4 best beginners’ resources for SMEs learning AI

You simply cannot ignore artificial intelligence and its prevalence in the world of SMEs in 2023. ChatGPT, Midjourney, and every other tool out there can offer huge benefits to your business. The potential is that you achieve more with fewer resources. More impact, less time. Even if you’re sceptical, don’t let opportunities pass you by. 

If you’re not sure where to start with learning AI, go back to basics. Approach the topic with a complete beginners’ mind and aim to get a solid base level of knowledge before advancing. Don’t run before you can walk. Don’t put pressure on yourself to dive in at the deep end. Check out these new starter’s resources for the information that will set you up for success.

1. The GPT best practice guide

OpenAI recently released a guide containing strategies and tactics for getting better results from GPTs. They encourage experimentation to find the methods that work best for you. Although some of the examples demonstrated currently work only with gpt-4, this guide covers writing clear instructions for large language models (LLMs) and formatting your prompts for specific outcomes, and is a perfect start for an entrepreneur using ChatGPT more in their business.

2. Google Cloud Skills Boost

Helpful as ever, Google has released multiple free courses for SMEs looking to use AI. Courses include the 1-day introduction to generative AI, introduction to large language models, and introduction to image generation. Each contains videos and quizzes and successful completion earns you a badge that you can display on your profile, to progress your cloud career should you wish. The courses cover the fundamentals as well as advanced techniques, and some set you up to develop your own apps.

3. LearnPrompting.org 

With an abundance of resources available, including a course with guided walkthroughs, helpful diagrams, and a 40,000-strong Discord, Learn Prompting has a free introductory course on prompt engineering ready for business owners to get their teeth stuck into. Sponsored by big names in AI including Open AI and HuggingFace, this company has a free and open source curriculum built by a diverse community of researchers, translators, and hobbyists, designed for all skill levels. Learn Prompting describes its course as comprehensive, unbiased, and free of excessive jargon.

4. ChatGPT Complete Guide (Udemy)

“Have you been hearing about the amazing things people are doing with AI but you don’t know where to start?” ask Leap Year Learning’s Benza Maman and Julian Melanson. If so, look no further. With a 4.6 average rating from over 65,000 students, this complete guide to generative AI and prompt engineering will give you tips and tricks you wish you’d known sooner. Within 13 hours of video, 21 articles and 13 downloadable resources you’ll learn how to prompt LLMs, how to use plugins, be inspired by real-life use cases, and much more. ChatGPT, Midjourney, DALL-E, Notion and Zapier are covered in this information treasure trove. 

Final thoughts

Become a student of artificial intelligence in the short term to make huge gains in the long term. Over time, you can open your business to all sorts of opportunities that you can’t yet comprehend. It starts by entering a few prompts into ChatGPT, it leads to fully automated systems, prompts that are perfectly formed, and processes that generate continuous enquiries and leads. Start today, reap the benefits tomorrow.

Further reading:

• AI in Project Management: how to use it for better results
• Building a website with AI: everything you need to know
• 25 innovative AI startups to watch