Introduction to Generative AI
by Pinar Seyhan Demirdag · LinkedIn Learning
Our Verdict
Worth it — with caveatsTake it if you are a non-technical professional who wants a clear, jargon-light overview of generative AI in about an hour: LinkedIn Learning's "What Is Generative AI?" (the actual title; our catalog's "Introduction to Generative AI" label and link are outdated, and the live course lives at linkedin.com/learning/what-is-generative-ai) is a 1-hour 3-minute beginner course taught by Cuebric founder Pinar Seyhan Demirdag. It carries a strong 4.7/5 rating from roughly 116,000-147,000 LinkedIn ratings and is part of a Microsoft-branded Professional Certificate path, which lends it credibility. The course is conceptual rather than hands-on: it explains how generative models (LLMs, text-to-image, GANs, VAEs) work, surveys business use cases across film, marketing, healthcare and real estate, and devotes real time to AI ethics and IP/legal considerations. It is genuinely useful as orientation, but it teaches no coding, no prompt-engineering depth, and only includes 2 exercise files plus 4 quizzes, so anyone wanting to actually build with AI tools will need a follow-up course.
It is an excellent, high-rated (4.7/5) one-hour conceptual primer for non-technical audiences, but it sits behind a paid LinkedIn Learning subscription, contains no real hands-on building, and is too shallow for anyone who already understands AI basics or wants practical skills.
Best for: Non-technical professionals, managers, marketers, and curious beginners who want to understand what generative AI is, how the main model families work at a high level, where it creates business value, and what the ethical and legal risks are. It also suits people who already have LinkedIn Learning access (or want a LinkedIn-visible completion certificate as part of the Microsoft 'Career Essentials in Generative AI' path) and prefer a short, narrated, jargon-light overview over a long technical course.
Skip if: Developers, data scientists, or anyone who already grasps AI fundamentals; people who want to actually build, fine-tune, or write production prompts (this is concept-only, not hands-on coding); and budget-conscious learners unwilling to pay the LinkedIn Learning subscription, since equivalent or deeper free options exist (e.g. Google's free 'Introduction to Generative AI' or DeepLearning.AI's 'Generative AI for Everyone').
About This Course
Understand how generative AI works, its business applications, and the ethical considerations of using LLMs and image generators.
What You'll Learn
Curriculum
Frames generative AI as 'a tool in service of humanity' and covers what is new in the field (about 3 minutes across 2 videos).
The importance of generative AI, how it differs from other AI, how it works, and how it creates content (4 videos, ~12.5 minutes).
Famous tools, natural-language models, text-to-image, GANs, and VAE/anomaly detection (5 videos, ~14 minutes).
Future predictions and implications for jobs (2 videos, ~6 minutes).
Moral skill sets and caution considerations when working with generative AI (2 videos, ~6 minutes).
Using LLMs for productivity, technical-to-professional adoption, and IP/legal frameworks (4 videos, ~20 minutes - the most substantial chapter).
Recap and suggested next steps (~3 minutes).
Prerequisites
- None - the course is explicitly beginner-level and assumes no prior AI, math, or programming knowledge
- A LinkedIn Learning subscription (or active free trial) to watch the full course and earn the certificate
Instructor
Pinar Seyhan Demirdag
Instructor · LinkedIn Learning
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Strong, credible reputation: 4.7/5 rating from roughly 116,000-147,000 LinkedIn Learning ratings and inclusion in a Microsoft-branded Professional Certificate path
- Clear, jargon-light explanations that make abstract concepts (GANs, VAEs, LLMs, text-to-image) accessible to non-technical viewers
- Genuinely broad coverage for a 1-hour course: model families, cross-industry business use cases, ethics, and IP/legal frameworks all in one place
- Short and efficient (1h 3m) with a shareable LinkedIn certificate of completion, 2 exercise files, and 4 quizzes for light reinforcement
- Taught by a practicing industry expert (Pinar Seyhan Demirdag, founder/CEO of generative-AI company Cuebric) rather than a generic narrator
Cons
- Concept-only with minimal practice: it does not teach coding, real prompt engineering, or hands-on tool-building, so it builds awareness rather than usable skills
- Locked behind a paid LinkedIn Learning subscription (about $29.99-$39.99/mo month-to-month, ~$19.99/mo billed annually) when comparable or deeper free alternatives exist
- Too basic for anyone with existing AI knowledge - experienced practitioners will find little new
- Released March 15, 2023, so some tool references and 'future of AI' framing predate the rapid 2024-2025 model advances
Alternatives To Consider
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Introduction to Generative AI free?
Introduction to Generative AI is $29.99/mo. Requires a LinkedIn Learning subscription (about $29.99-$39.99/month month-to-month, or ~$19.99/month billed annually at $239.88/year). A 1-month free trial is typically available, so the course can effectively be completed for free within the trial window. The course itself is sometimes surfaced as 'free to watch' via LinkedIn/Class Central promotions, but the completion certificate and full library access depend on the subscription.
Who is Introduction to Generative AI for?
Non-technical professionals, managers, marketers, and curious beginners who want to understand what generative AI is, how the main model families work at a high level, where it creates business value, and what the ethical and legal risks are. It also suits people who already have LinkedIn Learning access (or want a LinkedIn-visible completion certificate as part of the Microsoft 'Career Essentials in Generative AI' path) and prefer a short, narrated, jargon-light overview over a long technical course.
What will you learn in Introduction to Generative AI?
What generative AI is and how it differs from other forms of AI; How generative AI works at a conceptual level and how it is used to create text and image content; The main model families and tools: natural-language/LLM models, text-to-image models, GANs, and VAEs (including anomaly detection); Real-world business applications across industries such as film, marketing, healthcare, automotive, and real estate.
What are the prerequisites for Introduction to Generative AI?
None - the course is explicitly beginner-level and assumes no prior AI, math, or programming knowledge; A LinkedIn Learning subscription (or active free trial) to watch the full course and earn the certificate.
Is Introduction to Generative AI worth it?
It is an excellent, high-rated (4.7/5) one-hour conceptual primer for non-technical audiences, but it sits behind a paid LinkedIn Learning subscription, contains no real hands-on building, and is too shallow for anyone who already understands AI basics or wants practical skills.
How we reviewed this course
This is an independent editorial assessment by Cursarium, based on LinkedIn Learning's published course materials and aggregated public learner feedback (last reviewed 2026-06). We have not independently completed the course. Links to providers are standard references, not paid placements.
Sources
- What Is Generative AI? - official LinkedIn Learning course page (title, instructor, chapters, duration, 4.7 rating, certificate, release date)
- Free Course: What Is Generative AI? - Class Central listing (corroborates 4.7 LinkedIn rating, ~116,066 ratings, free-to-audit framing, student review)
- Top free AI courses offered by LinkedIn - IndiaAI (independent coverage of the course as a beginner generative-AI primer)
- LinkedIn Learning Cost 2026 pricing guide (corroborates ~$29.99/mo individual, ~$19.99/mo annual, 1-month free trial)