AI Foundations
What AI is and how it works
AI Foundations is a free beginner course that explains what artificial intelligence is, how machines learn from examples, and how chatbots like ChatGPT actually work. Lessons take about five minutes, every answer is checked instantly, and you need no maths or coding to start.
What you'll learn
- Spot where AI is already working in your day, from spam filters to maps
- Explain how a model learns from examples, in your own words
- Understand why chatbots sound sure even when they're wrong
- Tell the difference between AI, machine learning and deep learning
- Know what AI can and can't do, so the hype stops being confusing
Who this course is for
- Anyone who feels left behind by AI news
- Students in college who want the basics straight
- Parents, teachers and professionals who want plain answers
Inside the first unit
Spot AI in daily life, see how machines learn, and meet the chatbots.
- AI is everywhere
- How machines learn
- Meet the chatbots
- AI is software that learns patterns from examples instead of following only hand-written rules.
- Training means adjusting a model until its guesses match lots of examples.
- Chatbots predict the next piece of text. They can sound sure and still be wrong.
After the first unit, Pli keeps going: new units are written for your level and goals as you learn, and every question is checked by a second AI before you see it.
Key terms in this course
Questions about AI Foundations
Do I need to know maths or coding?
No. AI Foundations starts from zero and uses everyday examples. The technical courses come later, if you want them.
How long does it take?
Each lesson takes about five minutes. Most learners finish the first unit in under a week at one lesson a day.
Is it really free?
Yes, to start. The first two units of all six core courses are free, along with streaks, leagues and daily questions to Pli. Plintrix Pro unlocks every unit after that.
Free, five minutes a day. No sign-up needed to try your first lesson.
Updated 18 October 2026