Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning are two of the fastest-growing emerging technologies right now. In late 2022, generative AI burst onto the tech scene in the shape of ChatGPT and its antecedents. However, that’s not the first time AI has made a major impact. In fact, the first AI chatbot, Eliza, was around in the 1960s.

Both AI and machine learning do far more than chat and research. AI is embedded in analytics, predictive forecasting, and monitoring for multiple industries. As the use of AI and machine learning expands, the need for professionals with relevant skills is also growing exponentially.

OPIT (Open Institute of Technology) provides top-tier education in various tech fields, including highly respected machine learning and artificial intelligence courses. Let’s take a look at these fascinating technologies and how the right AI machine learning course can elevate your tech career.

Understanding AI and Machine Learning

When you’re searching for courses on artificial intelligence and machine learning, it helps to have a basic definition for both terms. If you already work in the tech industry, you likely work with one or both of these technologies every day. Yet they’re often so embedded within systems or apps that you might not even realize.

AI refers to the computer’s to exhibit behavior that replicates human thought patterns. However, the details of this definition are a little more complex than that. “Computers” can mean anything from a small subsystem to a supercomputer. It can also mean your smartphone or an app. And, by emulating human behavior, experts don’t necessarily mean AI does things exactly like us. Truly “thinking” AI with genuine cognitive abilities is a long way off.

What AI actually does is take things humans can already do – and do it faster and more often. Think about a software DevOps team requiring automated monitoring and testing of code prior to deployment. AI can do this while checking for vulnerabilities and producing relevant, actionable reports. In healthcare, AI uses pattern recognition to diagnose diseases quickly.

Machine learning is a subset of AI. It focuses on using algorithms to consistently and continuously improve pattern recognition for AI that appears to “learn.”

Courses in AI and machine learning are so popular because of the inherent usefulness of these technologies. Learning these skills now is a way to future-proof your tech career.

The Best AI and Machine Learning Courses

Numerous artificial intelligence and machine learning courses cover different topics and niches. You may choose to learn in a classroom setting or remotely. Some courses are short-term, generally covering foundational aspects of AI. Others carry on over several months for a deeper learning experience. Always consider how the course you invest in will impact your career advancement opportunities.

Absolute beginners may benefit from the Coursera IBM Applied Professional Certificate. This course runs entirely online over three months, presuming you can commit to 10 hours a week. Students learn the basics of AI, particularly how it powers IBM’s Watson AI services.

Oxford Online runs a 6-week online AI program course requiring 7-10 hours of commitment a week. This course looks at AI concepts and business cases for implementation and takes a glimpse at the future of AI.

For classroom-based courses on AI and machine learning, prospective students are best placed to contact local educational institutions. Offline courses vary in length, depth, and usefulness, so always check the syllabus and what certification you gain. It’s worth considering how far you’ll have to travel to gain a qualification.

One of the biggest challenges with AI is making it ethical. OPIT addresses that head-on with the MSc in Responsible AI. Learn advanced AI skills while keeping inclusivity and human interest at the heart of every aspect of the syllabus.

OPIT also offers other courses that consider the impact AI has on modern business practice. Undergraduates could consider the BSc in Digital Business, which includes a full Introduction to AI segment. There are also elective topics, including AI-Driven Software Development.

The Structure of AI and Machine Learning Courses

What should you expect from the best courses on AI and machine learning? Each course has a specific length, either in terms of study hours or a set deadline date. Most online courses have a specific intake date to make sure students get the right support at the right time.

Once you start your machine learning and AI course, you can expect a good balance between theory and practical application. For example, OPIT’s master’s degree course starts with foundational theory and critical thinking around ethics in AI. From here, students get to handle complex data sets. They program in Python and learn how to design effective AI-powered data pipelines.

