Free AI training - the good, the useful and the reality

It is generally accepted that while AI might not take your job, people who are better at using it might.  ‘Prompt Engineer’ is a thing now.  So, we all need to learn and keep learning; but not everyone has the resources of a global network to make their own AI platform, have access to a Chief Technology Officer and endless waves of training. 

If you are everyone else, where can you get good training for your people, for free?

1. Three free 30 hours each short courses

These are technically open to anyone in an English agency who is 19 and above and not on an apprenticeship. If you are an apprentice/growth and skills levy payer you use that to pay the £750 each; if non levy payer the Government pays 95 - 100%, depending on the age of the learner. You can do any or all.

• AI leadership – AI adoption, procurement and governance
• AI leadership – AI strategy and opportunity
• AI leadership – AI delivery and organisational transformation

Things to bear in mind:

• Only available to English agencies
• Ignore the ‘apprentice units’ branding, they are short courses and the only people not eligible are those who are apprentices!
• It says ‘leadership role’ but training providers I have discussed this with say they are for anyone we say is ‘an aspiring leader’ or ‘star of the future’ especially the first unit. Government say open to employers who have “identified a need to upskill them quickly to meet business needs and remain competitive” but units will not be eligible for learners “seeking to start a new career or occupation”.
• While each one is offered by over 60 training providers the ones we recognise as working with agencies are: Cambridge Sparks, and Apprentify. However, the Government list is always out of date so if you have a preferred training provider do ask them. Providers will help you navigate the booking, learning and assessment process.
• None of this is specifically curated with agencies in mind.

2. Spot on for agencies are the IPA’s Industry AI resources

I have already used the glossary  and also tools lists liberally to look like I know what I’m doing in the ERIC app Gen Z posts. One of its main uses is practical legal advice about generative AI. So much is in one place, for example videos of panels about AI from the Business Growth Conference. Or an online training course Drive confident, compliant AI adoption at scale in under one hour.  (They had me at ‘one hour’.). Or an article from MGOMD about why neurodivergent people can help shape AI in our industry which charmingly starts with “I have ADHD. Without the help of tools like ChatGPT, this piece simply wouldn’t exist. I would have started it enthusiastically, lost focus midway through the second paragraph, and ended up staring out of the window wondering if I should finally start compiling my ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide-inspired list of the 42 best ideas I’ve had and immediately forgotten.”

Things to bear in mind:

• As with all resources you need to start with what knowledge and skills you need to help the business as this will help you find the most appropriate learning.
• Look out for issues of the IPAi Forum magazine.

3. The IPA publishes ‘Log On to Get On’ a guide to free or nearly free training.

The guide contains some free AI learning nuggets such as Think With Google’s bang up to date article 'How WPP Media is transforming planning and performance on YouTube with AI'; or go way longer/more in depth with Coursera’s AI catalogue such as 'Python for Data Science, AI and Development'; or less effort via a D&AD article on how AI has changed pitching.

If you want something very cerebral visit the Alan Turing Institute and spend 40 hours with a course telling you How data lies which intriguingly admits this ‘course is alternatively titled "How learning to lie with data is essential to prevent AI from being sexist and racist."'

Things to bear in mind:

• 'Log On to Get On' covers everything free, not just AI.
• While there is much that is specific to agencies, it may take hard work (and sometimes hours of learning) to find it.

4. Government partnered with eight famous providers for 14 courses

Skills courses are available from tech titans such as Google, Amazon, IBM, Microsoft. Subjects range from 'Mastering prompts' (20 minutes) to 'Responsible Innovation and Trustworthy AI' (nine hours). 

A report identifies six skills businesses need: 

• writing clear instructions for AI tools 
• using AI tools to support routine processes and tasks  
• using simple software that automates work tasks 
• adjusting how an AI tool works to get better results  
• understanding the risks and consequences associated with AI use  
• analysing information using AI tools 

Things to bear in mind:

• There appears to be no barrier to anyone in the UK accessing the courses, but they do refer to Skills ‘England’
• None of this is aimed specifically at what an agency needs

Finally, if you do have a little money (£375) check out the IPA’s Ai courses, which are totally aimed at our people, such as the six hour virtual course Applied AI for Strategy and Planning.

And finally, if all this just seems soulless and you need a laugh, agency creative director Rob Mayhew has some great Insta videos on AI including Pitching in 2038…

Any questions, please contact [email protected].

The opinions expressed here are those of the authors and were submitted in accordance with the IPA terms and conditions regarding the uploading and contribution of content to the IPA newsletters, IPA website, or other IPA media, and should not be interpreted as representing the opinion of the IPA.