Best AI Bootcamps Chicago, IL: Find Bootcamps & Certificates

Learn More About Chicago AI Bootcamps

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a broad category within computer science and a field of endeavor. While the idea of artificial intelligence has been around for centuries, humankind made little progress until the advent of the digital age in the 1990s. With the ever-increasing need for faster and more targeted computing, artificial intelligence gives systems and programs the ability to respond like human beings to data inputs.

The AI field includes everything from robotics and machine learning (ML) to natural language processing or NLP. Businesses and other organizations often refer to these tools under the AI umbrella, but artificial intelligence is also an industry or sector. In other words, you can use AI tools in fields like marketing or data analytics, but many metropolitan areas categorize AI as one of their primary industries. Consider learning more about how an AI bootcamp or certificate program can help you advance your career.

What Can You Do with AI Training?

What you can do with AI training depends on factors like your industry or sector, previous experience, and whether you need AI to automate tasks or for a complex skill set like machine learning. Consider the following projects you can undertake after mastering AI skills.

Automate Tasks

One of the best high-level projects beginners can learn in an AI class is learning to automate tasks. This project is appropriate for everyone from small business owners to administrative assistants. You can use AI tools like machine learning and natural language processing to automate email campaigns, appointment scheduling, web scraping, and many other processes.

Develop an Application

You might think app creation is a complex process best left to software experts, but today's AI tools allow anyone to create applications quickly. Major tech companies have created generative AI-driven app builders, including Google AppSheet and Microsoft PowerApp. You can also try Softr, Quickbase’s AI Smart Builder, or Firebase.

Create a Recommendation System

Most everyone is familiar with recommendation systems like You May Also Like from Amazon or Because You Watched from Netflix. Streaming services and other online platforms use recommendation tools to personalize content, increase engagement, and make more sales based on previous purchases or search history. You can create a recommendation system using AI algorithms and a programming language.

What Will I Learn in an AI Bootcamp?

What you learn in an AI bootcamp or certificate depends on your career goals and the focus of study in the program. For example, some AI courses target data science students, others financial technology (FinTech), others software development, and others sales and marketing.

If you plan to work in one of these fields, consider the following related tools and skills in each subject area.

Data Science and Analytics

Data science and data analytics are subcategories within the broader computer science field. Data Scientists and Analysts in today’s job market must learn generative AI, and an AI class with a data science or analysis focus can cover numerous topics. These can include Python libraries and frameworks, SQL (structured query language), machine learning, and natural language processing (NLP), to name a few.

ChatGPT

One of the most prominent chatbots is ChatGPT, which Open AI developed. Many bootcamps and certificate programs covering generative AI begin with ChatGPT training. You can use it for anything from data analysis to social media management, but in a beginner-level AI class, you will most likely learn how to write prompts using ChatGPT.

FinTech

Financial technology, or FinTech, is another field where you can use AI for numerous tasks. A FinTech bootcamp or certificate program that includes artificial intelligence training might feature machine learning (ML), an essential subcategory of AI. It might also require attendees to learn Python for data visualization, SQL databases, and financial and accounting concepts and principles.

Digital Marketing

You might not think AI is related to digital marketing, but it is increasingly important in organizations of every size. Businesses can leverage AI for social media and other marketing campaigns, search engine optimization (SEO), and customer service, to name a few areas. A marketing bootcamp or certificate program with an AI focus might also include email marketing, data analysis, and other essential tools and skills.

Critical Thinking

Although you might not learn critical thinking skills in a course, they are among the most essential soft skills for AI professionals. Other soft skills in this field include adaptability, collaboration, creativity, and problem-solving capability.

What Kinds of Training Options Are Available to Learn AI?

Many AI courses are available in-person from respected course providers. Students in major metropolitan areas may have more training options, but some providers host classes in numerous locations. Check provider websites carefully to see if they offer in-person coursework at their location, your company if requested, or both.

Some providers also make their AI programs available live online through teleconferencing platforms like Zoom. If they host in-person training, their virtual classes will present the same materials, but students can participate from anywhere with an internet connection.

