Generative AI Essentials for Business

Duration: 1 Day

Description

Generative AI is rapidly changing how organizations work, and every business professional now needs a working understanding of it. This one-day course gives a clear, practical foundation in generative AI and large language models, with no technical background required. Participants learn what the technology is, how it works at a conceptual level, what it can and cannot do, and how to use it effectively through hands-on prompting practice. By the end of the day, attendees can hold an informed conversation about generative AI and begin applying everyday AI tools to their own work.
Class time is divided between discussion (60 percent) and hands-on exercises with AI tools (40 percent).

Audience

Managers, executives, knowledge workers, and any business professional who wants a practical introduction to generative AI. No technical or programming background is required.

Objectives

• Explain what generative AI and large language models are, and how they work at a conceptual level
• Distinguish between realistic capabilities and common misconceptions or hype
• Navigate the current landscape of AI models, assistants, and tools
• Write effective prompts to get reliable results from AI tools
• Identify high-value use cases for generative AI across business functions
• Recognize the basic limitations and risks of generative AI

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for this course. It is designed to be accessible to all business professionals, and the following will help participants get the most from the experience:

• General comfort using a computer and web-based applications
• An openness to experimenting with new tools and ways of working

Course Outline

• Module 1 – Course Introduction
  • Welcome and objectives
  • How AI is reshaping business today
  • Setting expectations: opportunity and hype
• Module 2 – Understanding Generative AI
  • What is artificial intelligence, machine learning, and generative AI
  • How large language models work, in plain language
  • From training data to predictions: a conceptual model
  • Key terms: tokens, prompts, context, and models
  • What today’s tools can and cannot do
• Module 3 – The Generative AI Landscape
  • Major models and providers
  • Chat assistants, copilots, and embedded AI features
  • Text, image, audio, and code generation
  • How the landscape is evolving
• Module 4 – Practical Prompting
  • Anatomy of an effective prompt
  • Giving context, examples, and constraints
  • Iterating and refining results
  • Common prompting pitfalls
  • Hands-on exercise: prompting for business tasks
• Module 5 – Business Use Cases
  • Writing, summarizing, and editing
  • Research and analysis
  • Meetings, email, and communication
  • Marketing, sales, and customer support
  • Operations, HR, and finance applications
  • Identifying high-value opportunities in your own work
• Module 6 – Course Wrap-Up
  • Key takeaways
  • Resources for continued learning
  • Next steps