How to learn AI tools from Scratch For Beginners? Understanding AI with Coursiv

There’s no lying about collective sense of worry circulating office rooms, company boardrooms and even home desks for remote workers. The layoffs are coming—in fact the layoffs have been coming and have been here for some time now.

In case you’ve been hitting the snooze button on the latest news—on October 27, Amazon announced that as many as 30,000 corporate jobs could be targeted in the most recent wave of layoffs. Now let’s break down what this number actually represents. While the actual figure represents just a percentage of the tech giant’s 1.55 million total employees, this cut is coming for nearly 10% of its roughly 350,000 corporate employees. This would make the current round of layoffs the largest set of job cuts since late 2022.

In a comment by Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, this initiative is aimed to reduce what has been described as an excess of bureaucracy, also citing back in June that the increased use of artificial intelligence tools would likely lead to further job cuts.

This particular hit of layoffs does come as a shock, but as an additional hit to what is already a labour economy bloodbath. And no, we’re not exaggerating for the sake of dramatics. According to the Economic Times, the current job market across the US can be labelled under one title: bloodbath. Mass layoffs across the country have resulted in 172,000 jobs vanishing across major sectors, leaving workers and families in disarray over their futures. The sudden losses have sparked mass debates across the country and the global community- could this be the herald of an oncoming recession? Even more urgent: what can people do in the moment while the wave of recession looms over everyone?

Not to tap in too much into spooky season thematics; but this is definitely some spooky news. However the good news is that there are real-world actions people are taking across the country, and across the world at large to give themselves a safety net in turbulent economic times.

According to Paul Estes, Editor in Chief at Enterprise AI Today by Virtasant:

The Industrial Revolution of our time is the rise of independent contractors and the globalization of knowledge work. The U.S. workforce is undergoing a massive structural change.

This quote illustrates a mass shift in the way we approach and even value career structure as we move from 2025 into 2026. Where corporate positions fail to provide security, side hustles emerge as the new heroes that allow people to pursue their careers and financial goals on conditions and schedules that work for them.

In today’s article, we will break down all things when it comes to learning AI tools for side hustles, from context to action. If you are someone who is looking for the best way to launch your AI side hustle, make sure to keep reading!

Can you Learn AI By Yourself?

The answer is absolutely yes. But before diving into learning AI by yourself- answer the following crucial question: What niche interests you? And why is this so important?

For context, even if one of the top side-hustle gigs to follow is SEO-led copywriting but you are someone who struggles with writing, then naturally this is not a good fit. Curating a side hustle that plays to your strengths as opposed to areas where you need to grow is absolutely key to winning in the long run.

Identify your play area: are you interested in graphic design? Creating online courses? Building sales pipelines? Pinpoint exactly where you want to build your side hustle and then learn the appropriate AI tools that will help you expedite your production and iteration processes.

When it comes to identifying your niche- take into account the four main side hustle categories to help you get started.

1. Freelance Content Creation: Offer freelance writing, copywriting, or ATS-crushing resume writing services, leverage AI tools like Gemini and ChatGPT for brainstorming, Perplexity and DeepSeek for research and Notion or Asana as platforms for storing first drafts to increase your outputs for when you’re ready to scale.
2. Digital Products: For the tech lovers this is the perfect side hustle option. Create and sell digital products like e-books, AI-generated art, websites or apps.
3. AI-Powered Services: If you are someone who is looking to build up your portfolio related to your industry, this may be a great side hustle idea for you. Provide consultation or end-to-end services in areas like social media management (SMM), website design, or AI business strategy consulting. You can ever delve into developing AI-powered chatbots for customer service.
4. Content Production: No longer reserved only for influencers- did you know that a content producer can earn up to $133,000 annually? This especially holds true for sectors like IT and media. Creatives hold on, for your content production side gig you can start a faceless YouTube channel or blog, using AI for video scripts or blog post outlines.

Use these frameworks as the launchpad for your AI learning journey. Coursiv has your covered for the rest.

