Foundations of AI

This section gives non-engineers the mental models they need before buying tools, launching pilots, or redesigning workflows around AI.

What You Will Learn

How to distinguish LLMs, classical ML, retrieval, workflows, and agent-like systems.
How to scope AI projects in business terms rather than vendor language.
How to evaluate use cases before a pilot starts.

Lesson	Focus
LLMs vs Traditional Machine Learning	A practical comparison of large language models and classical machine learning, with guidance on when each approach fits a business problem.
Prompting 101 for Business	A practical guide to writing prompts that produce useful, controlled outputs for real business work rather than clever toy demos.
RAG Explained for Business	A business-friendly explanation of retrieval-augmented generation and why it matters when your AI must work from company knowledge.
AI Agents vs Workflows	How to separate true agent-like systems from straightforward AI workflows, and why most business use cases should start simpler.
How to Evaluate an AI Use Case	A practical framework for deciding whether an AI project is worth pursuing, what shape it should take, and how to avoid expensive pilots.
AI Timeline	A compact historical reference for how modern AI developed, useful for readers who want context before diving into current tools and workflows.

How to separate true agent-like systems from straightforward AI workflows, and why most business use cases should start simpler.

A practical framework for deciding whether an AI project is worth pursuing, what shape it should take, and how to avoid expensive pilots.

A practical comparison of large language models and classical machine learning, with guidance on when each approach fits a business problem.

A practical guide to writing prompts that produce useful, controlled outputs for real business work rather than clever toy demos.

A business-friendly explanation of retrieval-augmented generation and why it matters when your AI must work from company knowledge.

A compact historical reference for the major phases, breakthroughs, and shifts that shaped modern AI.