Micro Essentials - On Demand

Under the Hood  What Drives AI?

AI is everywhere — offering us answers, streamlining our work, and speeding up decisions. But beneath every slick response lies a powerful predictive engine.

If we don’t understand how it works, we can’t properly assess when to trust it, when to question it or when to stop it.

This micro session explains how AI models really work - what drives their outputs, where errors creep in and what’s changing behind the scenes.

From large language models to image generators and new agentic systems, this course will give you the foundational knowledge you need to make sense of the tools now embedded in your daily working life.

Whether you’re shaping AI policy, integrating tools into your workflows or just trying to keep up with your team’s capabilities, this session helps you understand what’s really going on and what you need to do to stay in the driver's seat.

Why This Matters

Understanding how AI models work is no longer optional.

If you’re using AI to create, decide, recommend or advise, you need to understand what’s happening beneath the surface.

This course is designed to help you make informed, ethical and confident decisions about the tools you use, the systems you support and the policies you create. You can’t manage AI responsibly without understanding the basics and that’s what this course provides - without jargon, hype or assumptions.

Learning outcomes

Understand

Understand how large language models and image generators produce outputs

Understand the technical foundations needed to support ethical and effective AI deployment

Learn

How AI models are trained and what shapes their behaviour

How to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of common AI applications

Identify

Identify the difference between rule-based systems, machine learning, deep learning and agentic systems
Empty space, drag to resize
This micro course gives you:
  • A clear explanation of how AI models generate responses (text, images, and more)
  • A simple overview of model structures, training methods and how different types of AI operate
  • Insights into the shift from traditional AI to more autonomous, agentic systems
  • An understanding of why AI outputs can be biased, inconsistent or misleading
  • Practical knowledge to help you evaluate tools, spot limitations and apply oversight

Online and on demand

Learn at your own pace - in your own place

Micro Module

Designed to bring you up to speed on the topic

CPD Points

Gain CPD points and a Certificate of Completion

Hone your Skills

Develop understanding and set new learning pathways

We use cookies to provide you with an optimal experience and relevant communication. Learn more or accept individual cookies.

Necessary

Necessary cookies (First Party Cookies) are sometimes called "strictly necessary" as without them we cannot provide the functionality that you need to use this website. For example, essential cookies help remember your preferences as you navigate through the online school.

Functional

Functional cookies enable this website to provide enhanced functionality and personalization, by remembering information you have entered and choices you make. These preferences are remembered through the use of persistent cookies, so that you will not have to set them again the next time you visit the website.

Analytics

Analytics cookies track information about visits on our website so that we can measure and improve its performance, as well as optimize our course content. These cookies help us analyze user behavior by tracking the number of visits, how visitors use the website, which site or page they come from and how long they are staying for.

Marketing

Marketing cookies are used to deliver advertising material relevant to you and your interests. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advertisement, resulting to more targeted advertising, as well as help us measure the effectiveness of our campaigns. They are usually placed by advertising networks we collaborate with, with our permission.