What Is Artificial Intelligence and How Machine Learning Works

You may be asking yourself what is artificial intelligence really and how does machine learning (ML) come into play? As a quick overview, artificial intelligence (AI) is the over-arching broad concept of creating machines that can simulate human-level intelligence, while machine learning (ML) is one subset of AI that focuses on algorithms that learn from data sets to perform tasks without explicit programming. Want to get a deeper understanding of what is AI and how it works? Make sure to check out our article on AI for Beginners. Curious about machine learning (ML) and its intersection with AI? Then our article on AI/ML Basics Courses by Coursiv.io is worth your read.

Key Terms: Algorithms, Data, and Neural Networks

• Algorithms are rule-based systems that process input to create output.

Some core aspects of an algorithm are:

a. A finite number of steps: an algorithm must have a clear ending point and not fall into an infinite loop (a computer sequence that by design executes a given sequence without a defined termination condition…almost to infinity and beyond).

b. Clear and unambiguous instructions: Each step needs to be precisely defined so there is no room for confusion.

c. Input and output: the algorithm takes zero or more inputs (thats the data or information provided to the algorithm for processing) and produces one more more outputs (the data or information produced by an algorithm after it has processed its inputs).

d. Language independence: the logical process is separate from the code, this condition ensures that the same algorithm can be implemented in many different programming languages.

• Data fuels the training of these models—more quality data equals smarter AI.

Some core aspects of data are:

1. Qualitative vs. Quantitative: Qualitative data is based on descriptors (ex. color, quality), while qualitative data is numerical and can be measured (ex. height, weight, temperature).
2. Structured vs Unstructured: As the name implies, structured data is a fixed type of data formatting (like a spreadsheet or a database) which makes it easily searchable. Whereas unstructured data (like emails, images or videos) do not have any kind of predefined model.
3. Big Data: This term gets tossed around quite a bit—so let’s narrow down what it actually means. Big Data is a term that refers to extremely large, complex datasets that cannot be handled by traditional data processing methods. In this case more advanced tools (often using machine learning) are required to analyze it.

• Neural Networks mimic how human brains process information, forming the foundation of deep learning.

Some core aspects of a neural network are:

1. Input Layer: the initial layer responsible for receiving raw data from an external source.
2. Hidden Layers: these consist of neurons that transform the inputs into working systems, the complex/deep the neural network is the more hidden layers it will have.
3. Output Layer: the production of the final result.

Tons of AI-jargon aside, getting a better understanding of these basics that make up the structure AI and machine learning can help you leverage them more effectively for your side hustles. Understanding these basics helps you make sense of how AI tools learn—and how you can use them more effectively.

What It Means to Learn AI Tools Today

At Coursiv, besides bringing you the latest insights on AI news and trends, we like to present you with the facts. So let’s talk about the value for demand when it comes to mastering AI tools. I.e- what do you get out of becoming a master of AI tools? Can you put a number on it?

The answer throughout is a resounding yes.

The demand for AI tool knowledge is growing rapidly across virtually every sector and industry, from specialized technical roles to the general workforce. This need is spurred by multiple socio-economic and even political factors, but at the crux of the demand is the driver of the AI tool market which is projected to reach $36.35 billion by 2030. The fact that in 2025 78% of companies worldwide are already using AI in some capacity is already a huge indicator for what future requirements for entry-level jobs will look like. And we’re not talking about deep, technical AI knowledge, but at the base level every professional should be able to answer this fundamental question:

Given everything that I do in my job (performing ABC), what can I automize, optimize and improve with AI tools?

Some further food for thought are the top 12 AI skills worth learning to bulletproof and recession-proof your income potential:

