microsoft/generative-ai-for-beginners

What is it?

Key features

• 0121 lessons, each covering a self-contained generative AI topic
• 02Python and TypeScript code samples for build lessons
• 03Covers Azure OpenAI, OpenAI API, and Foundry Local as model backends
• 04Topics include prompt engineering, RAG with vector databases, function calling, and AI agents
• 05Includes lessons on responsible AI, security, and LLMOps

Use cases

• Developers new to LLMs who want a structured path into building AI apps
• Engineers adding chat, search, or image generation features to an existing product
• Teachers or study groups looking for a ready-made generative AI curriculum
• Developers who want to run the examples fully offline with Foundry Local

Quick start

1. 1

   Fork the repo to your own GitHub account

2. 2

   Clone the repo without translations using sparse checkout (Bash/macOS/Linux)

   git clone --filter=blob:none --sparse https://github.com/microsoft/generative-ai-for-beginners.git
3. 3

   Enter the cloned folder and set the sparse checkout paths

   cd generative-ai-for-beginners && git sparse-checkout set --no-cone '/*' '!translations' '!translated_images'
4. 4

   Open the Course Setup lesson to configure your development environment and API access

Things to know

• !Running the code requires an Azure OpenAI, Microsoft Foundry Models, or OpenAI API account.
• !GitHub Models is retiring at the end of July 2026, so the README recommends Microsoft Foundry Models instead.
• !It is a course of lessons and code samples, not a software library or application.

Topics

FAQ

What is generative-ai-for-beginners?

A 21-lesson Microsoft course teaching developers the fundamentals of building generative AI applications with Python and TypeScript. Generative AI for Beginners is a structured course of 21 lessons created by Microsoft Cloud Advocates. Each lesson is either a "Learn" lesson that explains a generative AI concept or a "Build" lesson that pairs the concept with code, with examples in Python and TypeScript where possible. Lessons can be taken in any order.

Is generative-ai-for-beginners free to use? What license does it have?

generative-ai-for-beginners is open source under the MIT license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.

Is generative-ai-for-beginners still maintained?

Actively maintained. The last commit to generative-ai-for-beginners was on Oct 19, 2026.

What can I use generative-ai-for-beginners for?

Developers new to LLMs who want a structured path into building AI apps Engineers adding chat, search, or image generation features to an existing product Teachers or study groups looking for a ready-made generative AI curriculum Developers who want to run the examples fully offline with Foundry Local

How do I install generative-ai-for-beginners?

Fork the repo to your own GitHub account Clone the repo without translations using sparse checkout (Bash/macOS/Linux): git clone --filter=blob:none --sparse https://github.com/microsoft/generative-ai-for-beginners.git Enter the cloned folder and set the sparse checkout paths: cd generative-ai-for-beginners && git sparse-checkout set --no-cone '/*' '!translations' '!translated_images' Open the Course Setup lesson to configure your development environment and API access

Where can I get generative-ai-for-beginners?

The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/microsoft/generative-ai-for-beginners