AI Fundamentals: Language and Vision in AI

Overview

The official page describes an online course of approximately 10 hours, at the Beginner level, in English and at your own pace. It is the second part of the IBM SkillsBuild series and looks at how AI systems process language, interpret images and perform tasks through agents.

The course is aimed at learners who want to move from general definitions to applications: natural language processing, conversational AI, computer vision, image generation, AI agents and career opportunities. The exercises also emphasize boundaries, ethics, predictability and verification of results.

The first course in the series is not presented as a prerequisite, but the NetAcad page recommends AI Fundamentals: Foundations for Understanding AI to those who have not taken the fundamentals. A clear foundation on data, machine learning and bias makes this second course easier to follow.

This guide is editorial and independent. It does not reproduce lesson content or replace NetAcad activities or assessments. Check with the official court for language, timing, badge requirements and any program changes.

Themes and modules to explore

• AI in the real world
• Natural and artificial language processing
• Computer vision
• AI agents
• Your future in AI

How to approach the modules

Stage 1: AI in the real world. It examines AI-assisted recommendations, applications, and decisions, along with their ethical implications.

Stage 2: Natural and artificial language processing. See how questions are interpreted, how conversational AI works, and why context changes the answer.

Stage 3: Computer vision. Explores image classification, visual interpretation and image generation with attention to accuracy and provenance.

Stage 4: AI Agents. Assess goals, tools, autonomy, errors, and points where human control should be retained.

Stage 5: Your future in AI. Inventory skills, roles and learning resources to build a realistic roadmap.

Activities, assessment and recognition

The activities focus on the choice and responsible use of language and image tools, the interpretation of the results and the planning of the next learning steps. The official page indicates a digital badge and a certificate; the exact conditions must be confirmed in the NetAcad account.

The time indicated is indicative and may vary according to individual rhythm. For each activity, separate observation from interpretation, write down assumptions, and keep a clear record of the checks made.

Useful evidence of learning

• a comparison of search, classification, conversation and content generation;
• a prompt log that notes the context, output, error, and fix;
• an analysis of a generated image, with the limits and risks of use;
• a table for evaluating an AI agent: purpose, tools, permissions and supervision;
• a personal roadmap with verifiable roles, skills and resources.

Study plan

1. Confirm in official court the language, timing, duration, requirements and conditions for the badge or certificate. Save the exact link provided for this instance.
2. Go through an assignment and write down the purpose, data used, expected output, and verification criteria before testing a tool.
3. Work on examples without sensitive information. Compare the AI ​​result with the official material and with an independent verification.
4. Explain the result in your own words, document errors, and change a single variable when you redo a test.
5. Keep anonymized evidence of progress and end each module with a conclusion about limits, risks and the next step.

Recommended pace

Go through the language first, then the image and the agents, keeping a short log of the tests. For each tool note what it does well, what it can't guarantee, and what human verification is required. End the course with a roadmap that has measurable goals, not just a list of technologies.