I do know you've heard of gamification, however have you ever ever heard of festification? That's what Microsoft did final month and is constant till Could 28, with the Microsoft AI Abilities Fest. It's somewhat odd, but it surely additionally appears to be like prefer it is likely to be a heck of a variety of enjoyable. And you continue to three full weeks to take part.
Free AI coaching for everybody
Microsoft's AI Abilities Fest affords programs which can be open for all ability ranges. You possibly can be taught early phases of the teachings should you're new to AI, or work on deeper matters should you're extra conversant in AI ideas. Though there are tiers of studying, it's packaged as a single expertise. You possibly can work by way of any or all the classes as a part of one unified course.
Additionally: Microsoft at 50: Its unimaginable rise, 15 misplaced years, and beautiful comeback – in 4 charts
Classes can be found in Albanian, Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese, Bulgarian, Catalan, Chinese language, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, World, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Macedonian, Mandarin Chinese language, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Simplified Chinese language, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese.
Sadly, conversational Klingon isn’t on provide.
However there's much more, together with hackathons, self-paced studying, challenges, group boards and meetups, and even (is that this actually a shock?) a possibility for Microsoft's companions to pitch their AI-related coaching and associated wares.
Additionally: One of the best AI for coding in 2025 (together with two new high picks – and what to not use)
For these getting began with AI, there are classes like Utilizing AI for on a regular basis duties. This lesson will enable you to "Perceive generative AI and establish methods to make use of AI at dwelling and at work. Write efficient prompts and discover useful assets."
For instance of the extra superior matters, you’ll be able to take a course in Microsoft Material, Microsoft's knowledge analytics platform. The problem helps you put together for the DP-700 certification. Throughout Abilities Fest, the course is free, however should you do need to grow to be licensed, that's one thing you'll must pay for outdoor the Abilities Fest atmosphere, and it's roughly $165.
Register now
Register on the Microsoft AI Abilities Fest registration web page. It's free coaching on a scorching subject from a well-respected firm, so it's undoubtedly value trying out.
Prizes and reductions
When you don't need to pay for certifications, it’s possible you’ll be in luck. When you enter the Microsoft AI Abilities Fest Problem Sweepstakes (one other identify I couldn't make up), you might win certainly one of 50,000 free certification vouchers awarded throughout weekly drawings.
Additionally: Google affords AI certification for enterprise leaders now – and the coaching is free
GitHub is providing a 50% low cost code for GitHub's latest certification examination, GitHub Copilot. When you end the GitHub Study module, you'll be given a reduction code, which shall be legitimate till Could 28, 2025. To be sure to don't dilly or dally, you need to full the examination by June 30, 2025.
My experiences with Abilities Fest
I dug into a couple of of the courses. Once you register, you'll get a protracted record of courses and trainings. I checked out three of them. I began with Minecraft Schooling – AI Adventurers as a result of my mates say I’ve the maturity of a 12-year-old. It was a brief sequence of movies. All of them have been charming and really properly suited to youngsters. In case you have a toddler and also you need to clarify AI, it is a great spot to begin.
Additionally: I check a variety of AI coding instruments, and this beautiful new OpenAI launch simply saved me days of labor
Subsequent up was Constructing functions with GitHub Copilot agent mode. This one is a 45-minute YouTube video that takes you thru the complete stack improvement course of of making a health tracker app utilizing GitHub Copilot's new agent mode.
The Microsoft presenter, Chris Noring, confirmed off Agent mode and demonstrated constructing the app utilizing VS Code in GitHub Codespaces. I actually favored how he walked by way of extra than simply the AI course of and built-in it in with React, Django, and a MongoDB database. Very informative, all in about 45 minutes.
The third class I took was AI for Organizational Leaders, produced by LinkedIn Studying. Chances are you’ll not have the ability to get entry to this except you are available in both through your LinkedIn account or the Abilities Fest.
Additionally: I examined 10 AI content material detectors, and these 5 appropriately recognized AI textual content each time
It's a fast 57-minute class on the small print of AI expertise, the enterprise implications of generative AI, the place AI matches into your enterprise technique, and an important part on pitfalls, considerations, and limits of AI expertise. Every of the 5 essential chapters is punctuated by a brief quiz, and there's a 10-question ultimate examination. The result’s a pleasant certificates, appropriate for framing. I paid no payment to get the certificates, which can be cool.
An attention-grabbing be aware is that lots of the courses and trainings listed in Abilities Fest aren't gated, so you are able to do them even after the Abilities Fest ended. The Minecraft sequence, for instance, is reachable by anybody with the hyperlink, as is the GitHub YouTube video.
A Guinness World File
Microsoft started the Abilities Fest occasion in April with a giant purpose: to win a world document. They usually did it, too. The earlier holder for the title of "most customers to take an internet multi-level synthetic intelligence lesson in 24 hours" was GUVI Geek Community Non-public Restricted in collaboration with the Authorities of Uttar Pradesh, India, who pulled in 46,045 on-line members.
Microsoft and all of the Abilities Fest members beat that with a complete of 126,151 members. Jeana Jorgensen, Company Vice President, Microsoft Studying mentioned, "The document is a tribute to each one who is investing their time and vitality to be taught a brand new AI ability or assist others construct their AI experience."
Additionally: How Bill Gates, the Altair 8800, and BASIC propelled me into the PC revolution
Are you planning on registering for the AI Abilities Fest? Are there some AI expertise you need to enhance? Tell us within the feedback beneath.
Need extra tales about AI? Sign up for Innovation, our weekly e-newsletter.
You possibly can observe my day-to-day challenge updates on social media. Make sure you subscribe to my weekly replace e-newsletter, and observe me on Twitter/X at @DavidGewirtz, on Fb at Fb.com/DavidGewirtz, on Instagram at Instagram.com/DavidGewirtz, on Bluesky at @DavidGewirtz.com, and on YouTube at YouTube.com/DavidGewirtzTV.
