The Reality of Google's FREE AI Courses.

Let’s talk about the reality behind Google’s much-hyped FREE AI courses. Are they really helping learners? Or just marketing hype?

Under the tagline "Grow with Google" the knowledge giant claims to offer free AI certifications. However, there is a catch to this free offer. The aspirants are directed to third party website Coursera, where they can read the modules. If they need the certificate they need to pay the fee of Rs.7200/- The question is, when Google claims to offer Free AI Certifications to aspirants, why doesn't it offer the same on its website. Why should the AI aspirants be directed to Coursera, where they have to pay the fee if they require a Certificate. How can Google claim the offered AI certifications for Free, when Coursera is charging for soft or hard copy of the Certifications. Is all this an planned attempt to cheat aspiring AI learners...

Perplexity AI' response...

Google’s “Free AI Certifications”: What’s Actually Free and What’s Not

Summary:

Google, under its "Grow with Google" initiative, promotes free AI learning resources and training. However, the actual certification—the official document or credential—is not free and typically requires payment via third-party platforms like Coursera. This model is common in online education but can lead to confusion about what is truly “free.”

What Does Google Offer for Free?

Free Training Content:

Google provides free access to AI course materials, including video lectures, readings, and some hands-on activities. For example, modules such as "Prompting Essentials," "AI Essentials," and "Grow Your Business with AI" are available for learners to explore at no cost.

No-Cost Learning:

Anyone can audit these courses, meaning you can study the materials and learn the skills without paying anything.

What Requires Payment?

Certification Fee:

If you want an official certificate from Google (which can be shared with employers or added to your resume), you must pay a fee. For example, the Google AI Essentials certificate on Coursera costs $49 USD per month (about ₹7,200 for a typical completion period in India).

Why the Fee?

The fee covers graded assignments, assessments, and the administrative process of issuing a certificate. This is standard practice for most MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) and is not unique to Google or Coursera. 

Why Does Google Use Coursera?

Scalability and Infrastructure:

Coursera is a well-established global platform that handles course delivery, assessments, payment processing, and certificate issuance. Partnering with Coursera allows Google to reach a wider audience without building its own massive learning management infrastructure.

Consistent User Experience:

Coursera provides a familiar, reliable interface for millions of learners worldwide, making it easier for Google to offer and update courses at scale. 

Is the “Free AI Certification” Claim Misleading? 

The Fine Print: 

Google’s marketing often highlights “free AI training” but specifies in the details that certification requires payment. The learning is free, but the credential is not. 

Industry Standard: 

This approach is not unique to Google. Most major online education providers (including edX, Udemy, and LinkedIn Learning) allow free access to course content but charge for certificates. 

Is This a Planned Attempt to Cheat Learners? 

No Evidence of Intentional Deception: 

While the marketing language can be confusing, there is no evidence that Google or Coursera are deliberately trying to cheat learners. The details about certification fees are available on the course pages and in FAQs. 

Transparency and Financial Aid: 

Coursera offers financial aid for those who cannot afford the certificate fee, and the option to audit courses for free is always available. 

Conclusion 

Free Learning, Paid Certification: 

Google provides free access to AI learning materials, but the official certificate—which is optional—requires payment through Coursera or similar platforms.

Not a Scam, but Read the Details: 

The model is standard in the industry, but learners should always read the fine print to understand what is free and what isn’t. If your main goal is to gain knowledge, you can do so without paying. If you need a formal credential, a fee applies.

Tip:

If you need certification but cannot afford the fee, check for financial aid options on Coursera.

SANJAY NANNAPARAJU

+91 98484 34615

English Proficiency: WORD POWER EXERCISE.

Professionals who are not so proficient in English are quite inquisitive about ways and means to improve their language proficiency level. It needs to be understood that all efforts at improving English proficiency should be based on good understanding of the professional's language learning process.

Two things need to be understood by all professionals. For a professional where English language learning is focused on enhancing workplace English (SLRW - speaking, listening, reading and writing) the crucial interlinkages between each skill needs to be comprehended - If you want to improve your speaking, you need to focus on listening, and if you want to improve your writing, you need to focus on reading.

And, as a follow-up to the above approach to SLRW skills, each professional needs to check their word power. Understandably, language learning process for a professional is based on a comprehensive approach that includes continuous focus on SLRW skills, followed up by checking their word power. 

Word Power Exercise: 

Every day, every hour, every moment...for that matter whenever you have time in the day or night, practice Word Power Exercise. Word Power Exercise is quite simple...and follows your daily quota of SLRW skills. We have 26 letters in the English Alphabet...start with letter A, and write words that begin with A. See as to how many words can you write for A in one minute.

Next, start with B, and write as many words as possible for B in one minute. If you are working on your smart phone, take a letter, open mail, and in the mail box type all words that come to your mind which begin with that letter. Remember, you should not take Nouns or names of people, places, things.

Example: A

ask, any, allow, any, anything, anyone, atom, apple, air, ... (Written in one minute only) 

Well, if you have some leisure, take a pen and paper, take a letter, and start writing words for a chosen letter. By doing the Word Power Exercise, you are exerting pressure on your mind to reel-out words that you have come across while doing SLRW skills practice.

A cricketer or tennis player requires lots of stamina to achieve full performance in the field. For this, the players practice at the gym or nets. So also, Word Power Exercise makes you ready for your language proficiency testing scenarios. It is that simple.

Using the right word as the demands of the situation is what makes you proficient. You should not search your pockets for the right words. Word Power Exercise makes you ready rather consciously truly fluent in the use of language. Now, tonight do your Word Power Exercise starting with A and go up to Z. For each letter allot one minute.

Tomorrow, tell me how many words you could write for each letter.

SANJAY NANNAPARAJU

+91 98484 34615