In a major initiative to democratise artificial intelligence (AI) education in India, the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has introduced five new AI-based online courses through its learning platform SWAYAM Plus. These courses are crafted to make learning AI accessible to a broad range of students, teachers, and working professionals from diverse academic backgrounds like science, commerce, arts, and humanities. The effort is a testament to IIT Madras’ dedication to inclusive, skill-based, and future-ready education across disciplines.

The courses that have been recently added are made available at no cost, lasting between 25 and 45 hours. No prior knowledge of AI is required for enrollment, which further increases accessibility and outreach of these courses. The topics that come under this series of AI are varied, with the intention to bridge the gap between AI technologies and actual applications in areas that may otherwise be unrelated to AI.

The five courses on AI that are available are: AI in Physics, AI in Chemistry, AI in Accounting, Cricket Analytics with AI, and AI/ML using Python. Each of these courses is created in a hands-on format and combines case studies, actual data sets, and hands-on exercises to provide experiential learning. This approach not only provides better conceptual understanding but also enables the learners to develop skills to implement AI tools in certain fields.

The “AI in Physics” course emphasizes the application of machine learning models and neural networks to complex, real-world physics problems. In contrast, “AI in Chemistry” delves into molecular prediction and chemical modeling through Python, providing new avenues in chemical research and data analysis. The “AI in Accounting” course, however, illustrates how AI can automate accounting chores and improve data analytics in financial systems.

One of the most distinctive offerings is “Cricket Analytics with AI,” which brings together sports and data science. In this course, learners learn data visualization and analysis with cricket match data—a novel method to learn AI and data science concepts through a subject that is meaningful to millions of Indians. The fundamental course, “AI/ML using Python,” is the first step for those new to machine learning and includes fundamental concepts such as Python programming, statistics, optimization methods, and fundamentals of AI and machine learning.

All the courses are aligned with the National Credit Framework (NCrF) so that they can be presented as credit-bearing courses in universities. This is a significant step towards mainstreaming emerging technologies into the curriculum of universities in India. Additionally, although the courses are free to join, students can opt to receive a certificate upon completion by paying a small fee.

Professor R. Sarathi, IIT Madras Dean (Planning) and coordinator, SWAYAM Plus, stressed that the courses are inclusive in nature. He pointed out that the programmes are not for engineering students alone but are designed for students of all disciplines. “The courses, which are aligned to the NCrF, can be adopted by higher education institutions as a credit programme for the next academic year too.”. These courses strive to bring AI to the table across disciplines – not just to engineering students, but also students of arts, science, commerce, and other disciplines,” he said.

Interested learners can enroll for the courses on the SWAYAM Plus website at https://swayam-plus.swayam2.ac.in/ai-for-all-courses. The last date for enrollment is May 12, 2025. With the interdisciplinary nature and flexibility of the courses, a huge enrollment is anticipated from learners who want to enrich their skill set in the rapidly changing AI world.

SWAYAM Plus, launched by IIT Madras on behalf of the Ministry of Education, was designed to provide high-quality, job-oriented learning to students throughout the nation. The platform now features more than 380 online courses in over 15 industry sectors such as engineering, banking and financial services (BFSI), hospitality, and IT/ITeS. Most of these courses are screened by IIT Madras professionals and mapped to academic credits, such that learners acquire useful skills while also adding to their formal education.

By providing free AI education with no prerequisite knowledge, IIT Madras is tearing down barriers to entry and making high-impact, technology-driven learning accessible to a broad population. With AI transforming the future of research and work, efforts like these are needed to prepare India’s research and professional community for the opportunities and challenges of the AI age.