Discover how to learn Generative AI with JavaScript in a free, gamified course created by the Microsoft JavaScript + A.I Advocacy Team. A fun journey with historical characters, interactive projects, and cutting-edge technology.
In the latest video on my YouTube Channel, the Microsoft JavaScript + A.I Advocacy team presents an innovative initiative for developers who want to take their first steps with Artificial Intelligence: the free course Generative AI with JavaScript. Combining technical learning with a gamified experience, the course is an excellent gateway for those who want to explore Generative AI using JavaScript/TypeScript.
Let’s talk a bit more about the course and how it can help you become a more skilled and up-to-date developer with the latest tech trends.
About the Course: Generative AI with JavaScript
I recorded a video where I explain the main concepts covered in the course, including Generative AI techniques, practical examples, and tips to maximize your learning. If you haven’t watched it yet, here’s the link in Portuguese with English subtitles.
The video begins with an introduction to the course repository, hosted under the official Microsoft organization on GitHub.
The course takes a unique approach, using a time travel narrative where you interact with historical figures like Leonardo da Vinci, Ada Lovelace, Montezuma, and many others while learning AI fundamentals.
This engaging storyline is backed by solid technical content. Each lesson includes instructional reading material, practical challenges with exercises and quizzes, and a complementary app where you can chat with the historical characters using language models (LLMs). The mix of storytelling and technology makes the learning process immersive and accessible.
The Course Experience
During the video, I gave a full tour of the repository, highlighting that the course was originally in English (now it’s available in Portuguese too!!).
The course is structured into five initial lessons, with the promise of frequent updates following the rapid evolution of the Generative AI field. Today we’re talking about RAG (Retrieval Augmented Generation), and tomorrow we’re already exploring Model Context Protocol and intelligent agents. For this reason, the repository should be seen as a living, constantly evolving project.
To start learning, you can either clone the repository locally or use GitHub Codespaces, which is the recommended option in the video. With 60 free hours per month, Codespaces lets you launch a complete development environment straight from your browser, with no local installations required. This convenience democratizes access to the content, especially for those with limited resources.
Inside Codespaces, you’ll find a pre-configured environment with all the necessary dependencies to run the course examples and challenges. The repository includes a README.md file with detailed setup instructions, plus links to the companion app and other useful resources.
In the first lesson, for example, students learn about the fundamentals of Generative AI and LLMs, exploring their applications and limitations in a JavaScript development context. In addition to the text content, there’s an intro video and supporting slides, offering multiple ways to learn.
The Historical Characters App
One of the course highlights is the Characters App, an interactive application that simulates conversations with historical figures using LLMs. The video shows how to run this app directly in Codespaces—just navigate to the correct folder, run npm install and npm run start, and open port 3000 in the integrated browser.
Upon launching the app, users can choose characters like Dinocrates of Alexandria, Leonardo da Vinci, Ludovico Sforza, Montezuma, and Ada Lovelace. Each responds in their own personality and historical context, allowing the student to experience different interaction styles with AI.
The experience is enhanced with voice support, bringing the characters to life and encouraging a playful way to understand AI concepts. It’s an approach that blends technical learning with cultural and historical immersion.
Guided Learning with Exercises
Another important aspect of the course is that it doesn’t stop at theory. Each lesson includes practical exercises that challenge students to apply what they’ve learned. The video shows where to find these challenges and how to locate the suggested solutions—helping both beginners and those looking to review their knowledge.
The idea is to truly engage with the content. Instead of just consuming ready-made material, you’re encouraged to try solving the problems on your own before checking the solution. This active approach supports better knowledge retention.
There are also useful tips on setting up your environment, using GitHub Copilot, and taking advantage of free model access like Claude, Gemini, and GPT-4o. The video emphasizes that nowadays, there are many options for those who want to learn and experiment with AI without spending money—including using GitHub Models!
Conclusion
Here’s the invitation! Explore the course at your own pace, interact with the characters, complete the exercises, and follow all the updates directly from the course repository. This way, you’ll always stay ahead in your learning journey with Generative AI using JavaScript/TypeScript.
If you haven’t explored the course yet, now is the time. Fork the repository, try the course directly in Codespaces, chat with Da Vinci or Ada Lovelace, and start building your own knowledge in Generative AI with JavaScript.
You're just one step away from becoming a Generative AI expert with JavaScript — get started now with a simple git clone!
Published Apr 23, 2025
Version 1.0Glaucia_Lemos
Microsoft
Joined April 15, 2019
Microsoft Developer Community Blog
Follow this blog board to get notified when there's new activity