Program profile · official sources
Building AI
An algorithms course with a choice of exercise levels, free learning access and an optional purchased certificate.
Commercial status: no commercial relationship is documented for this page. The verification link goes directly to the official provider source.
Who it is for
The recorded preparation for Building AI is: Basic Python recommended; Introduction to AI recommended but not a prerequisite; intermediate and advanced exercises require programming.
Who should skip it
Choose another route if you want to avoid mathematics and algorithms, or if you expect to complete intermediate or advanced exercises without programming.
Facts checked 7 Oct 2026
- Price
- Free
- (Course content and all exercises at all levels are free; the optional certificate is not included.)Course content and all exercises at all levels are free; the optional certificate is not included. Optional upgrade adds EUR 50: Optional electronic certificate; excluded from free course access. EUR 50 including VAT if applicable; successful completion and purchase required.
- Provider link
See price and enroll at University of Helsinki and MinnaLearn (official site) ↗
Official site. No commission.
- Time
- Approximately 50 hours to complete the whole course; varies by difficulty and optional project (duration checked 13 September 2026).
- Level
- Basic Understanding
- Credential
- Certificate
Share the certificate URL on LinkedIn.
- Format
- Flexible online course
- Prerequisites
- Basic Python recommended; Introduction to AI recommended but not a prerequisite; intermediate and advanced exercises require programming.
Sources ↗
- Price · https://www.elementsofai.com/faq/what-are-the-requirements-for-completing-the-introduction-to-ai-and-building-ai-courses-2
- Duration · https://www.elementsofai.com/faq/how-many-hours-will-the-course-take
- Official program page · https://buildingai.elementsofai.com/
- Credential details · https://www.elementsofai.com/faq/how-to-share-your-certificate-in-linkedin
- Optional price component · https://www.elementsofai.com/faq/i-have-passed-an-elements-of-ai-course-where-is-my-certificate-2
What you actually do
The University of Helsinki and MinnaLearn cover optimisation, probability, machine learning and neural networks. Beginner, intermediate and advanced exercise options let learners choose their level, with programming required in the latter two. Introduction to AI is recommended rather than a prerequisite, and basic Python is recommended. An optional AI idea project closes the course.
Choose the exercise level with your starting skills in mind. Free access at every level does not remove the programming requirement for intermediate and advanced work. A learner seeking conceptual algorithm understanding and someone ready to implement solutions may therefore use the same course differently. The recommended earlier Introduction to AI course is a preparation option, not a compulsory entry step.
The mathematical scope is also part of the learning decision. Probability, Bayes Rule and linear regression are relevant to understanding how AI algorithms work. If your goal is only to use a finished AI application without engaging with those ideas, compare a different type of introduction. The availability of beginner exercises should not be read as a promise that the entire course avoids algorithms or mathematics.
Before you start
Basic Python recommended; Introduction to AI recommended but not a prerequisite; intermediate and advanced exercises require programming.
Curriculum
Building AI gives an approximately 50-hour course estimate. The table preserves the curriculum and exercise context without assigning an equal share to each topic or treating the optional AI idea project as compulsory.
