Learn AI

Foundations

• Large language models (LLMs)The text-predicting systems behind chat assistants: what they are and what they can do.
• Transformers and attentionThe neural network design that most modern language, image and speech models are built on.
• Tokens and context windowsHow models measure text, and why there is a limit to how much they can read at once.
• Training vs inferenceThe difference between teaching a model and using it, and why it matters to you.
• Open-weight vs closed modelsModels you can download and run yourself vs models you use only through a company's service.
• Choosing the right model (cost, speed, quality)How to match a model to your task instead of always using the biggest one.

Using AI well

• Prompt engineeringWriting clear instructions so an AI model gives you useful, accurate results.
• Context engineering and system promptsGiving an AI the right background, rules and role before the task, so it behaves consistently.
• Planning and step-by-step reasoningGetting better answers on complex problems by having the model plan and work in steps.
• Structured output (JSON, tables)Asking AI to answer in a fixed format such as a table or JSON so results are easy to use.

Building with AI

• Using AI through APIsHow apps and scripts send requests to AI models in code instead of a chat window.
• AI agents and tool useAI systems that can take actions, such as searching, running code or using apps, to finish a task.
• MCP (Model Context Protocol) and connectorsAn open standard for connecting AI assistants to tools and data sources in a consistent way.
• RAG (retrieval-augmented generation)Letting an AI answer from your own documents by finding relevant passages first.
• Embeddings and semantic searchTurning text into numbers that capture meaning, so you can search by idea rather than exact words.
• Fine-tuning vs promptingWhen to customize a model with extra training, and when better prompts are enough.
• Evaluating AI outputPractical ways to check whether AI answers are accurate, useful and safe before you rely on them.

Images, video, voice and more

• Multimodal AI and visionAI that can read images, screenshots and documents as well as text, and answer questions about them.
• Image generation (diffusion)Creating new pictures from a text description, usually with diffusion models.
• Video generationCreating short video clips from a text prompt or a still image.
• Speech-to-text and text-to-speechAI that turns speech into written text and reads text aloud in natural-sounding voices.
• Music and audio generationAI that creates music, sound effects and audio from text descriptions.
• 3D generationCreating 3D models and scenes from text prompts or photos.

AI at work

• AI coding assistants and coding agentsAI that suggests, explains, fixes and writes code, from autocomplete to agents that run tasks.
• Writing and editing with AIUsing AI to draft, rewrite, shorten, proofread and adjust the tone of text.
• Data analysis with AIAsking AI to explore spreadsheets and data, write formulas and code, and explain the results.
• AI in customer supportChatbots and assistants that answer customer questions and help support teams work faster.
• AI for learning and tutoringUsing AI as a patient tutor to explain topics, quiz you and give feedback.
• AI for design and creative workUsing AI to brainstorm ideas, make mockups, edit photos and speed up creative work.
• Translation with AITranslating text, documents and conversations between languages with AI.
• Research and AI searchAI that searches the web or documents and writes answers with sources you can check.

Safety and society

• Hallucinations and fact-checkingWhy AI sometimes states false things with confidence, and how to check its answers.
• Bias and fairnessHow AI can repeat unfair patterns from its data, and what you can do about it.
• Privacy and your dataWhat happens to what you type into AI tools, and how to protect personal information.
• Prompt injection and AI securityHow hidden instructions in content can trick AI tools, and how to stay safe.
• Deepfakes, watermarking and content credentialsHow AI-made images, voices and videos are spotted and labelled.
• Copyright and AI contentWho owns AI-made work, and why the rules are still being decided.
• AI safety and responsible useSimple habits for using AI honestly, safely and with good judgement.

Coming soon

• Agents that finish multi-step tasksAI that plans and carries out longer tasks for you. Early versions exist; reliability is still improving.
• On-device AIAI that runs directly on your phone or laptop. It exists today and is expected to grow.
• AI in roboticsRobots that use AI to see, understand instructions and act. Mostly early and experimental.
• Personal AI assistantsAssistants that know your context and help across apps. Parts exist today; the rest is still developing.
• Real-time voice translationSpeaking with someone in another language as AI translates live. Early versions exist; quality varies.

Research frontier

• World modelsResearch on AI that builds an internal model of how the world works. Early and uncertain.
• Long-term memory for AIHow AI could remember useful information across conversations over time. An active research area.
• Continual learningResearch on AI that keeps learning new things without forgetting old ones.
• Interpretability (looking inside models)Research that tries to understand what happens inside AI models and why they answer as they do.
• Multimodal reasoningResearch on AI that reasons across text, images, audio and video together.
• Efficient small modelsMaking AI models smaller, cheaper and faster while keeping them useful.
• Alignment researchResearch on making AI systems reliably follow human intentions and values.

Prompt dictionary

What each prompt word, style and command means, what the AI does with it and when to use it.

• Photo styles26 prompt words
• Art and illustration styles26 prompt words
• Lighting and mood18 prompt words
• Camera and composition18 prompt words
• Layouts and formats24 prompt words
• Image settings explained15 prompt words
• Video camera and motion28 prompt words
• Chat and writing techniques30 prompt words
• Midjourney18 commands
• Claude Code23 commands
• Stable Diffusion tools5 commands
• AI Compass22 commands