Microsoft has committed to upskilling 1 million South Africans in AI Skills by 2026. To this end, they are offering a free, beginner-friendly course designed to help educators, learners, and professionals understand what Artificial Intelligence is, how it works, and how to use AI tools in daily life. It covers real-world applications, ethics, and productivity, equipping participants with the skills to confidently engage with AI at work, in the classroom, and beyond, with no technical background required.

The course can either be done in one sitting of about 90 minutes, or in six half-hour sections.

Our connection comes through Zibuza, a support platform for teachers, learners, parents and schools. They are one of the Microsoft implementation partners, and they are including the GRAD community in their outreach.

You can find the details of the course below. Please make as many students as possible aware of this opportunity. AI is becoming an integral part of the world in which they will have to function. They need all the support they can get.

I’ve also started doing the “lessons” myself. It’s basic and accessible, very user-friendly, to just get you through the barrier of fear of the unknown to where you can start using the amazing new tool.