King's helping businesses understand the benefits of Artificial Intelligence

The King's Institute for Artificial Intelligence has been chosen by Devon County Council to deliver a short course on AI fundamentals to small and medium enterprise (SME) owners in Southwest England.

The free online course, 'Fundamentals of AI: A Practical Guide for Businesses', is made up of flexible learning over a four-week period and comprises expert-led sessions and 1:1 support to help explore the benefits AI can bring to businesses. The King's Institute for Artificial Intelligence will deliver the training to 80 learners over three cohorts between September and December 2024.

Participants will explore:

• AI fundamentals: to understand real-world applications for their business
• Data science basics: to learn AI-driven analysis techniques
• Ethical considerations: to navigate data privacy and bias
• Prompt engineering: to create effective prompts for various business needs
• Practical implementation: to leverage AI in their businesses via their learning and personalised guidance in 1:1 or small group sessions

The course is open to businesses with fewer than 250 employees or unemployed individuals based in Devon, Plymouth, Somerset, and Torbay. Half of the 80 places are ring-fenced for individuals who are underrepresented in the technology sector, such as women, Black, Asian and ethnic minorities, disabled individuals, and individuals aged 50 and over.

Participants do not need any previous experience of studying AI, nor to have completed education at degree level. Find out more, including how to apply to attend thecourse.

The programme is delivered on behalf of Devon County Council as part of the Digital Skills Series Programme, funded by the Heart of the Southwest LEP Local Growth Deal.

The new course is the latest initiative from King's to enhance understanding of AI in society, as part of its commitment to service and bringing together multidisciplinary expertise to address real-world issues.

Artificial Intelligence has transformative potential across society. At King's, we're bridging the gap between academic research and practical application by offering flexible, expert-led learning experiences, ensuring that businesses and organisations of all sizes and in all sectors can navigate the AI landscape with confidence. Our goal is not just to impart knowledge, but to foster a deeper understanding of AI's implications and possibilities, ultimately contributing to a more informed and AI-ready society.

Professor Carmine Ventre, Director of the King's Institute for Artificial Intelligence

The university also offers a free online 'Generative AI in Higher Education' course to help students, academics and professional services staff gain knowledge of how the rapid developments in generative AI such as ChatGPT will affect the Higher Education sector.

Find out more about the King's Institute for Artificial Intelligence, sign up to their mailing list or get in touch with them to find out about the possibility of other tailored AI courses.