Generative AI: Prompt Engineering Basics — IBM

IBM’s course introduces prompt construction, compares common approaches and provides labs to put them into practice. Its three-module outline includes examples of interview-style prompting, text and image tasks, and a final project. The published workload includes exercises and assessments, so video length alone would understate the study time.

What you will learn

• Explain what a prompt contributes to a generative AI task.
• Compare prompting approaches through guided exercises.
• Apply prompt design and output evaluation in a final project.

Who this suits

This is a beginner course for learners who want a structured introduction with assessed work. Review the lab requirements if you are using a restricted work device or need particular accessibility support.

Before you enroll

Model-generated explanations are not evidence that an answer is correct. Judge the output against the task and reliable source material, especially when an exercise uses multiple reasoning steps.

Coursera offers paid certificate access, with trials or financial assistance on some enrollment options. An enroll-for-free button does not establish that all assessments and the certificate are free. Check the selected program and payment terms before starting.

Put it into practice

Repeat one lab with a second set of fictional inputs. Write down the expected result before running the prompt, then compare accuracy and instruction-following across both attempts.

Source and review

This overview is based on the provider's published information, checked on 12 October 2026. It is an editorial assessment, not a claim that we completed the resource. Time filters are approximate study ranges; projects and exercises can take longer.

View the curriculum and current access options at Coursera.

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