Level 1: Using AI · next cohortStarts 17 Sep · 5 Weeks · LiveLevel 2: Adopting AI · next cohortStarts 24 Sep · 5 Weeks · Live

From AI curious to AI confident, in 5 weeks.

A new programme from AiLab

Couch to AI is a step-by-step programme that helps professionals and organisations build the confidence and skills to use AI responsibly and adopt AI effectively in business. Each level is delivered live online over 5 weeks with practical guidance from a qualified, leading AI expert. No hype, no jargon, just non-technical AI learning you can apply straight away.

Book your place →How does it work?
5-Week Programme Weekly Live Sessions Real-World Tasks No Prior Knowledge Needed Immediate Results 5-Week Programme Weekly Live Sessions Real-World Tasks No Prior Knowledge Needed Immediate Results 
— 01 / ABOUT COUCH TO AI

Designed & delivered by AiLab, the specialist independent AI education & training provider.

Meet the experts →

A practical path into AI for every professional

AI is changing the way we work, but many people are trying to figure it out on their own. Whether you’re just getting started with using AI or you want to adopt AI responsibly and effectively across your organisation, Couch to AI is for you!

Are you feeling worried, confused or don't know where to start with AI?

Do you want to know how and when to use AI responsibly?

Are you using AI but want to know how to adopt AI effectively in your organisation?

Do you want to know where AI can add value and how to create policies and workflows?

Designed and delivered by global AI training provider AiLab, Couch to AI is a step-by-step, guided programme that provides a clear and practical route into Artificial Intelligence for professionals and organisations. Non-technical, hype and jargon-free, this programme is suitable for individuals and SMEs taking their first steps with AI to large organisations building capability across their workforce. Couch to AI takes you from AI-curious to AI-confident.

There are 2 levels to choose from, depending on your experience and what you want to achieve. Each level is delivered live online over 5 weeks, with a 1-hour session per week. You will receive practical guidance from a qualified, leading AI expert with a PhD in Artificial Intelligence and over 30 years’ experience working in AI.

Through practical examples and activities, you will learn how AI can support everyday business tasks, improve productivity and enhance processes and workflows, as well as learning about the latest tools and approaches.

AiLab’s independent, tool-agnostic approach means Couch to AI is not about promoting a specific platform or presenting AI as the answer to every challenge. Instead, you will learn about the real capabilities of AI and will explore a range of tools and platforms, so that you have the confidence and knowledge to make informed decisions.

By the end of the programme, you will have a clearer understanding of how AI can add value and support your work, where AI’s limitations and risks lie, how to use AI responsibly and how to take practical next steps in AI for your role, team or organisation.

So, whether you’re just getting started or ready to think more seriously about AI adoption, this programme is here to help. Join Couch to AI and take your next confident step into Artificial Intelligence.

Read the story to find out how Couch to AI was born!

— 02 / TWO LEVELS

Choose the level that suits you

Couch to AI has 2 levels, so you can choose the right starting point based on your experience, confidence and goals. Both levels contain a 1-hour session per week for 5 weeks held on Microsoft Teams (UK Timezone BST). This step-by-step process is led and supported by qualified AI guidance to help you build your confidence week by week.

You will move from uncertainty to clarity as you learn what AI means for your work or organisation and explore real-world tasks, so you can apply your new skills directly to your work. Participants will receive a certificate upon completing all 5 weeks, along with access to exclusive AiLab resources and the Couch to AI community platform, where you can continue learning, ask questions and connect with others on the programme.

Businesses and Not-For-Profit’s can also book a private group session exclusively for your staff and organisation. This gives your team a dedicated cohort that is ideal for building shared AI understanding, confidence and capability across a team or wider workforce. Contact us to find out more.

Level 1: Using AI

Level 1 is designed for the AI curious. It provides a clear introduction and accessible entry point into AI. It is ideal for people who are new to AI, feel unsure where to start or wish to gain confidence using and engaging with AI responsibly in everyday work.

  • Outcomes
    • Gain a non-technical understanding of AI and how GenAI works, including the opportunities, limitations and risks
    • Gain a non-technical understanding of GenAI myths, vocab & terminology
    • Gain confidence with using AI responsibly & effectively in your work
    • Capability to utilise AI tools for real, everyday work tasks
    • Capability to create AI-powered content & multimedia
    • Capability to develop prompt engineering techniques that produce meaningful results
    • Leave with a personal AI playbook & AiLab’s prompt design canvas
    • Receive a certificate upon completion of all 5 sessions
    • Receive exclusive access to supporting digital resources & the Couch to AI community platform.
  • Investment£395 (incl VAT)
  • Time1 hour per week · 5 weeks
  • Suited toAcross all industries & sectors: AI-curious Professionals, SME Owners & Founders, Managers & Team Members, Business Service Professionals, Government & Public Sector Professionals, Charity & Not-For-Profit Professionals, Business Membership & Support Organisations.
  • RequirementsAll sessions will be held live on Microsoft Teams, and you will need to attend all 5 sessions to receive a Certificate of Completion. Please check you can attend all 5 sessions as we are unable to reschedule a missed session. Participants will need to have access to one of the common text-based Generative AI models, such as ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude, Gemini, etc. A paid version is preferred, but the sessions can be undertaken using the free versions offered by the major providers.
Book Level 1: Using AI →

Week 1

AI Foundations & Tools

Understand how generative AI works and cut through the hype so you can use it with confidence, not confusion.

