Resulting from a partnership between the University of Helsinki, Reaktor and Sorbonne University, this platform aims to provide the French-speaking public with a French version of the online course "Elements of AI".
What is Elements of AI?
The Elements of AI is a series of free online courses created by Reaktor and the University of Helsinki. It wants to encourage as broad a group of people as possible to learn what AI is, what can (and can’t) be done with AI, and how to start creating AI methods. The courses combine theory with practical exercises and can be completed at your own pace.
So far, over 500,000 students have signed up for the Elements of AI course. The course has spread worldwide, with graduating students from over 170 countries. About 40 % of course participants are women, more than double the average for computer science courses.
Project background
The Finnish Presidency of the Council of the EU has decided to invest in people’s future skills and will make the Elements of AI online course freely available in all official EU languages by 2021. The language translation has been provided by the European Commission, more specifically by the Directorate-General for Translation in collaboration with the Directorate‐General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology.
What gap is the course filling?
While there are many AI courses online, many if not all of them require programming or extensive math skills, which leaves out the majority of the general population. Elements of AI is meant for anyone interested in the topic, equipping participants with the understanding and skill sets required for assessing the world we live in through the lens of AI.
University-level education is also expensive in many parts of the world. The Elements of AI is designed to be free and open to anyone. We hope that the course can genuinely democratize AI and give everyone tools to take part in shaping the future regardless of their income level or social class.
Who is the course aimed at?
Anyone who is interested in AI. Lots of people want to learn what AI is because they think it will be a big deal in the future. They want to know how AI will affect their lives and how they can make use of it.
Over 490,000 have already enrolled in the course from all demographic groups, from people aged 20 to 75 year-old, from +160 countries. They are business managers, the unemployed, day care workers and dentists - people with very different backgrounds.
What will they learn?
All participants will learn the very basics of AI. Comprised of six sections, the course sheds light on various aspects of AI, including definitions, neural networks, machine learning and societal implications.
How long does the course take to complete?
The course is estimated to take about 30 to 60 hours to complete in total. Each part should take from 5 to 10 hours.
While the course doesn’t require any programming skills, people with a technical background or experience in online learning may be able to progress faster.
Why are people taking the course?
Lots of people want to learn what AI is because they think it will be a big deal in the future. They want to know how AI will affect their lives and how they can make use of it.
How will it help them in the real world?
Focusing on applicability and shifting away from complex theory, the course equips participants with the understanding and skill sets required for assessing the world we live in through the lens of AI.
The course ensures people can take an active role in shaping the future and the modern society even though they're not top AI experts. From a company perspective, it means people can actively look for new business opportunities and ways of improving the company's current processes, which should strengthen their competitive edge in the long run.