Introducing
The AI Literacy Project
by SmarterX

We have an AI literacy problem.

AI is changing everything about how we communicate, sell, learn, teach, design products, start and grow businesses, hire and develop talent, manage tech stacks, build strategies, allocate resources, and drive performance. 

But, the vast majority of professionals and leaders are unaware of how quickly AI is advancing, and unprepared for the change it will bring in the months and years ahead.

That's why we're announcing The AI Literacy Project by SmarterX. 

The AI Literacy Project is designed to prepare individuals and organizations for the future of work by making AI education accessible and personalized.

We are setting out to: 

1. Drive AI understanding across industries and professions through affordable education.
2. Provide a path to AI mastery through content, events, and experiences.
3. Personalize learning journeys to maximize the positive impact of AI on people’s careers and lives.

The AI Literacy Project is anchored in the belief that AI literacy is not just a competitive advantage, but a career and business imperative.

Every professional has a choice to maintain the status quo or accelerate their AI literacy and capabilities. 

The AI Literacy Project is about empowering knowledge workers across every industry to thrive through the disruption and uncertainty ahead.

Preparing for Unprecedented Change

AI models from Anthropic, Google, Meta, OpenAI, xAI, and other leading AI companies are rapidly becoming smarter and more generally capable. 

Many AI researchers appear increasingly confident we are on a near-term path to AI systems that are on par with humans at most cognitive tasks (i.e. artificial general intelligence or AGI), or even beyond human capabilities at most, if not all, cognitive tasks (i.e. artificial superintelligence or ASI).

Whether AGI is achieved or not, the race to build more powerful AI systems is accelerating innovation, and, in the process, transforming industries, the economy, the workforce, educational systems, and society.

We are experiencing early applications of voice and vision capabilities that will change the way we interact with our devices and the world around us.

We are at the dawn of agentic AI, in which AI agents will increasingly be able to plan, take actions, and complete tasks on behalf of users.

And, we are witnessing the emergence of advanced reasoning models that are able to solve increasingly complex problems in science, mathematics, and business by simply taking more time to “think.” 

We must have a sense of urgency as a society to understand these changes, assess the potential impact on people and businesses, and proactively pursue the knowledge and capabilities to adapt and evolve. 

Core AI Principles

The AI Literacy Project is based on a collection of core AI principles:

• We believe AI education should be accessible to all. 
• We believe AI education will be the foundation for success in every organization.
• We believe in a human-centered approach to AI that empowers and augments people. 
• We believe in the value of human knowledge, experience, emotion, imagination, and creativity. 
• We believe in the potential of AI to have profound benefits for humanity and society.
• We believe in an open approach to sharing our AI research, knowledge, ideas, experiences, and processes.
• We believe in the importance of upskilling and reskilling professionals, and using AI to build more fulfilling careers and lives.
• We believe in the potential to reimagine business models, reinvent industries and careers, and rethink what's possible.
• We believe in the redistribution of talent to drive growth and innovation, rather than the displacement of jobs to maximize profits from AI-powered efficiency gains.
• We believe in partnering with organizations and people who share our principles. 

Free AI Education and Resources

The AI Literacy Project builds on years of AI research and education from Marketing AI Institute and SmarterX (Note: I founded Marketing AI Institute in 2016, and spun out SmarterX in 2024 to tell the story of AI beyond marketing), and includes a number of free initiatives to help people understand and adopt AI:

• Monthly AI Classes: Intro to AI and 5 Steps to Scaling AI are offered live each month for professionals and leaders. More than 30,000 people have registered for these classes since November 2021. 
• The Artificial Intelligence Show Podcast: The weekly podcast co-hosted by me and Mike Kaput keeps listeners up-to-date on AI news and trends. In addition to the 50+ weekly episodes planned for 2025, The Road to AGI (and Beyond) series will debut in Q1 2025 featuring interviews with AI experts. The podcast had more than 400,000 downloads in 2024. 
• AI Newsletters: This Week in AI from Marketing AI Institute and the ExecAI Insider from SmarterX offer more than 35,000 readers timely links, editorials, and insights each week. 
• Marketing AI Community: A Slack community of more than 9,000 marketers and business leaders.
• AI Webinars: Monthly webinars featuring AI technologies that demonstrate practical use cases and solutions.  
• AI Blueprints: A collection of downloadable PDFs that make AI approachable for workers across industries, departments, business types, and careers.
• AI Summits: AI for Writers Summit and AI for B2B Marketers Summit have free virtual registration options and attracted more than 8,000 attendees in 2024.  
• AI Tools: SmarterX provides a series of custom GPTs—JobsGPT, CampaignsGPT, ProblemsGPT, and Co-CEO—to drive efficiency and productivity, while preparing businesses for the future of work. 

