Explore 10+ Free AI Courses by Google in 2025

“Artificial intelligence will have a more profound impact on humanity than fire, electricity, and the internet,” said Sundar Pichai. And that shift is already unfolding in the workplace. A recent study reveals that 71% of U.S. employers now prioritize candidates with AI skills, even over more experienced contenders who lack AI exposure. If you’ve ever wondered how to build this valuable skill, a free Google AI course is a reliable way to gain the AI proficiency that today’s jobs demand.

The pressure on professionals to upgrade their skills is growing. Yet most AI training programs are out of reach due to high prices or difficult learning curves. This is where a free AI courses by Google stands out. It offers guided, credible, and cost-free learning.

Read on to know more about some of the top choices and get started on your AI learning journey.

What Makes Google’s AI Courses Unique?

Google has long been at the forefront of AI innovation, and it is dedicated to making AI education accessible to everyone. But why should you opt for free AI certification courses by Google when so many options are available online? Let’s find out.

• Learn from the experts in the field: Google’s courses on artificial intelligence are created in collaboration with engineers and educators who work directly on AI projects. Each course combines theoretical concepts with practical, real-world applications.

• Accessibility for learners of all skill levels: Most of Google’s free AI courses assume no background in coding or computer science, or even mathematics. This makes them an excellent starting point for anyone eager to learn about AI, regardless of their technical skills.
• Structured course design: The courses are laid out in step-by-step modules. They include video lectures, assessments, real-time online labs, and interactive quizzes that make learning engaging.
• Practical, real-world applications: The courses include exercises that simulate real-world scenarios. You may be asked to write instructions for AI chat tools, solve basic logic problems, or use spreadsheet-based simulations to apply automation in business workflows. These hands-on activities ensure learners can apply their knowledge immediately, making the concepts easy to grasp.
• Access to Google’s AI tools: You can get first-hand experience with cutting-edge AI tools. The courses allow you to practice on platforms like Gemini API (Google’s AI assistant) or Google Cloud (including Vertex AI and BigQuery ML – enterprise-grade AI/ML tools). You can also explore AI capabilities within the Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides, etc.).
• Flexible learning at your pace: With self-paced learning options, you can progress at your own speed and fit the training around busy schedules, balancing job or other responsibilities. This improves the chances of actually completing the course.
• Focus on using AI responsibly: The free AI certification courses by Google cover crucial aspects of AI use, including identifying potential biases and learning how to avoid them. Google emphasizes ethical AI development and use. Such ethos is reflected in the courses. This focus on responsible use helps ensure that learners develop not just technical expertise but also an understanding of AI’s impact on society.
• Tailored for diverse audiences: The courses cater to a wide variety of learners, including educators, new business owners, developers, and data professionals preparing for certifications. The course content is not limited to introductory overviews. From in-depth coverage of Generative AI, image generation, Large Language Models (LLMs), to Machine Learning with TensorFlow, Google’s AI courses cover them all.
• Availability of verifiable credentials free of charge: After finishing a free AI course by Google, participants receive digital proof of completion. This may be a badge or a shareable Certificate. You can add it to your resume or LinkedIn profile to highlight your AI literacy.

Pro tip: These courses are routinely updated to reflect changes in Google’s AI ecosystem, which makes them more relevant than many pre-recorded or textbook-based programs available elsewhere.

List Top 10 Free AI Courses by Google​

The following 10 free google AI courses have been selected for their relevance, accessibility, and applicability across real-world use cases:

Best 10+ Free Google AI Courses

Google free AI courses stand out for their focus on accessibility and real-world application.

As Covadonga Soto, Head of Marketing at Google Spain & Portugal, noted on the collaboration with Banco Santander:

“This partnership showcases our shared commitment to leveling the playing field in AI education and empowering people with the skills they need to get ahead in the digital age.”

By offering hands-on experience with advanced tools at no cost, free AI certification courses by Google bring practical AI education within reach of learners around the world. The programs are designed not only to inform, but to equip individuals with job-relevant skills. Here are the details:

1. Google AI Essentials

If you are new to AI, this course is perfect for you. You will discover what artificial intelligence is and how it is used across industries. You can also learn how to write effective prompts and the use of generative AI tools to step up productivity. It is particularly useful because it offers guided tasks that illustrate the use of AI in everyday business scenarios.

