Generative AI Essentials: Overview and Impact
What You'll Learn
- Learn how generative AI works
- Explore the benefits and drawbacks of generative AI
- Learn how generative AI can integrate into our daily lives
1 Modules
1 Hour
1 hr per module (approx.)
Rating
About Generative AI Essentials: Overview and Impact
With the rise of generative artificial intelligence, there has been a growing demand to explore how to use these powerful tools not only in our work but also in our day-to-day lives. Generative AI Essentials: Overview and Impact introduces learners to large language models and generative AI tools, like ChatGPT. In this course, you’ll explore generative AI essentials, how to ethically use artificial intelligence, its implications for authorship, and what regulations for generative AI could look like. This course brings together University of Michigan experts on communication technology, the economy, artificial intelligence, natural language processing, architecture, and law to discuss the impacts of generative AI on our current society and its implications for the future.
This course is licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 with the exclusion of the course image.
Skills You'll Gain
- AI Innovation
- Artificial Intelligence
- ChatGPT
- Data Ethics
- Generative Artificial Intelligence
- Generative Model Architectures
What You'll Earn
- Certificate of Completion:
- Certificates of completion acknowledge knowledge acquired upon completion of a non-credit course or program.
Welcome Message
Generative AI Essentials: Overview and Impact introduces the fundamentals of generative AI while exploring its applications, ethical considerations, and societal implications. Learners build a foundational understanding of how GenAI works, where it is used, and how to engage responsibly with these tools across industries and professional settings.
This abbreviated syllabus description was created with the help of AI tools and reviewed by staff. The full syllabus is available to those who enroll in the course.
Course Schedule
Module 1: Generative AI Foundations
- Reading: Welcome to Generative AI Essentials: Overview and Impact!
- Reading: Ground Rules for Engagement
- Reading: Meet the Contributors
- Discussion Prompt: Meet Your Fellow Learners
- Reading: Pre-Course Survey
- Reading: What is AI and ChatGPT?
- Video: What is AI? What is ChatGPT?
- Video: What is GenAI? What are Large Language Models (LLMs)?
- Reading: Practice Using GenAI
- Video: GenAI in Art and Architecture
- Reading: Introduction to GenAI APIs
- Discussion Prompt: Sharing Examples of GenAI
- Reading: Where to Learn More
Module 2: Human Engagement with GenAI
- Reading: GenAI’s Humanlike Output
- Video: GenAI’s Perceived Accuracy
- Video: Implications of ChatGPT's Humanlike Output
- Reading: Pros & Cons of ChatGPT's Humanlike Response
- Video: Humanlike Output & Logical Reasoning
- Discussion Prompt: Considering GenAI’s Humanlike Output
- Video: Writing Good Prompts for ChatGPT
- Reading: Practice Optimizing Prompts
- Reading: Where to Learn More
Module 3: Ethical and Legal Implications of GenAI
- Reading: Ethical & Legal Implications of Using GenAI
- Video: Setting the Scene: Ethics in GenAI
- Video: Plagiarism & Attribution
- Reading: Citing ChatGPT
- Video: Output Ownership & Monetization
- Video: Bias in GenAI Training Data
- Video: Representation in GenAI Training Data
- Video: Bias & Discrimination in GenAI Output
- Video: Data Privacy
- Video: Hallucinations
- Reading: Deep Fakes
- Reading: Practice Identifying Flaws in GenAI Outputs
- Discussion Prompt: Addressing Ethical Considerations
- Reading: Government Regulation
- Reading: Where to Learn More
Module 4: Impact on Society and Business
- Reading: Impact on Society & Industry
- Video: Society’s Response to New Technology
- Reading: Short and Long-term Economic and Societal Impacts
- Reading: Sustainable and Responsible GenAI
- Video: Effects on Human Capital
- Video: Prompt Engineering
- Reading: Impact on Business
- Video: GenAI, Business, & Entrepreneurship
- Video: Challenges for Businesses
- Reading: Practice Writing Emails with GenAI
- Video: Emerging Trends on Using GenAI in Business
- Video: Future Opportunities for GenAI Technologies
- Reading: Where to Learn More
- Discussion Prompt: Reflect on Your Learning Journey of GenAI
- Reading: Unlocking the Future of GenAI
- Reading: Post-Course Survey
- Reading: Continue your learning with the AI Collection from Michigan Online
Grading Policy
All four quizzes are required to pass. Each quiz is weighted equally at 25%, together accounting for 100% of the final grade.
Course content developed by U-M faculty and managed by the university. Faculty titles and affiliations are updated periodically.
Beginner Level
No prior experience required
What Learners Are Saying
Society will reorganize itself in structural ways around Generative AI. .. Will this cause a fundamental restructuring of society? Maybe not the physical world, but certainly the world of information and the world of work.
Scott Page, PhD Professor of Complexity, Social Science, and Management, University of Michigan
