10 Top LinkedIn Learning AI Courses to Build Skills in 2025

Whether you’re a working professional looking to advance your career or a student preparing for tomorrow’s opportunities, learning AI skills can expand your professional prospects. DigitalOcean’s 2025 Currents research report found that 38% of businesses surveyed struggle to justify AI spending because they lack in-house expertise to leverage AI technologies. This skills gap creates an opening for motivated learners to gain the AI skills that companies are struggling to find internally.

Fortunately—from AI certifications to AI courses—plenty of online resources are available to build these skills. For instance, LinkedIn Learning AI courses can help you add new skills to your portfolio and provide an understanding of the latest trends and developments in artificial intelligence and machine learning. Keep reading to discover LinkedIn Learning courses that blend AI fundamentals theory with practical experience in machine learning algorithms and data analysis.

Pros and cons of LinkedIn learning for AI upskilling

Before enrolling in a LinkedIn Learning course (or two), understanding how the platform stacks up against the numerous other AI training resources and educational programs available online is worth understanding. Below are some pros and cons to help you decide whether LinkedIn learning is right for you:

Pros of LinkedIn Learning

• Most courses clock in under two hours, so you can realistically complete them without sacrificing your weekends or pulling all-nighters.

• Established organizations like Microsoft, KNIME, NASBA, and Wolfram Research develop LinkedIn Learning courses. The certifications carry real weight with employers who value these credentials.

• Your certificates automatically appear on your profile, complete with verification badges. No need to upload PDFs or explain what you learned—it’s all right there for recruiters and hiring managers on LinkedIn to see.

Cons of LinkedIn Learning

• Most LinkedIn Learning courses give you the 30,000-foot view of a topic, not a technical deep dive. If you plan to become an AI researcher or build complex models from scratch, you’ll likely need to supplement with more intensive programs.

• AI is moving so quickly that a course created six months ago might already feel dated. New tools launch weekly, and best practices shift constantly. Treat LinkedIn Learning as ongoing education, not a one-and-done certification.

• Unlike bootcamps or university courses, you won’t get personalized feedback or career-specific guidance. Most courses are on-demand and asynchronous, so you’re mainly on your own to figure out how to apply what you’ve learned.

Top 10 LinkedIn Learning AI courses in 2025

These LinkedIn Learning courses span the essentials—from understanding machine learning algorithms and mastering prompt techniques to building ethical AI practices and strategic implementation:

1. Artificial Intelligence Foundations: Machine Learning

“Artificial Intelligence Foundations: Machine Learning” is taught by Kesha Williams, a tech leader with nearly three decades of experience and a Senior Director, Enterprise Architecture & Engineering at Slalom. She’s authored over 25 courses for more than one million learners worldwide. This course covers machine learning concepts through a structured approach, starting with a foundational understanding and progressing through hands-on training of custom models. Students learn about different learning algorithms for classification and regression, explore model performance evaluation, and get practical experience with real machine learning implementations.

Williams breaks down complex topics into digestible segments, making machine learning accessible whether you want to understand the fundamentals or apply these techniques in your work. The course includes exercise files on GitHub that can be practiced with actual code and datasets rather than just watching videos.

Instructor: Kesha Williams

Duration: 1h 50m

Difficulty: Beginner

Key skills taught: Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence

Certificate availability: Professional Certificate from Wolfram Research

Who should take it: Students, Executives, and Product Managers

2. Introduction to Artificial Intelligence

Doug Rose’s “Introduction to Artificial Intelligence” offers a business-focused overview perfect for non-technical professionals looking to understand AI’s role in modern organizations. With over three decades of experience transforming companies through technology, advanced degrees from Syracuse University, and eight years of teaching experience at the University of Chicago’s Graham School, Rose breaks down complex AI concepts into manageable pieces for managers, directors, and executives.

The course covers lessons like “Strong vs. weak AI,” and “Machine learning algorithms” alongside practical applications in “Robotics,” and “The Internet of Things.” Rose specifically targets people who need to make informed decisions about AI implementation rather than build systems themselves.

Instructor: Dough Rose

Duration: 1h 34m

Difficulty: Beginner

Key skills taught: AI for business

Certificate availability: Professional certificate from KNIME

Who should take it: Students, Executives, Directors, Product Managers, and Project Managers

3. Ethics in the Age of Generative AI

Vilas Dhar teaches "Ethics in the Age of Generative AI. " If you’re wondering whether we should be worried about AI ethics, this course will give you a solid answer. Dhar doesn’t just throw around buzzwords—he walks you through the real ethical dilemmas when companies use generative AI. You’ll learn to spot the tricky situations before they become major headaches.

The course is surprisingly practical. Instead of abstract philosophical debates, you get actual tools to analyze whether an AI system might be biased, invade privacy, or cause other problems. Dhar uses real examples of companies that got it right (and wrong) with their AI rollouts. By the end, you’ll know how to ask the right questions when someone pitches you an AI solution.

