I attended a one-day course on AI for Beginners by Info Tech Academy on 11 Sep 2025. After government subsidy, I paid a total of $195 of skill future credits for the course. It covered Introduction to AI, AI Technologies and AI Implementation. It has the following learning outcomes:
LO1 – Compare business models with industry trends to explore AI-driven opportunities for business innovation.
LO2 – Identify AI opportunities and assess their feasibility based on cost-benefit analysis.
LO3 – Implement AI innovation processes leveraging success factors for effective execution.
The below is a synopsis of the course.
1. Introduction to AI
AI is a branch of computer science focused on creating machines and
systems that can perform tasks typically requiring human intelligence. There are many types of AI, but the most common one in the market/society currently is Generative AI such as ChatGPT. AI has improved from simple machine learning in the 2010s to the current generative nature which allow it to generate “new” knowledge when asked. Generative AI accelerated innovation in fields such as content creation, education, healthcare, and more, while raising ethical concerns about data privacy and misinformation.
A “dangerous” aspect of AI is its ability to create Deepfakes, which is AI-generated synthetic media where realistic images, videos, or audio altered or created using machine learning algorithms. These creations mimic real individuals, often making it difficult to distinguish from authentic content.
AI in Business. AI technologies are significantly transforming businesses across various domains. Here are some key ways AI is disrupting traditional business models:
- Automation of repetitive tasks, e.g. workflow automation, customer service chatbots.
- Personalized customer experiences, e.g. recommendation systems, virtual assistants.
- Faster and more informed decision-making, e.g. data analysis for business insights, prediction and forecast.
- Creation of new products and services, e.g. medical breakthroughs, smart products.
2. AI Technologies
There are different types of AI technologies as follows:
Supervised Learning: Learning from labeled data to predict outcomes.
Unsupervised Learning: Discovering patterns in unlabeled data.
Computer Vision: Enabling computers to “see” and interpret images.
Natural Language Processing: Understanding and generating human language.
Reinforcement Learning: Learning optimal actions through rewards.
Generative AI: Creating new content like images and text.
Most common GEN AI platforms are:
ChatGPT is the most popular Gen AI platform in the market, and is developed by OpenAI. It is designed to assist with a wide range of tasks, from answering questions and writing essays to generating creative content and assisting with coding. It is especially good for data analysis.
Google Gemini is a close second in terms of popularity. It is committed to creating advanced AI models that are multimodal, meaning they can process and generate various types of data, including text, images, audio, and video. It is especially good for computer vision.
Microsoft Copilot is an AI-powered assistant designed to enhance productivity by integrating seamlessly with Microsoft’s suite of applications. Leveraging advanced generative AI models, Copilot assists users in tasks such as writing, data analysis, and project management by generating suggestions, automating repetitive tasks, and providing intelligent insights. It is especially good for natural language processing.
Meta AI provides the generative AI technology that powers AI experiences integrated to Facebook and Whatsapp. It is especially good for image recognition.
DeepSeek is the only Gen AI platform developed in China. At the heart of DeepSeek’s capabilities is its proprietary AI engine, which integrates state-of-the-art algorithms and architectures to deliver high-performance AI solutions. The engine is built on a foundation of deep learning, reinforcement learning, and transformer-based models, enabling it to process and analyze vast amounts of data with remarkable accuracy and efficiency. However, DeepSeek is used only for text generations currently.
Evaluating AI innovation and digitization for business growth. A Cost-Benefit Analysis helps you determine if the potential benefits of implementing AI technologies outweigh the costs. Assess the viability of business innovation, identify digitization opportunities, and conduct a feasibility analysis.
Costs:
- Initial Investment
- Development and Customization
- Data Acquisition
- Integration Cost
- Training and Upskilling
- Maintenance
- Legal Compliance Cost
- Experimentation and Failure Cost
Benefits:
- Increase Efficiency
- Increase Productivity
- Improve Decision Making
- Cost Reduction in Automation
- Faster Innovation and Product
Development - Better Fraud Detection
- Improve Accuracy
3. AI Implementation
Change management and action plan. Introducing AI to an organization in structure manner, please note the following:
- Awareness— This is about understanding why the change (in this case, AI implementation) is necessary.
- Desire— Once individuals are aware of the need for change, they need to develop a desire to participate in and support the change.
- Knowledge— This refers to understanding how to change.
- Ability— Knowledge isn’t enough; individuals need the ability to implement the change and perform in the new environment.
- Reinforcement— To ensure the change sticks, reinforcement is crucial.
Success Factors for AI Adoption:
- Clear Business Goals and Alignment with AI Strategy
- Data Quality and Availability
- Skilled Workforce and Training
- Strong Leadership Support
- Iterative Implementation and Continuous Improvement
- Effective Communication and Stakeholder Engagement
Conclusion
There are 3 key take-aways from this AI course:
- If you are a beginner to AI, it makes a lot of sense to attend one of these beginner courses on AI to familiarize yourself in AI.
- After that, you could start using a Gen AI platform to practise some of these AI tools.
- A good Gen AI platform to start with is either ChatGPT or Google Gemine, as they are both user friendly and can be free.