Introduction to Generative AI and Prompt Engineering

Generative artificial intelligence is transforming how we work, write, and solve problems, but getting the best results requires knowing how to communicate with these systems. This text-based course guides you through the fundamental principles of prompt engineering, helping you turn AI into a reliable partner. By reading through structured explanations and analyzing real-world examples, you will transition from basic chat interactions to designing sophisticated prompts that yield predictable, high-quality outputs. You will understand how large language models function under the hood and how to guide them effectively to solve everyday challenges. What you'll learn: 1. Understand the core mechanics of generative AI models, including tokens, context windows, and temperature settings. 2. Apply foundational prompt engineering techniques like few-shot prompting, chain-of-thought reasoning, and system role definition. 3. Design structured prompts to generate consistent outputs such as JSON, tables, and formatted summaries. 4. Identify and mitigate common AI limitations, including hallucinations, bias, and context drift. 5. Explore modern patterns like retrieval-augmented generation and how prompting fits into automated workflows. 6. Practice writing, testing, and refining prompts through written exercises and practical scenarios. The course begins with essential terminology and the mechanics of language models before moving into structured prompting frameworks and advanced text-generation strategies. You will progress from simple instructions to complex, multi-step prompt templates designed for real-world tasks. This course is designed for absolute beginners who want to leverage generative AI in their daily routines, with no prior programming or technical background required. Start reading today to unlock the full potential of generative AI and elevate your daily productivity.