Instructor: Vilas Dhar

Duration: 39 minutes

Difficulty: Beginner

Key skills taught: Generative AI, Computer ethics, Responsible AI

Certificate availability: Professional Certificate from Microsoft

Who should take it: Stakeholders, C-suite leaders

4. Generative AI for Business Leaders

Tomer Cohen has spent years helping companies understand AI, and his “Generative AI for Business Leaders” course cuts through the noise. Cohen understands that most business leaders don’t need to master the technical details; they need to know what works, what doesn’t, and how to avoid expensive mistakes.

What makes this course valuable is Cohen’s focus on the practical. You’ll learn to write prompts that get you valid results instead of generic fluff. More importantly, he teaches you how to evaluate different AI tools so you’re not just picking the one with the flashiest marketing. The course assumes you’re busy, so everything is geared toward making wise decisions quickly.

Instructor: Tomer Cohen

Duration: 57 minutes

Difficulty: Intermediate

Key skills taught: Generative AI, AI for business, Generative AI for management, Generative AI for business

Certificate availability: Professional Certificate by Microsoft

Who should take it: Senior executives, Business leaders

5. Introduction to Prompt Engineering for Generative AI

Ronnie Sheer’s “Introduction to Prompt Engineering for Generative AI” is a master class in getting AI to do what you want. If you’ve ever gotten frustrated with ChatGPT giving you vague answers or Claude missing the point, this course will save you hours of trial and error.

Sheer covers many major AI platforms—ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Copilot—and shows you how each has its quirks. The best part is learning why small changes in how you ask questions can make considerable differences in what you get back. You’ll pick up techniques that feel like having insider knowledge about how these systems think. It’s not just theory either—you’ll practice with real prompts and see immediate improvements in your results.

Instructor: Ronnie Sheer

Duration: 1h 3 min

Difficulty: Beginner

Key skills taught: AI prompting, Prompt engineering

Certificate availability: Professional Certificate by Microsoft

Who should take it: Students, Executives, Business leaders, Product Managers

6. Building AI Literacy

Building AI Literacy brings together seven instructors who each bring their own perspective on AI in business. Doug Rose, Dave Birss, Pinar Seyhan Demirdag, Xavier Amatriain, Jonathan A. Fernandes, Marily Nika, and Vilas Dhar cover everything from the basics to advanced applications. It’s like getting advice from a whole team of AI consultants.

The course works well because it doesn’t assume you’re starting with any particular background. You’ll find relevant sections if you’re entirely new to AI or have been experimenting with it. The instructors focus on helping you identify where AI can actually help in your specific situation, rather than just listing cool features. You’ll come away knowing how to spot good automation opportunities and avoid the common pitfalls that trip up businesses.

Instructors: Dough Rose, Dave Birss, Pinar Seyhan Demirdag, Xavier Amatriain, Jonathan A. Fernandes, Marily Nika, Vilas Dhar

Duration: 7h 46min

Difficulty: Beginner

Key skills taught: AI literacy, Productivity improvement, and Large Language Models

Certificate availability: Professional Certificate by Microsoft

Who should take it: Students, Senior executives, Product managers, Project managers, Business leaders

7. Integrating Generative AI into Business Strategy

Chris McKay’s “Integrating Generative AI into Business Strategy” is for leaders who are past the “should we use AI?” question and are now asking “how do we actually make this work?” McKay has helped companies navigate tech transformations, so he knows where things typically go sideways.

The course focuses on the stuff that doesn’t make headlines but makes or breaks AI projects—things like getting your team on board, figuring out what success looks like, and building systems that can grow with your needs. McKay is refreshingly honest about what works and what doesn’t, and he’ll help you understand how to create a plan that fits your company’s reality rather than some idealized version of how AI adoption should go.

Instructor: Chris McKay

Duration: 36 min

Difficulty: Intermediate

Key skills taught: Business strategy, AI for business

Certificate availability: Professional Certificate by Microsoft

Who should take it: Business leaders, Senior executives

8. Building Career Agility and Resilience in the Age of AI

Chris Shipley has watched several waves of technology disrupt entire industries. Her “Building Career Agility and Resilience in the Age of AI” course is for anyone wondering how to stay relevant when AI changes the job market. Instead of the usual “AI will take all our jobs” panic, Shipley offers practical advice on positioning yourself to benefit from these changes.

The course includes real industry examples to see what’s happening rather than relying on speculation. Shipley helps you determine which skills are becoming more valuable and which ones you want to develop. Her approach is reassuring; she acknowledges the challenges while showing you concrete ways to adapt and thrive in an AI-enhanced workplace.

Instructor: Chris Shipley

Duration: 30 min

Difficulty: Beginner

Key skills taught: Career management, AI for career development, Resilience

Certificate availability: Professional Certificate by NASBA (National Association of State Boards of Accountancy)

Who should take it: Students, Executives

9. Introduction to Large Language Models

Jonathan Fernandes teaches “Introduction to Large Language Models,” bringing a unique perspective to understanding how systems like ChatGPT and Claude change how we work and think. He focuses on what’s happening in AI and what it means for different industries and roles.

