How to learn AI from scratch, for free, in Colombia

Just as current generations were grounded in learning math and English in a world that required such knowledge due to its openness to markets, today, knowledge about artificial intelligence (AI) is mandatory: anyone who does not understand, use, and appropriate this innovation will not have the skills and abilities to function in the immediate future, regardless of their trade, job, or profession.

According to a Microsoft study, two out of three SMEs in our country use AI to improve their processes, 66 percent of local companies are investing in AI training , and 54 percent prefer to hire staff with experience and knowledge in this technology.

On the other hand, a PwC survey revealed that, for example, a lawyer with knowledge and use of AI can increase his income by 30 percent, while a financial analyst earns 49 percent more thanks to this technology.

In addition to the above, AI has a feature that increases everyone's interest in learning how to use and exploit it: you don't need an engineering degree to do so.

Understanding how it works, its scope, capabilities and configurations, as well as how to ask questions (prompt engineering) are skills that do not require technical training.

Now, if what you want to learn is to develop solutions with AI, to build applications, procedures, automated agents, etc., you do need to become familiar with the three pillars of this technology : fundamentals in mathematics (linear algebra and statistics), a logical mindset for problem-solving, and, above all, a programming language like Python.

For all of this, both basic and technical, there are free or affordable training options, mainly from the companies that develop these platforms, such as Google, Amazon Web Services, OpenAI, Oracle, Perplexity, among others.

Let's start with Google. There's Grow with Google, which focuses on developing professional skills and conceptual foundations, ideal for beginners. This company also has a program called Google Cloud Skills Boost, which is a more technical and practical platform designed for learning and developing more real-world, applied projects.

Grow with Google has a dedicated portal for Colombia with a course called "Google AI Fundamentals" with free videos and reading materials. Google Cloud Skills Boost offers guided learning paths, such as "Introduction to Generative AI," as well as free, temporary access to a real-world Google Cloud environment to experiment with the tools.

These courses and labs issue digital badges (skill badges) that can be added to your LinkedIn profile.

The Ministry of Information and Communications Technology also offers scholarships for programs such as Talento Tech, SenaTIC, and AvanzaTech, which include free AI training with certificates from leading technology companies, free of charge, and which immediately impact the beneficiaries' employability.

Platzi, another of the most important digital training platforms in Latin America, offers special AI learning paths that even start with free programming courses, which will take you from scratch to mastering AI in just a few months, even if you're not an expert engineer.

Oracle is another major AI development company that offers a completely free program called Next Education , which is essential for people with no prior knowledge of the subject who want to learn for free.