Work smarter with AI

This course is ideal for business users who are new to AI and want to understand what it is, what it can do, and how it can support their everyday work. No prior AI experience or technical background is required. Whether you're an individual contributor, a manager, or simply curious about how AI is changing the way work gets done, this course offers a plain-language introduction to working with AI — and serves as the starting point of the AI learning journey for business users. Learners who take this course are looking to build practical confidence with AI rather than expertise in any single product. They may want to spend less time searching for information, get a first draft started, make sense of a large volume of content, or understand where AI genuinely helps and where their own judgment is still essential. With a focus on core concepts — how generative AI differs from the tools they already use, why grounding AI in relevant work information produces better results, how AI agents support multistep tasks, and how to review AI-generated content responsibly — this course prepares learners to use AI thoughtfully and to continue into more role-specific or product-specific training. Microsoft Copilot appears throughout as one example of AI in action.

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Explain what AI and generative AI are, and how they differ from traditional tools.
• Describe how AI and AI agents support everyday work, and why grounding improves results.
• Review AI-generated content and apply responsible AI practices with confidence.

Module 1: Work smarter with AI

• Introduction
• What is AI?
• AI at work
• Why grounding matters
• Work with AI agents
• Use AI with confidence
• Exercise: Review AI-generated content
• Module assessment
• Summary

• Familiarity with productivity applications that are typically used in a business context, for example, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

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