| Entry | Subject | Listed time | Share | Role | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Getting started with AI | Not stated | Not calculated | Why AI matters; Optimization; Hill climbing. | 2026-09-13 |
| 2 | Dealing with uncertainty | Not stated | Not calculated | Probability fundamentals; The Bayes Rule; Naive Bayes classifier. | 2026-09-13 |
| 3 | Machine learning | Not stated | Not calculated | Linear regression; The nearest neighbor method; Working with text; Overfitting. | 2026-09-13 |
| 4 | Neural networks | Not stated | Not calculated | Logistic regression; From logistic regression to neural networks; Deep learning. | 2026-09-13 |
| 5 | Conclusion | Not stated | Not calculated | Summary; Your AI idea; AI idea gallery. | 2026-09-13 |
US price
| Purchase information | Recorded terms |
|---|---|
| Access and billing | The 2026-09-13 observation provides free course content and exercises at every level. The optional certificate costs EUR50 including VAT if applicable, subject to successful completion and purchase; it is excluded from free access. No USD conversion or all-in completion budget is inferred. Certificate payment conditions observed 2026-09-16: the provider supplies an online payment confirmation via the profile, but does not issue invoices or other digital receipts, including no stated employer exception. Available card and Finland-specific payment methods do not establish an instalment plan. |
| Refund and retakes | Refund policy observed 2026-09-16 applies to the optional paid certificate, not free content: cancellation and refund are available within 14 days from payment or until the course is completed and certificate earned, whichever is earlier. The provider terms describe contacting them about refunds. Separate retake fees are not established. |
Official source · 2026-09-13 | Official source · 2026-09-13 | Official source · 2026-09-16 | Official source · 2026-09-13 | Official source · 2026-09-16 | Official source · 2026-09-16
Alternatives
Use the alternatives to compare the depth and type of practice you want. A conceptual introduction and a programming-oriented route may address related AI topics while assuming different preparation. Keep that choice separate from whether you want a purchased certificate after meeting the course's completion requirements.
Introduction to AI
| Provider and format | Level | Workload | Award | US price observation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Helsinki and MinnaLearn · Free online course; self-paced | Not stated | Approximately 4 to 8 hours per part; provider recommends finishing in 6 weeks, self-paced. | Certificate | Currency not specified 0. Course access and the certificate are free. |
| Entry and assessment questions | Recorded answer |
|---|---|
| Who is it aimed at? | Everyone interested in what AI is, its possibilities/limits and effects on life |
| What preparation is required? | No complicated math or programming required |
Official source · 2026-10-07 | Official source · 2026-09-13 | Official source · 2026-09-13
Machine Learning Specialization
| Provider and format | Level | Workload | Award | US price observation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeepLearning.AI and Stanford Online · Online, self-paced three-course specialization with video lessons, code examples and graded assignments. | Beginner | Publisher content: 94h58m. Publisher pacing: about 10 weeks at 5 hours/week; Coursera pacing: 2 months at 10 hours/week, with course estimates 33/34/28 hours. Different provider estimates, not a completion guarantee. | Course completion certificate | Pro membership provides access and certificate route. Prices explicitly USD 30 per month billed monthly / USD 25 per month equivalent billed annually from program page. As shown in the United States on 1 October 2026. No fixed completion total or explicit regular/reference price is verified. |
| Entry and assessment questions | Recorded answer |
|---|---|
| Who is it aimed at? | People breaking into AI, learners who want an accessible entry point to machine learning, people returning after not finishing the original course, and prior completers seeking a Python-based foundations refresh. |
| What preparation is required? | Basic coding knowledge (for loops, functions and if/else statements) plus high-school arithmetic and algebra. Additional math is explained along the way; no heavy math background or deep coding experience is required. |
| What remains unconfirmed? | External exam, post-award expiry and renewal are not stated; source certificate course-count inconsistency retained. |
Official source · 2026-10-15 | Official source · 2026-10-01 | Official source · 2026-10-01
Questions before enrolling
What exercise results earn the certificate and its higher-level honours?
Completion requirements observed 2026-09-13: complete 19 of 21 exercises with 50% correct; coding submissions must pass the submission phase. Intermediate honours require 14 at intermediate or higher; advanced honours require 14 at advanced. The optional electronic certificate requires both successful completion and purchase. The 2026-09-16 certificate FAQ recommends purchasing only after passing. The shareable digital certificate appears in the profile. A later upgrade after satisfying a higher exercise level has no extra charge: download the certificate again. This does not establish expiry, renewal or a separate final exam. Share the certificate URL on LinkedIn.
Official source · 2026-09-13 | Official source · 2026-09-13 | Official source · 2026-09-16
Change log
- : Official course facts recorded. · Source