In short: yes, you can get free AI courses with a certificate or badge. The best-known options are Google’s Introduction to Generative AI path, Elements of AI from the University of Helsinki, IBM SkillsBuild, Microsoft Learn, OpenAI Academy and Kaggle Learn. Google AI Essentials on Coursera is paid. None of these documents is a State-recognised qualification.
This guide lists ten free AI courses that end with proof of completion, at no cost. For each one we give the provider, the time needed and exactly what you receive. Details were checked on the official pages in October 2026, and conditions can change, so confirm before you start.
10 free AI courses with a certificate or badge
| Course | Provider | Time | What you get for free |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Generative AI path | Google Cloud, on Google Skills | 45 minutes for the first course, about 2 hours for three | Skill badge |
| Machine Learning Crash Course | About 15 hours | Module badges on your Google Developers profile | |
| Elements of AI | University of Helsinki and MinnaLearn | Self-paced, about 6 weeks suggested | Digital certificate |
| Generative AI fundamentals module | Microsoft Learn | 7 units | Achievement on your profile |
| Artificial Intelligence Fundamentals | IBM SkillsBuild | Check the catalogue | Digital badge on Credly |
| AI Foundations | OpenAI Academy | 60 to 75 minutes | Badge at 80%, then a path certificate |
| Kaggle Learn | Kaggle | Short practical courses | Course certificate |
| Class’Code IAI | Inria and partners, on FUN MOOC | 10 hours, in English and French | Open Badge at 50% |
| BrevetAI, discovery level | Université Paris-Saclay, on FUN MOOC | 10 hours over 7 weeks | Badge (exam-based certificate costs €60) |
| Machine learning in Python with scikit-learn | Inria, on FUN MOOC | 36 hours, for Python users | Open Badge at 60% |
What looks free but is not
| Offer | Free part | Paid part |
|---|---|---|
| Google AI Essentials on Coursera | 7-day trial, financial aid on request | The subscription, and so the Google certificate |
| Coursera and edX in audit mode | Course content, depending on the course, sometimes for a limited time | Graded work and the certificate |
| Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals (exam AI-901) | Microsoft Learn modules | The exam, priced by country |
| Building AI (Elements of AI, part 2) | The course | The certificate |
Google, Microsoft, IBM and OpenAI: what you really get
Google’s badges are free, and its professional certificate is not. The Introduction to Generative AI path is the best free starting point. The Machine Learning Crash Course suits people who already have some programming basics.
Elements of AI
The first part needs no programming or difficult mathematics. You earn the digital certificate by completing 90% of the exercises with 50% correct answers.
Microsoft Learn
The modules are free, and passing the assessment adds an achievement to your profile. Microsoft also publishes AI for Beginners on GitHub, a 12-week programme of 24 lessons, without a certificate.
IBM SkillsBuild
IBM presents SkillsBuild as free and online. Its Artificial Intelligence Fundamentals badge is issued on Credly and covers machine learning, deep learning, language, computer vision and ethics.
OpenAI Academy
OpenAI says its Academy courses are free for anyone with a ChatGPT account. Each course ends with a 10 to 20 question assessment, and a score of at least 80% earns a badge. OpenAI states that these are not certifications.
Which free AI course fits your profile?
- Complete beginner: AI Foundations or the Google path, then Elements of AI.
- Employee using AI at work: AI Foundations, the Google path and the Microsoft Learn module.
- Student who codes: Machine Learning Crash Course, Kaggle Learn and the scikit-learn course.
- Career changer: try two or three free courses to test your interest, then choose a recognised programme.
Free certificate or recognised qualification?
Free courses are a strong start, with three limits. They test a discovery level through quizzes rather than an assessed project. You learn alone, without personal feedback or real company data. And their badges are not State-recognised qualifications.
When you are ready for more, AI2 offers online certificates of 40, 60 or 100 hours, the ten-day Paris AI Summer School and English-taught Bachelor and MSc programmes near Paris, which prepare French State-recognised RNCP titles at Levels 6 and 7.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a free AI certificate from Google?
Google’s Introduction to Generative AI path on Google Skills and its Machine Learning Crash Course are free and give badges. The Google AI Essentials certificate on Coursera is paid, unless you get financial aid or a partner licence.
Which free AI course is best for complete beginners?
Elements of AI needs no programming or difficult mathematics, and its digital certificate is free. For something shorter, try AI Foundations from OpenAI Academy, which takes 60 to 75 minutes.
Which free AI courses are best if I can code?
Google’s Machine Learning Crash Course takes about 15 hours, Kaggle Learn offers short practical courses, and Inria’s scikit-learn course takes 36 hours.
Is a free AI certificate worth it for a job?
It shows initiative and a basic level, and it works well on a CV or LinkedIn. It does not replace a degree or a recognised qualification for a technical role.
Are these certificates recognised by a government?
No. These badges and course certificates prove that you finished a course. A State-recognised qualification, such as a French RNCP title, is registered officially and assessed under a set framework.
