Choosing the right generative AI learning path

The rise of generative AI is marking a new era in productivity and possibilities for businesses. Business analysts are already forecasting a future in which generative AI increases global GDP by $7 to $10 trillion—a stunning 10 percent increase.

Today’s startups can’t afford to overlook the benefits generative AI can offer as they develop their business and build toward profitability. Both technical and non-technical founders need to choose a generative AI learning path that will help them understand this technology’s transformative potential.

The right learning resources can enhance your understanding of generative AI and empower your organization to leverage this technology across many different use cases. Here’s what we recommend to choose an efficient, effective generative AI learning path.

Understanding generative AI

Generative artificial intelligence (gen AI) is a distinct category of AI that leverages large language models (LLMs) to generate new, original content and other assets. Gen AI’s generative capabilities & ability to perform a range of complex tasks sets it apart from traditional machine learning.

The most common use of generative AI is when creating branded chatbots, developing graphics and visual illustrations, and generating text-based content informed by data repositories containing proprietary information. But today’s businesses have only scratched the surface of generative AI’s potential use cases. This powerful generative technology offers businesses a number of key benefits, including:

Better resource allocation

Generative AI can automate a wide range of menial tasks that no longer require human labor. By automating these workloads and reassigning human workers to focus on more complicated tasks, businesses can optimize their internal resource allocation and increase their overall productivity.

Accelerate product development

Many startups use test-and-iterate development models to create and refine new product offerings. Generative AI accelerates these development cycles, enabling organizations to scale up product experimentation and testing.

Founders can use generative AI to explore a wider range of product possibilities, iterate through ideas with unprecedented speed, and develop better, more innovative products faster than ever before.

Cost reduction

By accelerating coding, testing, and other key creative and development processes, startups should be able to cut costs across a wide range of business activities.

This combination of cost-efficiencies with performance gains is similar to how Amazon Web Services reduced computing, storage, and networking costs for startups.

Types of learning resources

No matter what type of generative AI learning path you choose, it will be informed by multiple learning resources aimed at increasing your familiarity and comfort with gen AI.

At the beginning of this learning path, educational courses can be a versatile resource. Founders can combine high-level lessons on generative AI with specialized courses focused on its utility in different industries and business functions.

Here are some of the learning resource options you may to consider:

• Blog post: Building generative AI applications for your startup
• Introductory video (10 min): Generative AI for Executives
• AWS Skill Builder Course (90 min): Generative AI Learning Plan for Decision Makers

Fundamental courses

Looking for a basic introduction to generative AI? The following courses will help beginners gain a fundamental understanding of this technology and its capabilities:

• AWS’s Generative AI Foundations (free)
• Coursera’s Neural Networks and Deep Learning (free)
• Amazon CodeWhisperer - Getting Started (free)

Accelerator programs

Accelerator programs can be a business-defining opportunity for startups and founders, offering mentorship, education, and other forms of support in exchange for business equity.

Generative AI accelerator programs are designed to equip startups with the right tools and expertise to achieve AI-driven innovation. Several generative AI accelerators have been developed to spur business growth in this emerging field, including:

• AWS Generative AI Accelerator
• Wipro AI Accelerator Program
• 11:59’s GenAI Accelerator Program for Business

Industry-specific

Generative AI offers unique capabilities and benefits when adopted in specific industries, helping address challenges and constraints in healthcare, finance, and other fields. In FinTech startups, customers have seen success using gen AI for insurance claim processing, virtual assistants and conversational analytics. For example, Boosted.AI used AWS to build a gen AI portfolio assistant for asset managers. In Climate tech,  gen AI is being used to fight climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and in Healthcare, gen AI is being used to turn data into better patient outcomes.

 Here are a few generative AI courses focused on industry-specific applications:

• Coursera’s Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) Specialization (free)
• Stanford University School of Engineering’s Natural Language Processing with Deep Learning
• NVIDIA’s Image Style Transfer with Torch

Generative AI specializations for startups

Once you’ve established a foundational understanding of generative AI, you can begin to seek out specialized courses and trainings focused on its applications in various industries, business functions, and other focused use cases.

Both free and paid online course offerings are widely available through many online educational platforms, which should make it easy to find a specialized course that lets you acquire the niche knowledge you are seeking.

Startup specific courses:

• AWS Skill Builder Course (Free): Generative AI Learning Plan for Technical Learners
• AWS Digital Classroom (Paid): Developing gen AI Applications on AWS
• E-book (Free): Artificial Intelligence Step-by-Step Guide for Startup Founders
• E-book (Free): Top 6 Generative AI Use Cases for Startups

Consider accelerator opportunities

Accelerator programs offer a unique opportunity to empower your startup with the resources and knowledge base required to quickly adopt and innovate using generative AI.

Evaluate potential accelerator programs and put together a shortlist of programs that offer the resources and support that offers the greatest potential impact for your startup.

Evaluating generative AI learning resources

There’s no shortage of generative AI learning resources out there—and that can make it difficult to identify the ones that best serve your interests.

As you wade through your options, here are some tips to help you evaluate these resources:

Relevance to business needs

Does the learning resource align with your specific business and use case needs? If there’s not a clear relevance or benefit, it’s probably not the right fit.

Check reputation and reviews

Nobody wants to waste time on a learning course that doesn’t offer a great education. Before you enroll, evaluate the credibility and quality of the course by reading online reviews of the course, the instructor, and the platform or institution where the course is being offered.

These reviews can tell you a little more about what the resource offers, and whether it’s worth your time.

Use hands-on learning

Prioritize resources that offer hands-on learning such as labs, projects, and real-world use cases. This practical experience will accelerate your mastery of important skills such as prompt engineering and fine-tuning generative models.

Consider learning schedule flexibility

Some learning resources let you go at your own pace, but others have strict schedules—especially if collaboration and partner work is involved. Make sure the resource’s schedule can accommodate your own schedule and your preferred pace of learning.

Adequate support

Check each learning resource for available support channels such as forums, help desks, and direct communication with instructors. You don’t want to be in a situation where platform issues and other technical problems disrupt your learning experience.

Navigate your generative AI learning journey

From generative AI courses to accelerator programs and other learning tools, startup leaders should explore the rich variety of generative AI courses available to them. Continuous learning and hands-on practice will put you and your business in a position to leverage these innovative capabilities as you pursue your most ambitious professional goals.

AWS Activate offers an extensive library of quality learning resources designed specifically for startup leaders. Browse our current offerings to find out how AWS Startups can help you grow your business.