Home / Non-Accredited / Artificial Intelligence & Copilot / Introduction to AI for the Workplace (1 day)
Quick Look Course Summary:Introduction to AI for the Workplace (1 day)
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Length: 1 day(s)
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Price (at your venue): 1 Person R 5,654 EX VAT 3 Person R 3,982 EX VAT 10 Person R 2,940 EX VAT
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Certification Type:Non-Accredited
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Locations & Venues: Off-site or in-house. We train in all major city centres throughout South Africa.
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Introduction to AI for the Workplace (1 day)
Complete beginners leave understanding what AI is, using it confidently for everyday tasks, and knowing the rules for using it safely.
AI tools such as ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot and Google Gemini are already open on desks across South African workplaces – often with no guidance on what is accurate or safe. Some staff avoid them because the jargon puts them off; others use them freely with client information. This introduction to AI course gives your whole team the same plain-language starting point: what AI is, what it can and cannot do, and how to use it well in their own role.
The day is built for beginners. Delegates learn how these tools produce an answer and why they are sometimes confidently wrong, meet the three main assistants, and write their first useful prompts. They then practise everyday uses – drafting and shortening emails, summarising long documents, researching a topic and making sense of a table – on tasks from their own jobs.
Safe use runs through the whole day: spotting made-up facts, recognising bias, and knowing what personal and company information must never go into a public AI tool under POPIA. Everyone leaves with a short personal AI routine they can start the next morning.
Why this course
For your organisation
- A shared, plain-language understanding of AI across the team
- Lower risk of client data and personal information going into public tools
- Staff who check AI output before it reaches a client or manager
- A practical first step before role-specific or Copilot training
For your delegates
- No jargon and no technical background needed
- Your first useful prompts, written and tested on the day
- Practice on tasks from your own job
- A simple safe-use checklist to keep at your desk
What delegates will be able to do
- Explain AI, machine learning and generative AI in plain language
- Describe what ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot and Google Gemini are and where each is used
- Write a clear prompt with a task, context, example and format
- Draft, shorten and rewrite emails and short reports with an AI assistant
- Summarise long documents and email threads into key points and actions
- Spot made-up facts, figures and references in AI output
- Apply simple rules about which personal and company information may never be entered into a public AI tool
Who should attend
Staff at any level who are new to AI or have only tried it casually: administrators, personal assistants, customer service and finance staff, team leaders and managers who want a clear, practical starting point. No technical background is needed. It also suits organisations that want a whole team introduced to AI on the same day with the same rules.
Course outline
Day 1 – AI at work for beginners
What AI really is
- Artificial intelligence, machine learning and generative AI in plain language
- How a large language model produces an answer – and why it can sound sure and still be wrong
- What AI does well at work and what it does badly
- Myths about AI and jobs, and what is actually changing in South African workplaces
The main tools and how to start
- ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot and Google Gemini: what each is and where you meet it
- Starting a chat, asking follow-up questions and uploading a document
- Free and paid versions, and why your organisation's rules matter
- Hands-on: your first three questions
Writing your first good prompts
- Why vague questions get vague answers
- Four parts of a useful prompt: task, context, example and format
- Improving an answer with follow-ups instead of starting over
- Saving prompts you will use again
Everyday uses by role
- Drafting and shortening emails, letters and reports
- Summarising long documents, threads and PDFs into key points and actions
- Researching a topic and brainstorming options
- Simple analysis: making sense of a table or survey results
- Hands-on: one task from your own job
Using AI responsibly
- Hallucinations: spotting made-up facts, figures and references
- Bias in AI output and why it matters
- POPIA and personal information: what never to paste into a public AI tool
- Your organisation's AI policy and being open about AI-assisted work
Your personal AI routine
- Choosing three tasks to hand to AI next week
- A quick check routine before you use any output
- Where to go next: role-based masterclasses and longer courses
- Questions and close
How it is delivered
One day, 08:30-16:00. In person at your offices anywhere in South Africa, at a BOTI venue, or live online. One delegate or a group of up to 20. Delegates practise on laptops with internet access and the AI tools your organisation allows; laptops can be supplied on request. Workbook, starter prompt sheet and a safe-use checklist included. We deliver it at your offices in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town and anywhere else in South Africa, at a BOTI venue in Johannesburg, or live online for teams in different places.
What our clients say
“The training was very informative and practical, leaving our employees feeling confident in their ability to leverage Excel more effectively.”
“The training courses were efficiently scheduled and planned around our timetable. We were impressed by the quality of training. I look forward to working with Business Optimization Training Institute in the future.”
“We were particularly impressed by the quality of facilitation and the practical relevance of the content presented. The programme was delivered with professionalism, clarity, and a strong emphasis on real-world application.”
Frequently asked questions
Is this suitable for people who have never used AI?
Yes. It is written for complete beginners and uses plain language throughout. People who already use AI casually also benefit from the prompting and safe-use sessions.
Can you run this course at our offices?
Yes. We train at your premises anywhere in South Africa, at a BOTI venue, or live online.
How many people can attend?
From one delegate to groups of 20. The price per delegate drops as the group grows – see the price table, or ask us for a quote.
Is it accredited?
No – it is a non-accredited short course, and delegates receive a BOTI certificate of attendance.
Is there a longer or more advanced option?
Yes. Unleashing the Power of AI for Everyday Work is a two-day version with more practice, and BOTI runs one-day AI masterclasses for managers, HR, finance, sales, marketing and project managers, plus ChatGPT and Copilot courses.
Can you run this course in Johannesburg, Cape Town or Durban?
Yes. We train on site at your offices in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town and across South Africa, at a BOTI venue in Johannesburg, or live online so a team spread over several offices can attend together.
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