The structure of your course will depend on the focus, but to give you the best foundation, courses may follow a similar pathway to this:

  • Basics of AI, including the differences between AI and machine learning
  • Discovering applications of AI — these may be general or industry-specific, depending on the nature of your course
  • Data collation, analysis, and visualization
  • Programming for AI
  • Natural language processing (NLP) and natural language generation (NLG)
  • Removing or preventing bias in AI training

Some courses will also offer advanced elective programs, such as understanding AI within the sphere of FinOps (financial operations) or business strategy. If you have a particular industry you’re hoping to excel in, look out for courses with topics that could help you further those ambitions.

Online AI and Machine Learning Courses: Flexibility and Accessibility

Choosing one of the best machine learning and AI courses to do online offers more benefits than new skills. Online learning allows you to study in your preferred environment and at your own pace. You just need to make sure you keep an eye on set deadlines.

You’re not distracted by a class full of people, but you still have access to tutors and support. Many open learning institutes have online communities of students. These are great for preventing isolation and gaining advice.

As a tech professional, the ability to set your own study schedule is essential. Online AI and machine learning courses provide flexibility, allowing you to learn as you work. With OPIT’s Master’s Degree in Responsible Artificial Intelligence, you could potentially have an MSc in 12-18 months without taking any time off work.

Key Skills Gained from AI and Machine Learning Courses

When choosing your online course on AI and machine learning, consider the skills you’ll learn. You should expect to cover:

  • Data preprocessing
  • Data cleansing
  • Data visualization and storytelling
  • Linear and nonlinear dimensionality reduction
  • Manifold learning
  • Human-centered AI design
  • Language-agnostic AI programming skills

An MSc in AI and machine learning provides specialized skills and knowledge that you can use to address complex AI challenges in just about any industry.

Choosing the Right AI and Machine Learning Course for You

Picking the right AI and machine learning course is simpler when you consider your goals. Do you want a quick upskill and insight into emerging technologies? Or do you want an immersive course that empowers you to take on new career challenges? Most AI and machine learning courses will provide guidance on the type of career students could hope to pursue after completion.

Always look at the syllabus of a course and see if it meets your personal goals. If you’re unsure about any aspects, contact the education provider for more information.

OPIT’S MSc in Responsible Artificial Intelligence: An Overview

If you’ve decided an online AI and machine learning course is for you, as a graduate, an MSc is the natural choice. The next intake for the OPIT MSc in Responsible AI is September 2024, and details on how to apply are online.

What are the benefits of taking this course?

  • A fast-track option to gain your master’s degree in just 12 months
  • Fully inclusive fees — no hidden charges
  • Various scholarship and funding options
  • Availability of early-bird discounts
  • Access to academic leaders from all over the world
  • Education with an EU-accredited institution

Your MSc course covers every aspect of AI you might require for a career in AI and machine learning. Topics start with AI and ethics and quickly move into human-centered design, computer vision, and how AI impacts IoT and automation.

As you move into your final term, you start your MSc thesis, which focuses on AI projects with industrial relevance. There’s also the opportunity to pursue an internship to complement your thesis and gain vital experience.

AI and Machine Learning Courses for a Future-Proof Career

AI is now part of most growing industries, from property and real estate to healthcare and social care. Tech professionals have the opportunity to upskill themselves and move into fields that they have a real passion for. Organizations are looking for and willing to pay high salaries for knowledgeable, qualified AI experts.

Taking the time now to embark on machine learning and AI courses could speed your journey along your chosen career trajectory.

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Metro: Is the AI bubble about to burst after Bank of England warns of dot-com crash repeat?
OPIT - Open Institute of Technology
OPIT - Open Institute of Technology
Oct 15, 2025 5 min read

Source:

  • Metro, published on October 09th, 2025

The Bank of England is ringing the bell over an ‘AI bubble’ that could burst at any moment – or maybe not, some experts told Metro.

By Josh Milton

After ChatGPT came on the scene in 2022, the tech industry quickly began comparing the arrival of AI to the dawn of the internet in the 1990s.

Back then, dot-com whizzes were minting easy millions only for the bubble to burst in 2000 when interest rates were hiked. Investors sold off their holdings, companies went bust and people lost their jobs.

Now central bank officials are worried that the AI industry may see a similar boom and bust.

record of the Financial Policy Committee’s October 2 meeting shows officials saying financial market evaluations of AI ‘appear stretched’.