Expanding AI Courses, Certificates, and Membership in 2025

Moving forward, a major focus of The AI Literacy Project is to solve for the lack of formal AI education and training in enterprises, and to make premium AI courses more accessible. 

According to Accenture research, “94% of workers say they want to learn new skills to work with generative AI, but only 5% of organizations provide gen AI training at scale.” 

Meanwhile, according to Marketing AI Institute’s 2024 State of Marketing AI Report, 67% say a lack of education and training is a top barrier to AI adoption, and 75% of respondents’ employers do not have internal AI-focused education or training currently developed.

In response, we are reimagining the AI Academy and our AI Mastery Membership program to accelerate AI understanding and responsible adoption across every industry. This includes reducing prices and dramatically expanding course offerings. 

Phase 1: Piloting AI and Scaling AI Course Series Now Included (Starting Jan. 24)

During Phase 1—starting Jan. 24, 2025—the AI Mastery Membership program is expanding. 

The current AI Mastery Membership features exclusive resources and content, including Quarterly AI Trends Briefings, Generative AI Mastery classes, and Ask-Me-Anything sessions (AMAs) for $999 per user, per year. 

The Membership will now include access to our flagship professional certificate course series—Piloting AI (regularly $299) and Scaling AI (regularly $999). A savings of $1,298 for Members.  

All existing AI Mastery Members will have immediate access to the Piloting AI and Scaling AI series in their accounts. 

Phase 2: Academy 2.0 (Spring 2025)

Phase 2—starting in Spring 2025—will feature a new AI Academy technology platform and user experience, dramatically expanded courses and professional certificates, and customizable turnkey AI Academy solutions for businesses that are looking to quickly launch and scale AI education in their organizations. 

All AI Mastery Memberships for Individuals will automatically receive the new benefits—at the same $999 per user, per year price—as they roll out. 

Join now to get early access as the new courses are released. 

We will also be introducing new Business accounts with full access to courses, live classes, and the content library, as well as customized learning paths, reporting, and admin consoles. 

Pricing for Business accounts will be:

• $399 per user, per year for 5 - 99 licenses 
• $349 per user for 100 - 999 licenses 
• $299 per user for 1,000+ licenses. 

Join the Business account beta waitlist to get notified when more information is available. 

New Courses and Certificates planned for the Phase 2 release include:

• AI Fundamentals Course Series with Professional Certificate
• Piloting AI Course Series with Professional Certificate
• Scaling AI Course Series with Professional Certificate
• Gen AI App Course Series with Badges
• AI for Industries Course Series with Professional Certificates
• AI for Departments Course Series with Professional Certificates

* Note: Courses shown are the preliminary roadmap, and are subject to change. 

Phase 3: Course Expansion (Fall 2025)

We will continue to introduce new course series designed to personalize AI learning journeys and help professionals achieve mastery in their professions and industries. 

All AI Master Members will receive access to the new content as it rolls out. 

Our current roadmap includes plans for three new series in fall 2025:

• AI for Executives Course Series with Professional Certificates
• AI for Careers Course Series with Professional Certificates
• AI for Businesses Course Series with Professional Certificates

* Note: Courses shown are the preliminary roadmap, and are subject to change. 

Seeking Partners Who Share Our Vision and Principles

If you or your organization is interested in supporting The AI Literacy Project, we’d love to hear from you. 

Some potential ways to partner include:

• Underwrite AI education at discounted rates for students, educators, non-profits, and unemployed professionals.
• Amplify the reach of our free AI education and training. 
• Collaborate on new content, events, and experiences that accelerate AI literacy. 
• Offer exclusive discounts to your association members or customers.

Contact us to explore partnership opportunities. 

FAQs

General

• If I was previously enrolled as a Mastery member, will I get the new courses?

• • Yes, as an existing AI Mastery member, you automatically gain access to new courses at no extra cost. You’ll see them added to your membership portal as soon as they launch.

• What is the AI Literacy Project? 

• • The AI Literacy Project is an initiative by SmarterX to make AI education accessible and personalized for everyone. It offers resources, courses, and memberships to prepare professionals across all industries for the rapidly evolving future of work.

• Who can benefit from the AI Literacy Project?

• • Anyone curious about AI, at any stage of their AI journey—students, educators, business leaders, and professionals from any industry or role—can benefit. 

