Introduction to Large Language Models (LLMs) for Business Professionals



Understand the foundations of large language models (LLMs) in just a few minutes per lesson. This course provides concise, focused content to help you grasp how LLMs work, how they learn, and how to apply them in real-world use cases. No technical background is required.

What You'll Learn
By completing this course, you'll be able to:
- Core concepts of large language models, including text generation, tokens, and embeddings.
- How LLMs learn through pre-training and fine-tuning to handle specialized tasks.
- Real-world use cases across marketing, customer service, research and development.
- Key differences between popular LLMs like GPT-4, Claude, and LLaMA to make informed choices.
- Connect LLM capabilities to your business goals and identify the best opportunities for adoption.
Course Overview
Large language models (LLMs) like GPT-4 (used in ChatGPT), Claude, and LLaMA are powerful tools for automating tasks, enhancing decision-making, and optimizing business processes. These models use advanced algorithms to process and generate human-like text, enabling applications like customer support, content creation, data analysis, and workflow automation
This course provides a practical introduction to LLMs, tailored for business leaders and non-tech professionals. You’ll learn the basics of how these models function, how they’re trained, and how to harness their potential.
The course includes practical examples and discussions to help you connect these technical concepts to business use cases. By the end, you’ll be equipped to identify areas where LLMs can create value, engage effectively with technical teams, and integrate these models into your organization’s strategy to drive success.
Why Business Professionals Need This Course
As a leader, you don't need to code—you need to understand the big picture:
- What makes LLMs powerful tools for business?
- How can they improve processes like customer support, content creation, or data analysis?
- What should you consider when choosing and implementing an LLM?
This course will answer these questions and more, giving you the knowledge to lead with confidence in the AI era.
Skills You'll Gain
- LLM Fundamentals: Gain a comprehensive understanding of how Large Language Models work and their core capabilities.
- Technical Concepts: Master key technical concepts including pre-training, fine-tuning, and model architectures.
- Practical Applications: Learn how to apply LLMs across different industries and use cases for maximum business impact.
- Strategic Implementation: Develop the knowledge needed to make informed decisions about LLM adoption and deployment.
- Communication Skills: Build confidence in discussing LLM technology and strategy with technical and business stakeholders.
Who Should Enroll?
- Business Leaders: Understand the potential of LLMs to enhance business operations.
- Non-Tech Professionals: Gain a practical understanding of LLMs and their applications.
- Researchers: Explore how LLMs can be used to advance your research and analysis.
- Developers: Learn to build secure, prompt-safe AI applications.
Course Outline
Introduction to Large Language Models
What are Large Language Models?
The Business Impact of LLMs
Key Applications and Opportunities
How LLMs Work
Understanding Text Processing and Generation
Tokens, Embeddings and Probabilities Simplified
From Input to Output: The LLM Pipeline
The Learning Process
Pre-training Fundamentals
Fine-tuning for Specific Tasks
From General to Specialized: Adapting LLMs
Real-World Applications
Customer Service Automation
Content Creation and Research
Cross-Industry Case Studies
Choosing the Right LLM
Comparing GPT-4, Claude, and LLaMA
Selecting Models for Business Needs
Course Conclusion and Certification
Course Format
- Duration: 3 Days (self-paced) with concise video lessons for busy learners.
- Materials: Video content, interactive exercises, and quizzes.
- Access: Available with a Learn Prompting Plus subscription, granting you access to 15 courses and certificates of completion that you can share on LinkedIn or any platform to highlight your new skills.
Meet Your Instructors

Sander Schulhoff
Founder & CEO, Learn Prompting
Sander Schulhoff is the Founder of Learn Prompting and an ML Researcher at the University of Maryland. He created the first open-source Prompt Engineering guide, which reached 3 million people and taught them to use tools like ChatGPT. Sander also led a team behind Prompt Report, the most comprehensive study of prompting ever done. This 76-page survey, co-authored with researchers from the University of Maryland, OpenAI, Microsoft, Google, Princeton, Stanford, and other leading institutions, analyzed 1,500+ academic papers and covered 200+ prompting techniques.

Fady Yanni
Co-founder & COO at Learn Prompting
Fady Yanni is the Founder and COO of Learn Prompting, the leading Prompt Engineering resource that has taught over 3 million people how to communicate effectively with AI. Previously, he was the Head of Fundraising at the Farama Foundation, the open-source maintainer of every major Reinforcement Learning library, including OpenAI's flagship project, Gym.
Why Choose This Course?
- Clear and Concise: Bite-sized lessons under 15 minutes—designed for busy schedules.
- Interactive Learning: Reinforce concepts through quizzes, real-world examples, and hands-on exercises.
- Beginner-Friendly: No technical background needed—start from the basics and build your knowledge.
- Expert-Led: Learn from industry leaders in an easy-to-follow format.
Earn a Certifiate of Completion
By upgrading to Learn Prompting Plus, you automatically receive a certificate of completion for every course you complete. These certificates can easily be shared on LinkedIn, Twitter, or any other social platform to showcase your new skillset.
Start Your Free TrialProgram Pricing and Details
This course is included in our Learn Prompting Plus catalog, accessible with a monthly or yearly subscription.
Start your free 3-day trial to explore this course and earn a certificate upon completion!
Plus
Individual
$21
/month
billed annually
For people who are serious about becoming AI-powered
- Access to our entire course library, including Plus Courses
- Earn Certificates of Completion for all courses
- Use our in-course AI Playground with AI Tutor
- Complete engaging, hand-graded AI projects
- Join the largest AI Learning Discord community
- Receive priority customer support
Dive into Large Language Models Today
Join this course to master the core concepts of LLMs, learn how they are trained and fine-tuned, explore real-world applications, and make informed decisions about selecting the right models for your business needs.
Start Your Free TrialHere's what's included with your Learn Prompting Plus subscription:
Your trusted partner for mastering AI in the workplace.
Unlimited Access to Courses
Unlock our entire library of expert-designed courses and tutorials, featuring essential AI skills, advanced prompt engineering techniques, and the industry's top tools.
Exclusive AI Playground
Experiment with prompts and AI workflows directly in our interactive AI Playground, equipped with an AI Tutor for real-time guidance.
Real-World AI Projects
Develop practical expertise through hands-on instructor-graded projects that simulate real-world challenges, preparing you to excel in AI-driven roles.
Certificates of Completion
Highlight your achievements with industry-recognized certificates for every course, boosting your resume and demonstrating your AI proficiency.
Expert-Led Community
Join one of the largest AI learning communities with 45,000+ members, where you can network with top professionals, collaborate with peers, and get direct insights from AI experts.
Priority Customer Support
Receive dedicated, priority support to ensure a seamless and productive learning experience every step of the way.