‘This, when combined with increasing concentration within market indices, leaves equity markets particularly exposed should expectations around the impact of AI become less optimistic,’ they added.

AI-focused stocks are mainly in US markets but as so many investors across the world have bought into it, a fallout would be felt globally.

ChatGPT creator OpenAI, chip-maker Nvidia and cloud service firm Oracle are among the AI poster companies being priced big this year.

Earnings are ‘comparable to the peak of the dot-com bubble’, committee members said.

Factors like limited resources – think power-hungry data centres, utilities and software that companies are spending billions on – and the unpredictability of the world’s politics could lead to a drop in stock prices, called a ‘correction’.

In other words, the committee said, investors may be ignoring how risky AI technology is.

Metro spoke with nearly a dozen financial analysts, AI experts and stock researchers about whether AI will suffer a similar fate. There were mixed feelings.

‘Every bubble starts with a story people want to believe,’ says Dat Ngo, of the trading guide, Vetted Prop Firms.

‘In the late 90s, it was the internet. Today, it’s artificial intelligence. The parallels are hard to ignore: skyrocketing stock prices, endless hype and companies investing billions before fully proving their business models.

‘The Bank of England’s warning isn’t alarmist – it’s realistic. When too much capital chases the same dream, expectations outpace results and corrections follow.’

Dr Alessia Paccagnini, an associate Professor from the University College Dublin’s Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, says that companies are spending £300billion annually on AI infrastructure, while shoppers are spending $12billion. That’s a big difference.

Tech firms listed in the US now represent 30% of New York’s stock index, S&P 500 Index, the highest proportion in 50 years.

‘As a worst-case scenario, if the bubble does burst, the immediate consequences would be severe – a sharp market correction could wipe trillions from stock valuations, hitting retirement accounts and pension funds hard,’ Dr Paccagnini adds.

‘In my opinion, we should be worried, but being prepared could help us avoid the worst outcomes.’

One reason a correction would be so bad is because of how tangled-up the AI world is, says George Sweeney, an investing expert at the personal finance website site Finder.

‘If it fails to meet the lofty expectations, we could see an almighty unravelling of the AI hype that spooks markets, leading to a serious correction,’ he says.

Despite scepticism, AI feels like it’s everywhere these days, from dog bowls and fridges to toothbrushes and bird feeders.

And it might continue that way for a while, even if not as enthusiastically as before, says Professor Filip Bialy, who specialises in computer science and AI ethics at the at Open Institute of Technology.

‘TAI hype – an overly optimistic view of the technological and economic potential of the current paradigm of AI – contributes to the growth of the bubble,’ he says.

‘However, the hype may end not with the burst of the bubble but rather with a more mature understanding of the technology.’

Some stock researchers worry that the AI boom could lose steam when the companies spending billions on the tech see profits dip.

The AI analytic company Qlik found that only one in 10 business say their AI initiatives are seeing sizeable returns.

Qlik’s chief strategy officer, James Fisher, says this doesn’t show that the hype for AI is bursting, ‘but how businesses look at AI is changing’.

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Everything You Need to Know to Join OPIT
OPIT - Open Institute of Technology
OPIT - Open Institute of Technology
Oct 13, 2025 6 min read

OPIT – Open Institute of Technology offers an innovative and exciting way to learn about technology. It offers a range of bachelor’s and master’s programs, plus a Foundation Year program for those taking the first steps towards higher education. Through its blend of instruction-based and independent learning, it empowers ambitious minds with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed.

This guide covers all you need to know to join OPIT and start your educational journey.

Introducing the Open Institute of Technology

Before we dig into the nitty-gritty of the OPIT application process, here’s a brief introduction to OPIT.

OPIT is a fully accredited Higher Education Institution under the European Qualification Framework (EQF) and the MFHEA Authority. It offers exclusively online education in English to an international community of students. With a winning team of top professors and a specific focus on computer science, it trains the technology leaders of tomorrow.

