BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana University is now offering its highly acclaimed generative artificial intelligence essential skills course, “GenAI 101,” free to everyone worldwide.
IU Kelley School of Business faculty have developed one of the largest generative AI courses offered by a major research university. More than 114,000 students, staff, and faculty have enrolled in GenAI 101 since its launch in August. In October, IU expanded access to more than 805,000 alumni around the world. Since then, thousands of people have signed up.
“GenAI 101 was designed to prepare students from all disciplines for an AI-driven world,” said IU President Pamela Witten. “With the leadership of the Kelley School of Business and the expertise of our world-class faculty, we are expanding access to this course to everyone seeking the foundational skills needed to respond to a rapidly changing workforce. By making this course widely available, we will not only improve the skills of the workforce that drives economic growth in our state, but also prepare students to responsibly and ethically apply these cutting-edge tools.”
The GenAI 101 course consists of eight self-paced modules and 16 concise lessons, each featuring practical takeaways and real-world applications for today’s digital environment. Participants will develop critical skills such as rapid engineering, data storytelling, fact-checking AI-generated content, and ethical use of AI.
Pat Hopkins, dean of the Kelley School and James R. Hodge Chair of Excellence, said part of the reason for offering this course to the public is to help fellow Hoosiers remain competitive in a rapidly evolving job market where 90% of employers are expected to implement AI solutions by 2028. The Kelley School is also working closely with business and government partners in Indiana and beyond as part of this effort.
“We are proud to support IU’s efforts to help students, alumni, faculty and staff gain the tools they need to succeed in today’s evolving technological environment,” Hopkins said. “Today, and more than ever, it is important that Kelley serves as the premier destination for our business partners and their employees, entrepreneurs, educators and others to develop these core professional skills so they can learn and lead the economic future of Indiana and beyond.
“This initiative is a direct contribution to President Pamela Witten’s IU 2030 Strategic Plan, which focuses on serving our communities and fostering innovation that improves the lives of people across Indiana and beyond.”
Hopkins said mastering AI is no longer an option. He compared it to the early days of the internet and cell phones, but they are evolving much faster. AI skills, when combined with human critical thinking skills, are rapidly becoming sought after as a powerful means of increasing personal and professional productivity.
“As AI capabilities continue to accelerate, it is a challenge for any organization to stay current with a technology that is constantly reinventing itself,” Hopkins added. “The rise of AI has brought us all back to being students, and we are working hard to ensure Kelly remains at the forefront of this digital transformation. By opening our doors to the public, we are enabling faculty, students, staff, and now everyone, to develop understanding, insight, and marketable skills.”
Since the course was launched, many companies, state governments, and universities across the country have contacted IU to acquire or create similar skills-based curricula. In response, IU and the Kelley School have decided to make enrollment in the certification course free of charge for anyone.
GenAI 101 also provides interaction with a real-time conversational AI learning agent named Crimson that provides on-demand support to learners. All tools and samples are built around publicly accessible GenAI platforms, including Google Gemini and ChatGPT.
“We designed GenAI 101 around short, practical videos with a touch of humor, and that combination resonated with learners,” said Brian Williams, Sam Fulmer Professor of Accounting and chair of Virtual Advanced Business Technologies at Kelly College.
“From college freshmen to executives at some of the world’s largest companies, this course will make complex, fast-moving topics feel approachable and actionable,” Williams added. “That’s exactly what we were aiming for, and that’s why we’re so excited to open our doors to you.”
Today’s announcement is part of Kelley’s broader efforts to incorporate AI into every aspect of the curriculum. Last year, the school introduced the Kelley AI Playbook, a working guide that shows faculty how to incorporate generative AI into teaching, grading, research, and service.
The school’s foundational curriculum for undergraduates will soon include four revised required IT and AI courses. Two of the classes are open to any IU student in Bloomington or Indianapolis.
Visit Kelley’s Learn AI website for registration details.