1. Programming: The backbone of AI development — these skills give its skill-wielders the abilities to write, understand, and debug code to create software, automate tasks, and solve computational problems.
2. Mathematics and Statistics: Linear algebra and calculus are essential for understanding how algorithms work, especially when it comes to neural networks (basis of machine learning models).
3. Machine Learning: Familiarity with machine learning frameworks, like Scikit-learn or PyTorch, helps efficiently build and deploy models for applications such as forecasting sales or detecting fraud. Check out our post about AI/ML basics for more details on this subject!
4. Deep Learning: These skills are crucial in fields like healthcare, insurance, and finance, where AI must make precise, data-driven decisions powered by human insight.
5. Data Analysis: Skills in data cleaning, processing, and visualization are important for preparing data for AI models and interpreting the results, crucial for analysts, marketers and engineers.
6. Prompt Engineering: No-this does not mean talking to your ChatGPT so it glazes you to your preference, but rather refers to the skillset of crafting effective inputs to guide AI models like ChatGPT to produce accurate, relevant, and useful outputs.
7. Problem- Solving: A continued growth area for professionals in business and management, strong analytical skills and creativity are needed to design algorithms that can effectively address these challenges and improve over time.
8. Collaboration: In the context of AI, collaboration is a vital soft skill because successful AI projects often require input from diverse teams—including data scientists, engineers, domain experts, and end users.
9. Critical Thinking: As AI tools are increasingly leveraged in decision-making processes—from hiring to healthcare—critical thinking ensures that human users remain in control, guiding AI use responsibly and ethically.
10. Ethics and Bias Awareness: There’s no denying that AI systems have a tendency to hallucinate, this is why being aware of systems and policies around AI ethics and bias awareness can help reduce bias perpetuation in data training.
11. Communication: AI professionals often need to work with cross-functional teams and explain technical concepts to stakeholders who may not have a technical background. This is the perfect bridge for professionals who may be used to operating in human-driven environments but need to make the transition to tech-based functions.
12. Continuous Learning: Being able to stay current with new developments — whether it’s a breakthrough in machine learning, a new programming framework, or updated ethical guidelines — ensures professionals remain effective and competitive.

How AI Is Changing Everyday Tasks

AI is embedded in virtually every touchpoint of our day-to-day lives. From supporting our personal lives (with features like virtual assistants, smart homes, health and fitness devices, online security measures to personalized learning) to supporting creative tasks (accelerating creation with GenAI tools like DALL-E and ChatGPT) and transforming professional functions (automating routine tasks, provide customer service and support marketing efforts), AI is continuing to shape our everyday tasks.

Why Learn to Use AI Tools

The future is already being shaped by the AI industry. In the next 5 years alone the job landscape will be separated by those that are AI fluent and those that are not. Learning to master AI tools in 2025 sets you up for success in the long run.

Improving Your Career

AI literacy has become a top hiring advantage. From marketers using ChatGPT for campaigns to analysts automating data summaries, knowing how to use AI equals faster output, better strategy, and higher income potential for you.

Boosting Creativity and Productivity

AI art generators, writing assistants, and brainstorming tools help you create more with less effort. They act as creative partners, not replacements.

Making Better Researches with AI

Still stuck spending hours summarizing meeting notes, key points from presentations or research for your own project? AI can summarize long documents, cross-verify sources, and find data trends—turning you into a more informed decision-maker.

Understanding the Technology Behind AI Tools

Even non-technical users benefit from understanding how AI works under the hood. You don’t need to build models—but learning their logic helps you use them more efficiently. The best part? You do not need to aspire for the same level of understanding AI tools as research scientists/ analysts (this is an entirely different area for consideration), the key is understanding core AI basics and how they can apply to what you already do in your day-to-day life.

Getting Started with AI

Setting Learning Goals

Start small: choose one domain/niche (ex., writing, data, or design) and focus on mastering 1–2 AI tools before expanding. Break up your learnings into daily sprints to avoid learning lag when the weekend comes around. Healthy setups of just 15 consistent minutes per day are already more efficient than hours of stress-cramming on the weekends.

How to Choose the Right Starting Course

Look for courses that suit your needs, budget and schedule. You want to make sure that you are selecting an investment that is worth your buck, your time and has takeaway hard skills you can quantify and start applying ASAP. Coursiv’s personalized learning microlearning pathways break up these concepts into digestible chunks that are available for you.

Understanding the Basics

Cover fundamentals—AI types, neural networks, data ethics, and prompt writing—before exploring advanced topics.

The Difference Between AI, ML, and Automation

• AI (Artificial Intelligence): Simulates human thought.
• ML (Machine Learning): Uses data to improve AI accuracy.
• Automation: Executes tasks without needing human input.

