AI fluency
The Open University
Last updated August 30, 2026
AI fluency is a free seven-session learning path on OpenLearn, written by Microsoft and hosted by The Open University. It builds from first principles — what AI, machine learning and generative AI each mean, and how they differ — through the difference between how a search engine finds information and how a reasoning engine arrives at an answer, then on to responsible use: bias, misinformation and data privacy. The last stretch is practical, with two sessions on Microsoft Copilot for everyday jobs like writing an email or planning a project, and a closing session on AI and accessibility. You can read the material without signing up; a free account tracks progress, opens the quizzes and activities, and leads to a free statement of participation. About five hours, self-paced.
What you'll learn
- Placing machine learning and generative AI within AI as a whole, and telling the three apart
- Why a search engine and a reasoning engine answer the same question differently
- Getting started with Microsoft Copilot, then putting it to work on email, planning and other daily tasks
- Judging where the ethical risks of an AI tool lie: bias, misinformation and the handling of data
- How AI is being used to improve accessibility for people with disabilities
- How AI is changing jobs and society across different sectors
Frequently asked questions about AI fluency
Who is AI fluency for?
Students, professionals and leaders who want a plain, structured first pass at AI — what it is, how to use an assistant responsibly, and what it means for their work.
Is AI fluency free?
Yes — AI fluency is completely free to take.
Why we suggest this course
The sequencing is the strength: the course explains what the technology is before it puts a tool in front of you, so by the time Copilot appears you have a working idea of why it answers the way it does. Its scope is also unusually wide for a beginner path — accessibility for people with disabilities, and the effect of AI on jobs across different sectors, each get a session rather than a passing mention. Two things worth knowing: the material was written by Microsoft, so the hands-on half is Copilot specifically rather than a survey of assistants; and the course itself notes that interfaces shown in its video tutorials may have changed since it was published.