Another option for AI coursework is on-demand learning, also known as asynchronous learning. These programs typically consist of pre-recorded videos, though some providers also include supplementary training like written materials or student chat groups. Udemy, Coursera, and Skillshare are among the best-known on-demand providers.

The fourth option is the DIY approach, self-directed learning. Some AI learners prefer to start with free online resources before they commit to formal training. Read on to learn more about the pros and cons of the various training options.

Choosing the Right Training Method for You

In-person AI training in a traditional classroom setting provides one advantage over other methods: the level of student engagement. Although many students prefer the convenience of learning online from home, others report feeling more connected to the material and their classmates when learning in-person. There is no substitute for the immediacy of the experience of real-time, in-person training. Commuting to class may be its only drawback, but this is not a barrier for most students.

However, learning live online has become more popular than ever. Virtual training offers engagement similar to training in the traditional classroom, and many course providers like Noble Desktop offer in-person and online options. Others host courses live online with the option to use their computer labs for students who live nearby. The most obvious advantage of online training is that it increases the number of available options. Your area may offer few or no in-person AI classes, but you can learn live online classes from anywhere, from the comfort of your home or office.

On-demand training is another alternative with unique drawbacks and advantages. This method usually includes pre-recorded video lessons as the bulk of a curriculum. Learning AI through an on-demand course may appeal to people with family obligations or non-traditional schedules, like a second or third-shift job. You can pause and restart training videos as needed, but on-demand training offers lower engagement than in-person or live online training. Consider changing your schedule to attend an in-person or live online AI class, if possible.

Freelancers, interns, and even full-time workers may prefer the self-taught approach to learning artificial intelligence. The main obstacle with self-teaching is that the complex nature of AI technologies and tools can be overwhelming. Most people exploring AI for their careers begin with free online resources, but these typically work best as preparation for formal training.

How Are Bootcamps Different from Other Kinds of Classes?

Bootcamps hold a unique place among training programs. Some students compare the bootcamp style method with drinking from a firehose. Participants immerse themselves in a subject, absorbing much information in a condensed time frame.

A bootcamp may consist of multiple training modules, but attendees can typically complete a bootcamp in a few days or weeks. By contrast, an individual class may take less time and provide less information or hands-on experience.

Certificate programs may consist of one or more bootcamps and usually take longer than an average bootcamp schedule. Finally, a college or university degree program takes at least two to four years. A certificate program from a respected provider can substitute for a degree requirement in many entry-level positions.

Who Will Benefit Most from an AI Bootcamp?

The people who benefit most from a bootcamp are typically those new to the subject who learn AI tools and skills within a broader curriculum. Examples include data science and analytics, FinTech, marketing, and software engineering certificate programs featuring one or more AI bootcamp or training modules.

However, those who take an individual AI bootcamp for business purposes can also benefit. These include small business owners or administrative assistants who enroll in a bootcamp to learn AI techniques for automating repetitive tasks like social media posting or email marketing campaigns.

How Hard is It to Learn AI?

A general familiarity with a complex subject like artificial intelligence differs from expertise in using some of the many available AI tools and techniques. While learning this essential field can be a positive experience, the best way to gain AI proficiency is through formal training—especially a bootcamp or certificate program that includes it within a broader curriculum.

What Are the Most Challenging Parts of Learning AI?

Like other fields, the most challenging parts of learning artificial intelligence depend on the individual. Some people come to AI from a data science background, and others from software engineering, marketing, or finance. Those with strong statistics and probability backgrounds can benefit from their past training, as do those with computer science knowledge. Whatever the case, entry-level workers who come to their jobs with AI proficiency can have a significant advantage in the market.

How Long Does It Take to Learn AI?

As computing demands grow and more businesses require advanced digital strategies, the need to use artificial intelligence for numerous business tasks increases alongside them. While mastering AI for specific purposes can take relatively little time, learning AI can be lifelong. To find a happy medium between zero knowledge and advanced expertise, consider a bootcamp or certificate program that teaches beginner and intermediate-level AI skills.