Some of the unique elements that characterize OPIT’s approach include:

  • No final exams. Instead, students undergo progressive assessments over time
  • A job-oriented, practical focus on the courses
  • 24/7 support, including AI assistance and student communities, so everyone feels supported
  • A strong network of company connections, unlocking doors for graduates

Reasons to Join OPIT

There are many reasons for ambitious students and aspiring tech professionals to study with OPIT.

Firstly, since all the study takes place online, it’s a very flexible and pleasant way to learn. Students don’t feel the usual pressures or suffer the same constraints they would at a physical college or university. They can attend from anywhere, including their own homes, and study at a pace that suits them.

OPIT is also a specialist in the technology field. It only offers courses focused on tech and computer science, with a team of professors and tutors who lead the way in these topics. This ensures that students get high-caliber learning opportunities in this specific sector.

Learning at OPIT is also hands-on and applicable to real-world situations, despite taking place online. Students are not just taught core skills and knowledge, but are also shown how to apply those skills and knowledge in their future careers.

In addition, OPIT strives to make technology education as accessible, inclusive, and affordable as possible. Entry requirements are relatively relaxed, fees are fair, and students from around the world are welcome here.

What You Need to Know About Joining OPIT

Now you know why it’s worth joining OPIT, let’s take a closer look at how to go about it. The following sections will cover how to apply to OPIT, entry requirements, and fees.

The OPIT Application Process

Unsurprisingly for an online-only institution, the application process for OPIT is all online, too. Users can submit the relevant documents and information on their computers from the comfort of their homes.

  1. Visit the official OPIT site and click the “Apply now” button to get started, filling out the relevant forms.
  2. Upload your supporting documents. These can include your CV, as well as certificates to prove your past educational accomplishments and level of English.
  3. Take part in an interview. This should last no more than 30 minutes. It’s a chance for you to talk about your ambitions and background, and to ask questions you might have about OPIT.

That’s it. Once you complete the above steps, you will be admitted to your chosen course and can start enjoying OPIT education once the first term begins. You’ll need to sign your admissions contract and pay the relevant fees, then begin classes.

Entry Requirements for OPIT Courses

OPIT offers a small curated collection of courses, each with its own requirements. You can consult the relevant pages on the official OPIT site to find out the exact details.

For the Foundation Program, for example, you simply need an MQF/EQF Level 3 or equivalent qualification. You also need to demonstrate a minimum B2 level of English comprehension.

For the BSc in Digital Business, applicants should have a higher secondary school leaving certificate, plus B2-level English comprehension. You can also support your application with a credit transfer from previous studies or relevant work experience.

Overall, the requirements are simple, and it’s most important for applicants to be ambitious and eager to build successful careers in the world of technology. Those who are driven and committed will get the best from OPIT’s instruction.

Fees and Flexible Payments at OPIT

As mentioned above, OPIT makes technological education accessible and affordable for all. Its tuition fees cover all relevant teaching materials, and there are no hidden costs or extras. The institute also offers flexible payment options for those with different budgets.

Again, exact fees vary depending on which course you want to take, so it’s important to consult the specific info for each one. You can pay in advance to enjoy 10% off the final cost, or refer a friend to also obtain a discount.

In addition to this, OPIT offers need-based and merit-based scholarships. Successful candidates can obtain discounts of up to 40% on bachelor’s and master’s tuition fees. This can substantially bring the term cost of each program down, making OPIT education even more accessible.

Credit Transfers and Experience

Those who are entering OPIT with pre-existing work experience or relevant academic achievements can benefit from the credit transfer program. This allows you to potentially skip certain modules or even entire semesters if you already have relevant experience in those fields.

OPIT is flexible and fair in terms of recognizing prior learning. So, as long as you can prove your credentials and experience, this could be a beneficial option for you. The easiest way to find out more and get started is to email the OPIT team directly.

Join OPIT Today

Overall, the process to join OPIT is designed to be as easy and stress-free as possible. Everything from the initial application forms to the interview and admission process is straightforward. Requirements and fees are flexible, so people in different situations and from different backgrounds can get the education they want. Reach out to OPIT today to take your first steps to tech success.

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