Carnegie Mellon University is offering a free online version of its new Introduction to Modern AI course starting January 26, 2026. The course, taught by Professor Zico Kolter, teaches students to build AI chatbots like ChatGPT from scratch using just a few hundred lines of code. Lectures and assignments will be available online with a two-week delay from the in-person offering.

Students will learn the core techniques behind large language models, including supervised learning, neural networks, transformers, and reinforcement learning. The course covers everything from basic linear models to advanced topics like AI safety and alignment. All materials, including lecture videos and autograded assignments via the mugrade system, will be accessible online.

Grading consists of 20% homework, 40% quizzes, and 40% exams. Prerequisites include basic Python programming and calculus. Students can use AI tools for assignments but must complete final submissions independently. The course aims to demystify modern AI by showing how surprisingly simple the underlying techniques are, culminating in students building their own open-source LLM from scratch.