Industries That Use AI

Banking, Financial Services & Insurance (BFSI)

Financial technology (FinTech), banking, and the insurance industry make up the supersector known as BFSI. Chicago is a well-known financial hub, and AI is essential to this industry. Cushman & Wakefield report that Chicago is the seventh-largest data center market in the US, an area ripe for AI integration with cloud services.

Food Innovation & Manufacturing

The Windy City’s proximity to some of the country’s most productive farmland, combined with its advanced manufacturing capability, lends itself to innovation. AI is essential to many manufacturing processes today, from detecting faulty machinery to supply chain management.

Transportation & Logistics

Another top Chicago industry, the transportation and logistics sector, is also a beneficiary of the AI revolution. Route optimization, inventory management, and delivery scheduling are all areas where multinational corporations use AI today.

AI Job Titles and Salaries

One of the highest-paying AI roles in the Chicago area is that of AI Research Engineer, currently around $122,000 per year in annual salary. These skilled professionals design, implement, and deploy deep learning models using AI algorithms. Comparable titles include Senior Research Engineer and Advanced AI Research Engineer.

Many other Chicago roles rely on AI expertise across nearly every industry and sector. Look for titles like Data Scientist, Web Developer, Software Engineer, Python Developer, and Digital Marketing Specialist among the most common. You can also search using popular AI keywords like ChatGPT and Copilot.

AI Bootcamps Near Me

Many AI bootcamps and certificate programs in Chicago feature AI training. You can also find even more courses live online via teleconferencing that you can take from anywhere, Chicago included. For example, Noble Desktop offers its immersive AI for Business with ChatGPT and Copilot, a 12-hour deep dive into generative AI for everything from creative content to workplace productivity.

Noble also hosts a 114-hour Data Science & AI Certificate program, which covers topics like Python, SQL, and machine learning (ML). For those looking to create apps with AI, check out Python for AI: Create AI Apps with Flask & OpenAI.

General Assembly also offers data science training to Chicago-area residents, including their Data Analytics Bootcamp. The course features Python, Power BI, and Tableau data visualization, among other subjects.

Another respected provider, Practical Programming, also hosts a Data Science Certificate program. The course covers topics like automation, ML, Python, and SQL, to name a few. Check course listings for more detailed information.

Boot Camp Digital offers Chicago residents AI training through their Digital Marketing Workshop. The beginner-friendly four-day series covers web optimization, SEO (search engine optimization), and other essential marketing topics.

Code Platoon provides a software engineering course called Full Stack Web Development for Chicago-area residents. The immersive 15-week program is beginner-friendly, with training from experts in the field.

AI Corporate Training

Corporate and onsite AI training is a no-brainer for busy professionals and company managers. Noble Desktop offers in-person and online options and can tailor a program to your organization’s needs.
Want your team to have more flexibility with their AI training? Noble offers discounted vouchers for its open-enrollment courses. Employers get a discount when they purchase the vouchers in bulk. Contact Noble Desktop for more information and a free consultation.

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Key Insights

Learn More About Chicago AI Bootcamps

What Can You Do with AI Training?

Automate Tasks

Develop an Application

Create a Recommendation System

What Will I Learn in an AI Bootcamp?

Data Science and Analytics

ChatGPT

FinTech

Digital Marketing

Critical Thinking

What Kinds of Training Options Are Available to Learn AI?

Choosing the Right Training Method for You

How Are Bootcamps Different from Other Kinds of Classes?

Who Will Benefit Most from an AI Bootcamp?

How Hard is It to Learn AI?

What Are the Most Challenging Parts of Learning AI?

How Long Does It Take to Learn AI?

Industries That Use AI

Banking, Financial Services & Insurance (BFSI)

Food Innovation & Manufacturing

Transportation & Logistics

AI Job Titles and Salaries

AI Bootcamps Near Me

AI Corporate Training

Chicago AI Corporate & Onsite Training Noble Desktop

AI Training Locations in or Near Chicago

Related Bootcamps

Chicago AI
Corporate & Onsite Training