Free Google AI Course Boosts Research And Writing
A free course from the Knight Center for Journalism in collaboration with Google shows writers how to research faster, draft cleaner, and verify with confidence. Enrollment is limited and open for a short window.
If you write for a living-newsroom, newsletter, book, or brand-this is a practical playbook for building consistent, auditable workflows.
What you'll learn (4 focused modules)
- Sourcing & research: Build source packs, structure queries, and compress large reads into briefings you can trust.
- Drafting & revision: Outline in minutes, test angles, tune tone, and attach citations alongside your text.
- Verification & ethics: Reduce bias and hallucinations, trace provenance, and disclose machine assistance clearly.
- Processing & audience: Smarter SEO, multilingual workflows, and analytics to prioritize stories that matter.
Tools you'll use (with real writer workflows)
- Pinpoint: Upload records, transcripts, PDFs, and surface names, entities, and quotes. Example: scan thousands of pages from a public records request to spot recurring players and fresh leads.
- NotebookLM: Build a living notebook from PDFs, interviews, and URLs, then ask grounded questions with citations. Example: assemble a policy briefing and generate a fact-checked explainer for your editor.
- Gemini: Create outlines, counterarguments, and plain-language summaries with structured prompts. Example: turn a dense report into a two-paragraph lede with bullet takeaways, ready to repurpose for a newsletter or script.
- Google Trends & News Consumer Insights: Track topic momentum and audience behavior to guide coverage and distribution-especially useful for lean teams.
Why this matters for writers
Most knowledge workers already use AI, but few run disciplined practices. As Microsoft's Work Trend Index notes: "The majority of knowledge workers are now doing some form of AI work, but many don't have disciplined practices - precisely what this training delivers." Source
The Knight Center at the University of Texas at Austin has taught hundreds of thousands through MOOCs that focus on real cases, peer forums, and hands-on assignments. Newsrooms are moving fast too: the Associated Press has automated earnings summaries for years and licenses content for AI training under tight contracts, while Reuters Institute surveys show most newsrooms are experimenting with generative tools and building transparency guardrails.
Responsible use is baked in
- Anchor outputs in reporting and primary documents.
- Cross-check model responses against original sources.
- Maintain a clear chain of custody for facts and edits.
- Avoid synthetic quotes; don't pass model phrasing as real speech.
- Disclose where and how AI assisted the work.
Who should enroll and what you get
- Ideal for beat reporters, editors, freelancers, educators, nonprofit communicators, students, and creators (video or newsletters).
- Instruction in English and Spanish.
- Certificate of participation on completion (useful for PD records or LinkedIn).
- Cohort-based and free, with limited seats and a short enrollment window.
- Early signups get an introductory module on AI basics, newsroom case studies, and setup tips before training begins.
Prep checklist (30 minutes, max)
- Collect 5-15 items you want to analyze in class: reports, interviews, datasets, PDFs.
- Write a short paragraph on your beat or business goals to guide prompt development.
- Review your organization's AI policy or adopt common guardrails from groups like AP, Poynter, or UNESCO.
- Decide what stays human-led (fact-finding and final phrasing should).
Next steps
- Check the course page at the Knight Center and enroll while seats are open: journalismcourses.org
- If you want more options specific to your role, browse curated picks here: AI courses by job
If you want sharper research and faster drafts without sloppy work, bring a real project and get value on day one.
Your membership also unlocks:
