(Originally published April 2024 | Updated April 2026. Changes and updates are made daily in this insdustry, alwasy double check for updates and improvements. This list is not all inclusive.)
Where to Start Learning
If you’re brand new to AI or want to deepen your understanding, these are my top recommendations.
Anthropic’s Learning Hub offers clear, well-structured lessons on how AI works and how to use it effectively. This is the company behind Claude, and their educational content is excellent for all levels. Visit
anthropic.com/learn
Google’s Grow with Google program includes free courses on AI fundamentals, with practical exercises you can apply to your business right away. Visit
grow.google.com
NVIDIA’s Learning Platform provides deeper technical courses if you want to go beyond the basics. Great for anyone who wants to understand the technology behind the tools. Visit
learn.nvidia.com
MIT + Oxford Professional Education AI Courses are a larger investment but offer rigorous, university-level training for anyone who wants a deeper academic foundation in AI. Visit
getsmarter.com/products/subject/artificial-intelligence
Private AI Tutoring Sessions with Tammy offer personalized guidance on AI concepts and tools customized for your specific business. Visit hawkinstechco.com/ai100
Videos Worth Your Time
“The Rise of Artificial Intelligence” (43 min) gives a solid overview of AI development and where it’s headed.
youtube.com/watch?v=eX7iYN4wCWo
“Generative AI is About to Reset Everything” (21 min) explores what generative AI means for everyday business. youtu.be/WY518YRfs5M
“The Secret Rules of Modern Living: Algorithms” (1 hr) is a fascinating documentary on how algorithms already shape our daily lives.
youtu.be/kiFfp-HAu64
Podcasts I Recommend
The AI Daily Brief is a great way to stay current with what’s happening in AI without spending hours researching. Short, digestible episodes you can listen to on a morning walk or commute. Visit
aidailybrief.ai
The Artificial Intelligence Show from the Marketing AI Institute breaks down how AI applies to business and marketing. Visit
marketingaiinstitute.com/podcast-showcase
Human Centric AI Podcast focuses on the people side of AI, which matters just as much as the technology. Available wherever you listen to your podcasts.
AI Tools I Use and Recommend
Claude is my top recommendation for most business owners. It’s thoughtful, thorough, and particularly strong at writing, analysis, and working through complex business questions. It also has a Projects feature that lets you organize ongoing work.
Visit claude.ai
Gemini from Google is excellent for research and tasks that benefit from real time information. It connects naturally with Google Workspace, which many of you already use. Gemini is also my favorite tool for AI image generation.
Visit gemini.google.com
Perplexity combines AI conversation with live web search, giving you sourced answers you can verify. Think of it as a smarter, more conversational search engine.
Visit perplexity.ai
ChatGPT is widely used and great for brainstorming, drafting content, and building custom GPT assistants for repeatable tasks. Beware easily recognizable AI phrase use. For writing projects, I’d choose another platform.
Visit chat.openai.com
Otter automatically transcribes your meetings and generates summaries, which is a huge time saver if you’re in calls throughout the day. Visit otter.ai
Canva now includes AI features throughout its design platform, making it even easier to create professional graphics, social posts, and presentations.
Visit canva.com
Gamma lets you build slide decks and presentations with AI assistance, which is perfect when you need something polished without spending hours on design.
Visit gamma.app
(List updated April 2026. Changes and updates happen daily in this industry. Always double check for the latest updates and improvements. This list is not all inclusive.)