• Is this initiative only for marketers or tech professionals, or can anyone join?

• • Anyone can join! While we originated in marketing education, The AI Literacy Project is designed for professionals of all backgrounds and skill levels who want to understand and leverage AI.

• I want to scale AI education in my company—what solutions do you offer?

• • The new Business accounts launch in Spring 2025. Business accounts offer discounted per-user pricing, plus comprehensive AI Academy solutions featuring customizable learning paths, reporting, and admin consoles. These help you quickly roll out AI education across teams and track progress at scale. You can join the waitlist now.

• How are you ensuring responsible and ethical AI adoption?

• • We prioritize a human-centered approach to AI, focusing on empowering people rather than replacing them. Our courses emphasize responsible and ethical AI practices, addressing topics like transparency, bias, and societal impact to ensure learners adopt AI in a way that benefits both individuals and organizations.

• How can I partner with or sponsor The AI Literacy Project?

• • Please contact our team - we can schedule a discovery call to discuss your goals. 

• Where can I go for more information or to sign up?

• • To learn more about our AI Mastery Membership, visit our website. 

• How can I stay updated on the exact release dates and features of each phase?

• • To stay updated on release dates and features for each phase, subscribe to our newsletter and check our website regularly. These channels will provide the latest announcements and detailed updates as new courses and features roll out.

Content

• What courses are included in the new Mastery program? 

• • The new AI Mastery program now includes the flagship Piloting AI and Scaling AI course series, which come with professional certificates. As the program expands in future phases, additional courses like AI Fundamentals, AI for Industries, AI for Departments, and more will also be included, giving members access to a growing library of resources at no extra cost.

• What’s included in the AI Mastery Membership, and how do the professional certificate courses differ?

• • The AI Mastery Membership includes exclusive resources like Quarterly AI Trends Briefings, Generative AI Mastery classes, AMAs, and access to professional certificate courses such as Piloting AI and Scaling AI. The professional certificate courses offer structured, in-depth learning and credentials upon completion, while the membership provides ongoing access to a wide range of AI education resources and updates.

• Will I earn an official certificate or credential?

• • Yes! Some of our courses, such as Piloting AI and Scaling AI, include professional certificates upon completion. 

• What is the timeline for new course releases?

• • Phase 1 (Starting Jan. 24, 2025): AI Mastery Membership now includes Piloting AI and Scaling AI courses.
  • Phase 2 (Spring 2025): Launch of Academy 2.0 with a new technology platform, expanded course library, and customizable solutions for businesses.
  • Phase 3 (Fall 2025): Further expansion with specialized course series (e.g., AI for Executives, AI for Careers, AI for Businesses).

• Are these courses self-paced or live, and how do I access them?

• • Our courses offer a mix of self-paced and live learning options. Piloting AI and Scaling AI are on-demand and self-paced. Members will receive login credentials upon payment. 

• Do I need to wait for Phase 2 or 3 to sign up, or can I join now and still access new content later?

• • By signing up now, you’ll gain immediate access to all current content and archives and automatically receive new courses and features as they’re released in Phases 2 and 3—at no additional cost.

Pricing

• What’s available for someone who wants to explore AI education without immediate cost?

• • We offer several free resources, including monthly Intro to AI classes, webinars, newsletters, downloadable AI Blueprints, and access to our Marketing AI Community on Slack. You can also listen to The Artificial Intelligence Show podcast and attend free virtual summits to start exploring AI education at no cost. These options are external to the AI Mastery Membership.

• How much does membership cost, and are there discounts for teams?

• • The AI Mastery Membership costs $999 per user, per year. For teams, we offer Business accounts with discounted pricing: $399 per user for 5-99 licenses, $349 per user for 100-999 licenses, and $299 per user for 1,000+ licenses. These accounts include additional features like reporting, admin tools, and customized learning paths.

• Are there any payment plans available for individual AI Mastery Memberships?

• • No, only annual memberships are available. 

• Do you offer special discounts to students, educators, or nonprofits?

• • We offer 50% off for the first nonprofit or education license. Groups of 5+ receive the course for $299 per license. This is for accredited educational institutions and verified nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status.

• Can I upgrade or downgrade my membership if my needs change?

• • There is only one membership level. You have the option to cancel or renew annually. 

• Do you provide discounts for professional associations, alumni networks, or referral partnerships?
  
  
  • We would enjoy working with your network or association on affiliate programs or group rates. Please contact our team to start that conversation.