• Who Should Enroll: Anyone interested in a solid understanding of AI, regardless of technical background.
• AI Readiness Level: Beginner – No prior experience necessary.
• Duration: Approximately 1 month (at ~8 hours per week)
• Certificate: Shareable Certificate available upon completion

Course Link

2. Google Prompting Essentials Specialization

With this course, you can learn the art of crafting clear and specific instructions called prompts. Prompts are structured instructions that steer AI systems. This course walks you through how different types of prompts impact the quality of AI-generated responses. You can try out standard prompt formats – single commands to multi-part questions – and see how AI responds to them. It will help you make tools like Gemini, Claude, or ChatGPT provide more accurate and relevant outputs.

• Who Should Enroll: Writers, researchers, students, analysts – anyone using AI tools for text generation, brainstorming, summarizing, or automating tasks.
• AI Readiness Level: Beginner – No AI or programming experience required.
• Duration: Around 1 month (at ~10 hours per week)
• Certificate: Digital Certificate offered

Course Link

3. Introduction to Generative AI

Essentially a microlearning course, it introduces generative AI — a type of artificial intelligence that can create new content such as text, images, or code. The course describes how large sets of data are fed to these AI systems, from which they learn and then produce fresh results similar to the original data. There is no technical complexity. It simply teaches how generative AI can be used for everyday tasks such as writing emails or designing graphics.

• Who Should Enroll: Anyone curious about how AI can come up with original content, including people working in marketing, writing, education, and design.
• AI Readiness Level: Beginner – No prior AI experience or programming skills needed.
• Duration: Approximately 1 hr
• Certificate: Shareable certificate

Course Link

4. Getting Started with Gen AI: 100-Level

If you’re curious about how generative AI actually works but don’t want to be overwhelmed by jargon, this free AI course by Google is a great place to begin. Designed as an on-demand video session, it explains what generative AI is, how it works behind the scenes, and how it’s already being used in industries like media, customer service, and retail. Instead of textbook-heavy theory, you’ll see diagrams, real-world scenarios, and simplified walkthroughs of how large language models (LLMs) are trained to generate human-like content.

• Who Should Enroll: Students, early-career professionals, freelancers, and non-tech users who want a practical understanding of generative AI.
• AI Readiness Level: Beginner to Intermediate – Basic understanding of generative AI is recommended but not mandatory.
• Duration: About 2 hours
• Certificate: None, but good for understanding the basics without diving into code

Course Link

5. Introduction to Large Language Models (LLMs)

This is another micro-learning course that shows how ChatGPT or Gemini work behind the scenes. You can get acquainted with large language models — systems trained on huge amounts of text that can process queries and generate meaningful responses. The modules simplify the principles behind how these models “think”. The course also shows what affects the quality of the LLM’s answers and how prompt-tuning can improve their outputs.

• Who Should Enroll: Ideal for individuals who regularly use AI tools and want to understand how these chatbots “think”, such as writers, educators, and business analysts.
• AI Readiness Level: Beginner – Designed for users with no coding or tech experience.
• Duration: Almost 1 hour
• Certificate: Shareable certificate on Completion

Course Link

6. Introduction to Responsible AI

AI systems can be helpful, but they can also be biased or unfair if not constructed properly. This course introduces Google’s seven AI principles on avoiding bias, being transparent about how AI makes decisions, and prioritizing safety and inclusivity in AI use. This course is a must for anyone planning to use AI tools in the workplace or a public setting.

• Who Should Enroll: Learners interested in building or working with AI systems, who want to ensure their use of AI is ethical.
• AI Readiness Level: Beginner – Suitable for non-technical professionals and general learners.
• Duration: Nearly 30 minutes
• Certificate: Digital Certificate available upon completion

Course Link

7. Introduction to Vertex AI Studio

This course introduces Google’s Vertex AI, a platform that helps developers build and manage AI tools using Google’s cloud platform. It explains how people working in data roles can use this tool to train and deploy AI models. Guided examples show how AI models go from simple ideas to working systems, solving real problems.

