Build foundational generative AI skills
Microsoft Learn
Last updated October 6, 2026
Build foundational generative AI skills is a free, four-module Microsoft Learn path for people starting out with Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat. It begins with the groundwork: what generative AI is, how it creates content, how to review what it produces responsibly, and how Microsoft's Copilot modes fit different business tasks. The other three modules turn to Copilot Chat itself: getting access and learning the interface, writing effective prompts with help from Prompt Lab and personalization features, and using Chat's features to work faster and collaborate in real time. Copilot Chat comes with a Microsoft 365 subscription, which the hands-on exercise in the final module needs; some features the path shows, such as referencing your meetings and chats or scheduling prompts, need a Microsoft 365 Copilot license.
What you'll learn
- What generative AI is, how it creates content, and how to review its output responsibly
- How Microsoft Copilot's different modes support business tasks
- Accessing Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat and finding your way around its interface
- Writing clear prompts: their key elements, best practices, personalization features and Prompt Lab
- Using Copilot Chat's features to work faster and collaborate securely in real time
Frequently asked questions about Build foundational generative AI skills
Who is Build foundational generative AI skills for?
Newcomers to generative AI and to Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat who use Microsoft 365 and want a short, structured start.
Is Build foundational generative AI skills free?
Yes — Build foundational generative AI skills is free to take. The hands-on exercise needs a Microsoft 365 subscription, and some features shown need a Microsoft 365 Copilot license.
What are the prerequisites for Build foundational generative AI skills?
Familiarity with accessing and using Microsoft 365. No coding required.
Why we suggest this course
It is a sensible first step for someone who has Copilot Chat available but has not used it seriously. It covers how to review generative AI output responsibly before it moves on to prompting, which suits someone who will rely on Chat for real work. One thing to know: it centers on Copilot Chat rather than on Copilot inside Word, Excel or PowerPoint, so a reader who wants help in those apps will need a further course on them.