Exploring Free AI Tools — Best Free AI Tools for Beginners

At Coursiv.com, we regularly test and review AI platforms to help learners find the most accessible starting points. Here are some of the best free AI tools for your consideration.

1. ChatGPT: an accessible and widely used chatbot that can help with writing, brainstorming, outlining and even translation.
2. Grammarly: provides AI-powered writing suggestions, checks grammar, and helps adjust your tone depending on the writing goal.
3. Notion AI: integrates directly with Notion to help summarize, write, and allocate task planning directly to your documents.
4. CopyAI: a tool that assists with generating multiple formats of marketing copy.
5. Rytr: offers AI-powered writing content generation with very affordable upgrade options.

AI Chatbots and Writing Assistants

Some top tools for optimizing your writing include:

1. ChatGPT
2. Gemini
3. DeepSeek
4. Claude
5. GravityWrite
6. Rightblogger
7. Grammarly
8. Originality AI
9. Semrush

Image and Art Generators

Want to learn how to bring art to life by leveraging AI? Check out some of these amazing tools:

1. Midjourney
2. ChatGPT (GPT-4o)
3. Ideogram
4. Adobe Firefly
5. Canva Magic Media
6. Stable Diffusion
7. NightCafe
8. Craiyon
9. Dreamina
10. Freepik AI

AI Video and Audio Tools

There are some great options when it comes to pinpointing video generation from text, voice cloning, noise reduction and even automatic transcription.

For AI video tools check out:

1. Text-to-generation tools: tools like Runway, Sora, Luma Dream Machine, Adobe Firefly, and Canva can create magic when generating videos from just text descriptions.
2. Avatar and animated videos: Platforms like Synysthesia and Vyond can generate videos using digital, realistic and of course- animated style characters.
3. Video editing and enhancement: AI drives the future of video editing, check out tools like Descript (for editing transcripts) or Filmora (for enhancing video quality).

For AI Audio tools check out:

1. Audio enhancement tools: to remove unwanted background noise and improve vocal quality look into Desript’s Studio Sound.
2. Voice generation: Canva makes the list once again, its voice generating + voiceover tool can be leveraged by typing a script and selecting a voice for your custom video generation.
3. Voice cloning: try Descript’s Overdub feature to fix voice errors and even create a clone of your own voice.

AI Tools for Productivity and Organization

AI tools are a huge booster when it comes to structuring, organizing and optimizing your schedule. Here are some of our personal favorite tools for when it comes to boosting your productivity divided into four key areas for your perusal.

Content Creation and Writing:

1. Chatbots: leverage assistants like ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini to generate content, draft emails, and brainstorm ideas.
2. Writing assistants: Tools like Jasper, Grammarly, and Copy.ai can be used to helo you with your writing, editing and optimizing content structure.
3. Multimedia creation: Use AI for generating images, explore tools like Midjourney, DALL_E 3 and for video don’t sleep on Synesthesia.

AI Coding Tools

It has never been easier to get into coding without a tech or comp-sci background than now. Check out these tools to bring your programming projects to life.

For Code Completion and Generation:

1. GitHub Copilot: use this AI assistant that provides real-time code suggestions for optimizing code as you type.
2. Tabnine: this privacy. focused AI assistant offers context-aware code predictions.
3. Amazon CodeWhisperer: this AWS tool provides real-time code suggestions.

Best Conversational AI’s for Coding:

1. Sourcegraph Cody: an AI tool used for code research and navigation, made easy and especially useful when working with larger codebases.
2. Codiga: this AI-powered code analysis tool checks for bugs, inefficiencies, and even security vulnerabilities.
3. Sourcery: this AI tool is specifically designed to help with code refactoring (restructuring existing source code without changing external behavior or functionality).

How to Use AI for Time Management

The beauty in leveraging AI for optimizing your performance and time management is the system’s ability to personalize it’s suggestions based on your specifics. Busy with a full time job but want to squeeze in a learning period to learn Spanish? Balancing a full household and kids but want to start an income project? Want to build a tailored fitness plan while being a full-time student balancing multiple responsibilities and tasks? AI can now help you solve the headache of making schedule while factoring all the unique nuances of your day-to-day.