• Who Should Enroll: Learners with some familiarity with cloud platforms or those working in technical roles, planning to build or support AI-based software.
• AI Readiness Level: Intermediate – some knowledge of cloud computing or machine learning is recommended.
• Duration: Approximately 2 hours
• Certificate: Shareable certificate

Course Link

8. Google AI and Productivity

Designed in collaboration with Banco Santander, this course shows how AI can enhance productivity across professional settings. It teaches the use of AI tools for improving daily operations such as email writing, automatic scheduling, and document summarization. Through case studies and interactive content, you can learn how to use AI tools to streamline workflows.

• Who Should Enroll: Working professionals, job seekers, students, and anyone interested in using AI tools to boost productivity in everyday work.
• AI Readiness Level: Beginner – no prior knowledge of AI or coding is expected.
• Duration: 2 hours (self-paced)
• Certificate: Shareable certificate awarded after successful completion

Course Link

9. Create ML Models with BigQuery ML

If you want to build machine learning models but don’t know where to start with infrastructure or Python libraries, this free AI certification course by Google offers a practical workaround. It teaches you how to train and use ML models directly inside Google BigQuery using simple SQL queries. You’ll get to work hands-on with public datasets and apply built-in ML functions to real-world problems like customer churn or sales forecasting.

• Who Should Enroll: Analysts, data professionals, and spreadsheet users looking to step into machine learning using SQL.
• AI Readiness Level: Intermediate – Comfort with SQL or BigQuery is helpful.
• Duration: Approximately 5 hours 30 minutes
• Certificate: Badge awarded once the course is complete

Course Link

10. Vector Search and Embeddings

This short and practical course helps you understand how modern search engines “think” using vector-based methods. It’s designed to show how AI can go beyond simple keyword matching to understand the meaning behind text, images, or content. You’ll learn how to represent data as numerical vectors (aka embeddings), store them in vector databases, and run semantic searches to find “what you mean” instead of “what you typed.”

• Who Should Enroll: Developers, product managers, and tech-curious learners working with AI-driven search or recommendation tools.
• AI Readiness Level: Intermediate – Some familiarity with Python or AI concepts might help.
• Duration: Approximately 2 hours
• Certificate: Shareable certificate

Course Link

11. Introduction to Machine Learning

Interested in how computers recognize patterns or make decisions on their own? Using real-world examples, this course explains machine learning concepts, such as predictions, classifications, and decision-making. It introduces concepts gradually. Starting with simple methods to identify trends, it gradually progresses to more advanced applications like sorting emails with filters and generating product recommendations.

• Who Should Enroll: Anyone who wants to learn how machine learning works – students, analysts, and professionals exploring data-driven decisions.
• AI Readiness Level: Beginner – no coding or math expertise is required.
• Duration: Around 20 minutes
• Certificate: Shareable badge available

Course Link

12. Introduction to Image Generation

This course dives into the exciting world of diffusion models, a machine learning model making waves in image generation. You can find out how these models generate pictures starting from random noise, gradually refining it to create realistic images. The modules also guide you on training these models using Vertex AI, with practical examples that bring the theory to life.

• Who Should Enroll: Anyone curious about how AI can generate images from scratch, including professionals in media, marketing, game design, or visual arts.
• AI Readiness Level: Entry to Intermediate – no coding experience required, although familiarity with design tools can be a plus.
• Duration: Around 30 mins
• Certificate: Shareable certificate

Course Link

How to Get Started with Google’s Free AI Courses

Starting a Google-free AI course doesn’t require coding skills, a tech degree, or expensive software. All you need is a stable internet connection, a little curiosity, and the willingness to experiment.

