generative-ai-for-beginners
21 Lessons, Get Started Building with Generative AI
This Microsoft educational resource provides a comprehensive 21-lesson curriculum designed to teach developers how to build applications using generative AI technologies. The course covers foundational concepts including large language models, prompt engineering, and responsible AI development, alongside hands-on projects for building text generation, chat, search, and image generation applications. Available in over 50 languages with code examples in both Python and TypeScript, the curriculum serves as a practical learning path for developers working with Azure OpenAI, OpenAI API, Microsoft Foundry Models, or local model deployment.
Key Features
Use Cases
- 01Learning to build production-ready generative AI applications from scratch
- 02Understanding how to select and compare different language models for specific use cases
- 03Developing chat applications with conversation history and context management
- 04Building semantic search applications using embeddings and vector databases
- 05Creating low-code AI solutions using Microsoft tools and platforms
- 06Implementing AI agents with external function calling capabilities
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generative-ai-for-beginners — FAQ
What is generative-ai-for-beginners?+
It is a free educational curriculum from Microsoft containing 21 lessons that teach developers how to build generative AI applications. The course includes both theoretical concepts and practical coding exercises in Python and TypeScript.
How do I get started with this course?+
Fork or clone the GitHub repository to your local machine. Complete the course setup lesson to configure your development environment, then choose your preferred AI platform (Azure OpenAI, OpenAI API, Microsoft Foundry Models, or Foundry Local) and follow the lessons in order or jump to topics of interest.
Do I need API keys or cloud subscriptions?+
You can choose from several options: Azure OpenAI Service requires an Azure subscription, OpenAI API requires an OpenAI account, Microsoft Foundry Models requires access to Azure AI, or Foundry Local allows you to run models completely offline without any cloud subscription.
What programming knowledge is required?+
Basic knowledge of Python or TypeScript is helpful but not mandatory. The course includes links to beginner Python and TypeScript courses for absolute beginners who need foundational programming skills.
Is this course free to use?+
Yes, all course materials are freely available on GitHub under an open license. However, using certain AI platforms like Azure OpenAI Service or OpenAI API may incur costs based on usage.
Which AI development tools and frameworks does this course cover?+
The curriculum covers building with Azure OpenAI SDK, OpenAI API, vector databases, Hugging Face models, low-code tools, and AI agent frameworks. It also teaches RAG implementation, function calling, and integration patterns for real-world applications.
How do I install generative-ai-for-beginners?+
Open the source repository on GitHub and follow its README. generative-ai-for-beginners is a mcp server — MCP Agents Market links you directly to the official repo.
Is generative-ai-for-beginners free?+
generative-ai-for-beginners is an open-source project hosted on GitHub. Check the repository for its license and any usage requirements.