Automating Emails and Scheduling

Integrating new tools aside, Gmail already has AI assistants that can draft, organize and even schedule outreach and auto-reply emails for you. Ensuring that your focus stays on the things that matter and the mechanics of the message are optimized for success.

Using AI to Summarize or Transcribe Meetings

Ever find yourself swimming in thought during a meeting or just unable to keep up with the volume of information being squeezed into a one-hour meeting? We get you, its hard to keep track of the details when there are so many of them. This is where AI transcriber tools like Otter.ai and Fireflies.ai can be integrated in platforms like Microsoft Teams and Zoom to transcribe meeting notes in real-time, translate from different languages, generate summaries and even highlight key takeaways and action items for you.

Streamlining Research with AI

Perplexity.ai and Coursiv’s upcoming Research Companion tool gather and summarize reliable insights.

Applying AI in Your Field

AI in Business and Marketing

AI tools like Jasper and SurferSEO are already redefining how campaigns are optimized and analyzed. To learn how to start scaling your business or project by implementing AI systems, check out Coursiv's business track today.

AI in Education and Research

Adaptive learning systems personalize course difficulty for every learner—Coursiv’s AI modules are designed exactly this way, to deliver a learning experience that resonates with you and delivers value long after you finish your learning modules.

AI in Art, Music, and Design

From sound generation to aesthetic ideation—AI is becoming an essential creative collaborator. To learn how AI is supporting art and creatives stay tuned for some exciting news dropping very soon.

AI for Entrepreneurs and Startups

Automation platforms can handle customer support, lead scoring, and even content generation—helping founders scale efficiently. It has never been more opportune to start your own business or scale your online income with AI!

Building Foundational AI Skills

Mastering prompt writing, logical thinking, and ethical awareness forms the foundation of every AI learner’s journey.

Prompt Writing: How to Talk to AI

Prompt writing is the new digital communication skill. Think of it as instructing an intelligent intern—you get what you ask for. Coursiv’s prompt-writing challenges help learners practice clarity, tone, and context.

Online AI Courses for Beginners

Coursiv offers curated beginner-friendly learning paths:

• SMM Niche Builder — For understanding core social media management pillars and how to identify your niche.
• Digital Business Basics — Dive into the world of digital business at your own pace.
• Healthy Habits to be Productive — How to use AI in productivity, goal setting and time management.

Certifications & Structured Learning Paths at Coursiv

How to Choose the Right Course

Narrow down your selection based on what you want to achieve with your online income and what you want to be doing. What is your niche? What is your current skillset? Where do you want to grow more? Answering these initial questions will help you immensely.

How to Learn AI Without Coding

Who ever said you need to be a techie in order to get into AI? Start with Coursiv, designed for beginners across all sectors —from marketers, educators, and business professionals —to hone their AI skills.

Using AI to Simplify Daily Tasks

How Non-Tech Professionals Can Use AI

The great news is that even if you are not an engineer, you can use AI for tasks like data entry, deep research and even client communication. Like we said before, the key is not starting from a high point of learning (i.e learning how to be a data scientist) but rather to understand how you can leverage AI tools to effectively boost your performance and productivity.

How to Use ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini Effectively

These AI tools fall into the category of conversational AI’s. Which means they have a slightly different tone, reasoning capacity and specialty when using them effectively. Experiment with each one and make notes on what works best for your goals, play around with prompt phrasing to see how that changes results. Try out Coursiv’s prompts library for tested ready to use prompts!

Analyzing Data with AI Tools

Integrating AI tools into data analytics like Tableau AI and Power BI Copilot are complete game-changers for data visualization, giving analysts and statistics-wizards the data fluency without needing to over-exert their workload capacity.

Learning AI Ethics and Responsibility

Like we talked about earlier, AI ethics already are incredibly important for consideration in the modern tech landscape, and this importance will only grow over time. This applies to heavy tech-users and casual users alike. Getting familiar with AI ethics policies, data privacy laws, and transparency will become integral to responsible innovation.