Here’s a step-by-step outline on how you can start your journey:

1. Scan your options first. Google offers these AI certification courses through platforms like Cloud Skills Boost, Google Developers, edX, Coursera, and the Santander Open Academy. You’ll also find listings on Grow with Google and the Google Cloud training catalog. Browse through these channels to see the range of available options.
2. Pick what fits your needs. If you’re just getting familiar with AI, you can start with Google AI Essentials or the Prompting Essentials course. If you want to improve how you use chatbots or generative AI tools, the course Introduction to Generative AI can be an effective entry point.
3. Create your free learning account. Platforms like Cloud Skills Boost and edX let you register with your Gmail in a few clicks. Sign up is free, no subscription required. You can just log in and start an AI certification course free by Google, and learn at your own pace.
4. Don’t just watch — engage with the course materials. Jot down notes in your notebook. Go through the reading materials. Complete the interactive exercises and quizzes. Those activities help you understand the potentially complex concepts, remember them better, and apply your learning to real-life scenarios.
5. Start small, then apply. Practice what you learn by writing sample prompts or using tools like Gemini, Google Sheets, or Vertex AI to simulate simple tasks. You can try summarizing emails or categorizing customer feedback. These practical applications stick better than passive viewing.

Pro tip: Some courses, especially the generative AI free courses by Google, include project-based tasks. Save those outputs, you can use them to create a personal portfolio.

What to Do After Completing These Courses?

Congratulations on completing your free AI course by Google! But don’t stop there – this is where the real work begins.

Here’s how to turn your completion badge into tangible outcomes:

1. Let employers know – add it to your resume and LinkedIn.

Don’t just download the badge or Certificate. Add it to the “Licenses & Certifications” section of your LinkedIn profile. Use keywords like “Google’s free AI courses” and “AI certification course free by Google” – recruiters often use such keywords when searching for AI-literate professionals and thus can find you easily.

2. Create content to display your expertise.

If you’ve finished multiple free AI certification courses by Google, share your learning takeaways in a blog post or a LinkedIn article. Even an X (previously Twitter) thread works. Did you streamline a spreadsheet? Built a chatbot? A simple write-up of how you applied a generative AI tool to a task, like summarizing meeting notes or designing a lesson plan, can help others and shine the spotlight on your skills.

3. Apply your knowledge in real projects.

Look for opportunities to apply your new AI skills in personal projects or at your current workplace. Prompt Gemini to co-create a blog outline or edit your drafts. Try scheduling automation for business processes or create customer response templates. If you’re in education, automate quiz generation. Practical experience is invaluable.

4. Build a portfolio.

Document your projects and learning experiences as tangible proof of your expertise. Include screenshots, end results, or before-and-after scenarios. A well-curated portfolio can be a powerful instrument to boost your job prospects in the AI domain.

5. Keep the momentum going and explore advanced topics.

AI-related job listings have increased by 68% by the end of 2024. While a free course alone might not make you an AI engineer, it can largely broaden your job opportunities.

Once you master the basics and gain confidence, try more advanced courses. You will get the real feel of deployment and gain modeling skills that can give you an edge in your job hunt.

Conclusion

Google’s free AI courses are not just overviews of artificial intelligence—they offer practical, no-cost opportunities to gain the skills you need for a future-proof career or even for personal learning goals. Whether you’re in marketing, education, or software development, these courses make it easy for you to apply AI in meaningful ways.

Each AI certification course, free by Google, provides a Certificate or badge, which can significantly enhance your resume or LinkedIn profile and demonstrate your proactive approach to learning AI to current and future employers.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Does Google have a free AI course?

Yes. Google offers several free AI-focused courses on Cloud Skills Boost and the Google Developers platforms. The courses cover a wide range of topics, starting from foundational AI concepts to more advanced applications. Google AI Essentials or the generative AI free courses by Google are popular starting points.

Do Google AI Courses Provide Certificates?

Most Google AI courses offer downloadable completion Certificates or shareable digital badges. You can showcase these credentials on networks like LinkedIn or your resume to enhance your visibility to potential employers.

Are Google’s free AI courses suitable for beginners?

Yes, most of Google’s free AI courses, such as Google AI Essentials, Google Prompting Essentials, and Generative AI for Everyone, are beginner-friendly. You need not have any proficiency in coding or math, or any technical background, to follow the contents. All concepts are explained step-by-step, with the focus on practical applications.

Can I get a job after completing these free courses?

While a Certificate alone doesn’t guarantee a job, completing Google’s free AI courses can strengthen your resume, help you build a portfolio, and make you stand out to recruiters looking for upskilling evidence. Find ways to demonstrate your expertise, such as building AI tools, crafting effective prompts, or automating tasks. It will show employers you can apply AI effectively, and this can tip the scales in your favor on your job hunt.