MIT xPRO Launches Generative AI Course for Professionals

MIT xPRO is excited to announce a new course, Driving Innovation with Generative AI, that will explore the generative AI landscape and the future of productivity. 

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is introducing cutting-edge solutions that will revolutionize industries and empower businesses to thrive in the digital age. This six-week course leverages industry case studies, hands-on work with generative AI tools, and the latest thinking from 12 faculty members from MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab (CSAIL) to equip learners with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the intricate world of generative AI.

Meeting the Demand for Generative AI Knowledge 

The demand for generative AI knowledge has grown exponentially in recent years, and MIT xPRO is heeding the call to provide that knowledge. 

“One thing we noticed when looking at different trends in the online professional development space is that many programs are currently focusing on AI, but not generative AI,” says Luke Hobson, Assistant Director, Instructional Design, MIT xPRO. “This was interesting because right now, what people want to learn about is generative AI.” 

Hobson connects this trend to the emergence of ChatGPT in 2022. “Suddenly, everyone wanted to learn more about it,” he says. “Since then, many more advancements have come about, so it made sense to equip people with the tools and knowledge to know more about generative AI in general.” 

MIT’s Top Minds Collaborate to Deliver a Generative AI Course

The course involves 12 MIT faculty members and is led by four of the leading experts in generative AI: 

• ​​Daniela Rus, the Andrew (1956) and Erna Viterbi Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Director of the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) at MIT.
  
  
• Cynthia Breazeal, Professor of Media Arts and Sciences and MIT Dean for Digital Learning.
  
  
• Antonio Torralba, a Delta Electronics Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Head of the AI+D faculty in the EECS department.
  
  
• Asu Ozdaglar, MathWorks Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department Head, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science & Deputy Dean of Academics, Schwarzman College of Computing.

According to Hobson, a significant benefit of the course is the ability to hear from so many diverse viewpoints. “Learners will hear different perspectives on generative AI, from those who approach it from a visual and imagery standpoint to others who focus more on large language models, like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini,” explains Hobson.

He continues, “The course will also delve into areas like coding, manufacturing, the medical space, and even the creative arts. How is generative AI impacting these fields? The fascinating thing about generative AI is its ability to spread across any field, regardless of where you come from.”

Professor Antonio Torralba echoes Hobson’s sentiments. “What makes this class particularly interesting is that it really gives a very broad perspective on many areas influenced by generative AI. You’ll hear from people working in these areas who are actively developing various tools.” 

He adds, “This is something that is currently missing from many other generative AI courses. Other courses will go into the details of how one approach works, but our course is really about providing a much more comprehensive view.” 

A Comprehensive Course for Anyone Interested in Generative AI 

Learners across various disciplines (IT, education, healthcare, business administration, and more) will find value in this course. 

“We wanted this course to be accessible to anyone interested in learning about the impact and potential of generative AI,” says Hobson. “We created it to appeal to a variety of learners and to allow them to visualize and think about how certain concepts and topics can be applied in their specific sector.”

The course covers the full spectrum of generative AI. It begins with the history of AI and generative AI use cases before moving on to visual tools, large language models (LLMs), industry examples, the creative arts, and ethics and bias. Finally, it recaps everything by focusing on human collaboration with AI. 

“Our goal is to cover all the fundamentals of generative AI without making it too technical. We want anyone curious about generative AI and how to use it to benefit from this course," says Hobson. 

Torralba reveals that the course material will evolve along with advancements in generative AI. “This is an area that is evolving very quickly, so we'll have to update some of the parts of the course as time goes. There is no question about that,” he says.

Hands-on learning  

Hobson highlights the course’s interactive nature as a key feature. Throughout the six weeks, there's a heavy focus on using generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Runway, Suno, Claude, and Gemini.

“At MIT, we have a school slogan, mens et manus, which essentially means ‘mind and hand.’ It emphasizes that while it's incredibly important to understand the theoretical concepts, it's equally important to focus on the hands-on, practical application of those skills,” says Hobson. 

He continues, “Throughout the course, learners will interact with a variety of tools, discovering how they are useful and applying them through different activities and exercises.” 

Using generative AI in your organization 

One of the major assignments helps learners think through how to establish policies, guidelines, and frameworks around generative AI in their organizations. 

“We’re going to put you in the position of figuring out how to take what you're learning and shift it into something that makes sense for your current work. You'll be tasked with creating new guidelines and a framework that’s workable for you,” says Hobson. 

Optimizing generative AI usage 

Hobson notes that because generative AI is still so new, early adopters may not know how to fully harness its capabilities. 

“Some people quit using tools too soon before reaching a final result that could have really helped them,” says Hobson. “Meanwhile, generative AI experts are saying, ‘Hold on a second—you don't know how amazing and powerful this tool can actually be.’” 

The course will help learners maximize the potential of generative AI in professional settings.

Thinking critically about generative AI 

A key point highlighted in the course is that generative AI is far from perfect. AI-generated responses can be ethically questionable, biased, or just plain wrong. It takes human skills like critical thinking and decision-making to assess those responses and decide how to use them. 

Enroll in MITx PRO’s Generative AI Course 

Generative AI is changing the way we all live and work. While 64% of executives report feeling “a high sense of urgency to adopt generative AI,” over half of those respondents admit that their organization lacks “the most critical skills.”

MIT xPRO’s new course is an opportunity for learners to gain those skills and integrate them into the workplace. 

Ready to get started? Enroll in Driving Innovation with Generative AI today!