the capabilities and applications of artificial intelligence, especially when coupled with Microsoft Azure cloud technology, may be helpful within this role. This course may be useful for Business Analysts looking to enhance their technology understanding and to work alongside IT teams to help build AI-based solutions that help solve business needs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Research Scientist

A Research Scientist conducts research to advance scientific knowledge, and those in the field of artificial intelligence frequently require a strong foundation in core AI principles. This course introduces key concepts such as machine learning, anomaly detection, natural language processing, and computer vision; therefore, this course is beneficial for aspiring Research Scientists as it provides a helpful entry point to AI. This course may be particularly useful for Research Scientists looking to extend their research into artificial intelligence.

See salaries and explore the career path for Research Scientist

IT Project Manager

An IT Project Manager leads and oversees IT projects, and in an age of growing automation, these projects often involve AI. This course's overview of core concepts in artificial intelligence and its demonstration of how this technology is deployed using Microsoft Azure may be useful to any Project Manager working on AI focused projects. This course may be helpful for IT Project Managers looking to expand their knowledge of AI technologies and their deployment in cloud environments.

See salaries and explore the career path for IT Project Manager

Automation Specialist

An Automation Specialist designs and implements automated systems. Given the nature of this work, it's a field that increasingly uses artificial intelligence. This course may be useful for an Automation Specialist as it explores key AI concepts and shows them being implemented using Microsoft Azure. This course may be particularly beneficial for Automation Specialists looking to boost their knowledge of artificial intelligence and its integration with automated platforms.

See salaries and explore the career path for Automation Specialist

Intro to Artificial Intelligence on Microsoft Azure

Here's a deal for you

What's inside

Syllabus

Traffic lights

Save this course

Reviews summary

Introduction to azure ai fundamentals

Activities

Career center

Reading list

Share

Similar courses