Complete for freeBeginnerBrowser simulator included

Course 14

AI and Machine Learning Foundations

Understand what AI and machine learning can and cannot do through classification, regression, clustering, generation, data splits, uncertainty, bias, privacy, and use-case decisions. The course combines structured lessons, guided browser concept simulations, and learner-created project files made with freely installable or open tools described in the course instructions. This guided page does not execute code, train models, run databases, create repositories, access hardware, or provide hosted infrastructure.

Free completion promise: The always-free pathway uses guided AI concept simulations and learner-created analysis files. It does not call a model API or require an account, API key, GPU, or paid chatbot.

Before you begin

Requirements & setup for AI and Machine Learning Foundations

Start with the complete free pathway below. Hardware, subscriptions, paid APIs, and cloud credits are never required.

Start here · free path

Your complete $0 setup

The always-free pathway uses guided AI concept simulations and learner-created analysis files. It does not call a model API or require an account, API key, GPU, or paid chatbot.

$0 required

Setup checklist

0 of 6 complete

This checklist is a temporary setup aid and resets when the page reloads. Saved course progress begins in the setup lessons below.

  1. Use the browser-based tools and simulations throughout this course. Paid software, APIs, cloud credits, GPUs, and physical equipment are optional.

    About 2 min

  2. Open the concept simulator and read its scenario, assumptions, and limitations.

    About 5 minOpen C4T AI Concepts Concept Simulator (opens in a new tab)

  3. Make a prediction, adjust the available controls, and compare the result with the explanation.

    About 5 min

  4. Record what changed and why; repeat with at least one different input.

    About 5 min

  5. For applied work, follow the course instructions to create and keep your own project files with a freely installable or open tool appropriate to the subject.

    About 5 min

  6. C4T AI Concepts Concept Simulator: Complete one prediction-and-explanation cycle and record the evidence you would carry into a learner-created project file.

    About 5 min

Software

1 item

C4T AI Concepts Concept Simulator

A free browser concept simulator with adjustable values, a prediction prompt, deterministic feedback, and a short explanatory trace. This guided page does not execute code, train models, run databases, create repositories, access hardware, or provide hosted infrastructure.

Course need
C4T AI Concepts Concept Simulator
Free

A free browser concept simulator with adjustable values, a prediction prompt, deterministic feedback, and a short explanatory trace. This guided page does not execute code, train models, run databases, create repositories, access hardware, or provide hosted infrastructure. Use keyboard controls and the text trace or written alternative when a visual or pointer interaction is not suitable.

  1. Open the concept simulator and read its scenario, assumptions, and limitations.
  2. Make a prediction, adjust the available controls, and compare the result with the explanation.
  3. Record what changed and why; repeat with at least one different input.
  4. For applied work, follow the course instructions to create and keep your own project files with a freely installable or open tool appropriate to the subject.
Open C4T AI Concepts Concept Simulator (opens in a new tab)

Hardware

Nothing required

No physical hardware is needed for this course.

Accounts

Nothing required

No external account is needed for this course.

What you will be able to do

Learning outcomes

  • Distinguish AI, machine learning, and common task families.
  • Explain features, labels, training, inference, and data splits.
  • Interpret confidence as uncertainty rather than guaranteed correctness.
  • Evaluate bias, privacy, misinformation, human oversight, and non-AI alternatives.

Included downloads

Free starter assets

Original · synthetic · licensed

These small files contain no personal data, credentials, or secrets. Dataset fixtures are CC0 and starter code is MIT licensed.

Starter pack guide & licensesSee what each original synthetic dataset, fixture, and starter file contains.ML evaluation fixtureFixed, synthetic classification, retrieval, research, and deployment values.

Build real work

Assignments & capstone

Free tools accepted

Model behavior and uncertainty brief

Explain a selected AI task, its data flow, confidence limits, likely errors, and a fair evaluation plan.

The always-free pathway uses guided AI concept simulations and learner-created analysis files. It does not call a model API or require an account, API key, GPU, or paid chatbot. Submit a project file, text trace, screenshots with descriptions, or equivalent simulator evidence.

Responsible AI case review

Audit privacy, consent, bias, misinformation, and human-oversight risks in a proposed system.

The always-free pathway uses guided AI concept simulations and learner-created analysis files. It does not call a model API or require an account, API key, GPU, or paid chatbot. Submit a project file, text trace, screenshots with descriptions, or equivalent simulator evidence.

Final assessment

AI use-case recommendation

Analyze a proposed AI use case and recommend whether and how to proceed based on the problem, data, risks, bias, privacy, confidence, oversight, safer alternatives, and uncertainty. Deliverables: Clear problem and stakeholder definition, AI and non-AI option comparison, Data, bias, privacy, and confidence analysis, Human oversight and appeal plan, and Evidence-based final recommendation.

Prerequisites & pacing

Skills assumed

  • None

Recommended prior courses

These are advisory, not locks. If you already have the skills listed above, enroll directly.

Choose your pace

  • self paced: 7 weeks at 3 hours per week
  • weekly: 7 weeks at 3 hours per week

Part of this learning path

Course created by Zafir Shamsi.