I tried OpenAI Academy’s free AI courses – and the certificate was a nice bonus

According to a set of stats aggregated by website Market Intelligence Tools, 62% of US adults aged 18 to 64 have reported using generative AI, as of May. As far back as last December, a McKinsey study found that 88% of organizations report using AI for at least one business function. In this world, learning and understanding how to use, teach, and build with AI is now table stakes for anyone looking for, or even holding onto a job. Also: The best free AI courses and certificates for upskilling in 2026 – and I’ve tried them all To make the process of growing your skills easier (and not coincidentally, giving you more experience with OpenAI’s offerings), OpenAI has the free OpenAI Academy, where you can take hands-on lessons and earn…