The course is particularly good at helping you understand the ripple effects—how improvements in language models don’t just affect one job or industry, but create cascading changes across entire business ecosystems. Fernandes uses concrete examples to show how companies are adapting (successfully and unsuccessfully) and gives you frameworks for thinking about how these changes might affect your work or organization.

Instructor: Jonathan Fernandes

Duration: 1h 17min

Difficulty: Intermediate

Key skills taught: Large language models

Certificate availability: Professional Certificate by NASBA, PMI (Project Management Institute)

Who should take it: Senior Executives, Students, Project Managers

10. Responsible AI: Principles and Practical Applications

Responsible AI: Principles and Practical Applications is taught by three instructors—Tsu-Jae Liu, Brandie Nonnecke, and Jill Finlayson—who bring different perspectives from engineering, policy, and business. This isn’t your typical ethics course that talks in generalities. They show you how to build responsible practices into your AI projects from day one.

The course uses case studies from healthcare, finance, retail, and other industries to show you what responsible AI looks like in practice. You’ll learn how to set up review processes, create accountability measures, and spot potential problems before they become public relations disasters. The instructors are realistic about the challenges while giving you concrete tools to address them. It’s particularly valuable if you’re involved in any AI implementation and want to ensure you’re doing it right.

Instructor: Tsu-Jae Liu, Brandie Nonnecke, and Jill Finlayson

Duration: 1h 6min

Difficulty: Beginner

Key skills taught: Responsible AI, Business process automation

Certificate availability: Professional Certificate by NASBA

Who should take it: Students, Executives, Product and Project managers, Business leaders

Looking ahead: The future of AI learning over the next five years

Learning about AI matters, but AI will also change how we learn everything. AI tutors will teach at your own speed, and intelligent assistants will help you practice skills with instant feedback. Here are a few predictions for what’s coming:

• AI agents as learning companions: One of the most exciting developments will be AI-powered tutoring systems that act as personalized learning assistants. These AI agents will adapt to individual learning styles, provide instant feedback, answer questions in real-time, and create customized learning paths based on your career goals and existing knowledge gaps. For instance, OpenAI recently released “study mode” in ChatGPT.

• University program transformation: We’ll see colleges and universities rapidly restructure their offerings, moving beyond computer science departments to create interdisciplinary AI programs. Expect new degrees combining AI with law, medicine, business, and liberal arts. Universities will also partner more closely with the industry to ensure graduates have immediately applicable skills; we’ve already seen Anthropic introduce Claude for Education, partnering with post-secondary institutions like Northeastern University, the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), and Champlain College.

• Democratized learning pathways: AI education will become more accessible to non-technical professionals through visual programming interfaces, no-code AI tools, and business-focused curricula. The emphasis will shift from requiring deep programming knowledge to understanding AI applications, ethics, and strategic implementation. As NVIDIA’s Jensen Huang said, “Now, all of a sudden… there’s a new programming language. This new programming language is called 'human.’”

LinkedIn Learning AI Courses FAQs

What are the best LinkedIn Learning AI courses in 2025?

The top courses include “Artificial Intelligence Foundations: Machine Learning,” “Introduction to Prompt Engineering for Generative AI,” and “Building AI Literacy.” Choose based on your role—executives should focus on strategy courses, while individual contributors benefit more from technical and prompt engineering courses.

Are LinkedIn Learning AI certificates worth it?

Yes, especially certificates from Microsoft, KNIME, and NASBA partners. They add credibility to your LinkedIn profile and demonstrate current AI knowledge to employers. However, they should be combined with practical applications for maximum impact.

How long does it take to complete an AI course on LinkedIn Learning?

Most courses range from 30 minutes to 2 hours, with the comprehensive “Building AI Literacy” taking about 8 hours. You can complete most individual courses on the weekend or spread them over a week.

Do LinkedIn AI courses help in career advancement?

Yes. AI skills are increasingly valuable across all industries. These courses help you speak the language of AI, understand its business applications, and position yourself as forward-thinking in your field.

Which LinkedIn AI courses are best for beginners?

Start with “Introduction to Artificial Intelligence” or “Introduction to Prompt Engineering for Generative AI.” Both provide solid foundations without overwhelming technical jargon. For comprehensive coverage, follow up with “Building AI Literacy.”

Are LinkedIn Learning AI courses recognized by employers?

Yes, particularly those offering certificates from Microsoft, KNIME, and NASBA. These appear directly on your LinkedIn profile, which most recruiters and hiring managers review during candidate evaluation.

How does LinkedIn Learning compare to Coursera or Udemy for AI courses?

LinkedIn Learning excels in short, business-focused courses with strong industry partnerships. Coursera offers more academic depth, while Udemy provides more hands-on coding. LinkedIn is best for busy professionals who want to gain practical AI knowledge quickly.

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