Week 2

Prompt Like a Pro

Draft, refine, and personalise professional prompts across all major AI tools using AiLab's exclusive, best practice prompting framework.

Week 3

AI & Authoring

Turn a blank page into polished output, brainstorm ideas, draft and summarise documents, and learn what responsible AI use looks like.

Week 4

AI & Multimedia

Go beyond text to generate images, produce video, synthesise speech, and create audio using your new prompting skills.

Week 5

Your AI Playbook

Leave with your personal AI playbook: reusable templates, quality checks that help judge AI output, and a clear plan for what's next.

* Programme content is updated regularly to keep up-to-date with the fast-moving world of AI. Topics and tools covered may change to ensure you're always learning what's current.

Level 2: Adopting AI

Level 2 is designed for the AI adopters. It helps individuals and organisations take the next step from confident AI use to responsible AI adoption. It is suitable for professionals who are already using AI or are responsible for helping their team or organisation adopt AI more effectively. It focuses on moving beyond individual use towards organisational value, practical policy, workflows and practical adoption planning.

  • Outcomes
    • Gain confidence & foundations for adopting AI responsibly & effectively across your team or organisation
    • Gain an understanding of how to unlock AI’s value & advanced AI applications
    • Gain an understanding of how to scope a workplace AI policy
    • Capability to identify organisational AI readiness
    • Capability to identify suitable tasks for AI to increase team productivity & implement workflows
    • Leave with a practical 90-day AI adoption plan
    • Receive a certificate upon completion of all 5 sessions
    • Receive exclusive access to supporting digital resources & the Couch to AI community platform
  • Investment£550 (incl VAT)
  • Time1 hour per week · 5 weeks
  • Suited toAcross all industries & sectors: Executives, Managers & Department Heads, Operations, Transformation & Digital Leads, HR, Learning & Development & Workforce Development Leads, Policy, Governance, Compliance Professionals, Charity Leaders, Trustees & Operations Leads, Government & Public Sector Managers, Organisation CEO’s & Boards Members
  • RequirementsAll sessions will be held live on Microsoft Teams, and you will need to attend all 5 sessions to receive a Certificate of Completion. Please check you can attend all 5 sessions as we are unable to reschedule a missed session. Participants will need to have access to one of the common text-based Generative AI models, such as ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude, Gemini, etc. A paid version is preferred, but the sessions can be undertaken using the free versions offered by the major providers.
Book Level 2: Adopting AI →

Week 1

Unlocking AI Value

Push past the basics. Explore more advanced AI applications, navigate responsible use, and get a clear picture on how best to adopt AI alongside humans.

Week 2

AI Adoption Readiness

Know what AI is built upon. Honestly evaluate your data, assess your readiness, and get ahead of the workforce changes AI adoption brings.

Week 3

Designing AI Policies

Set the rules before you need them. Define practical guardrails, role responsibilities, and a permissions framework that builds trust across your organisation.

Week 4

AI Workflows

Embed AI where it matters. Understand and redesign team workflows, build consistency, and automate the low-value tasks that have the most impact.

Week 5

Your 90-day AI Adoption Plan

Turn five weeks of learning into action. Develop your own prioritised roadmap, concrete next steps, and a 90-day plan your organisation can start to execute immediately.

* Programme content is updated regularly to keep up-to-date with the fast-moving world of AI. Topics and tools covered may change to ensure you're always learning what's current.

— 03 / THE PROGRAMME

Building AI confidence, step-by-step

— STEP 01

Learn

Each level includes 1-hour per week live on Microsoft Teams for 5 weeks. With step-by-step expert-led training and guidance, you will be able to ask questions and learn from others.

— STEP 02

Explore

Between sessions, explore AI through simple activities, test ideas and connect what you've learnt to your own work or organisation.

— STEP 03

Evaluate

You will gain the knowledge to understand the opportunities and risks to be able to make informed decisions on using and adopting AI for tasks and projects.

— STEP 04

Apply

Take what you've learnt into your workplace. Use AI for real tasks to see real results, all applied within your own organisation.

— STEP 05

Graduate

Receive your certificate once you have completed all 5 weeks of the level. Gain exclusive access to AiLab resources and the Couch to AI community.

— 04 / LED BY AI EXPERTS

Dr John Flackett: Co-founder & Head of AiLab

Book your place →

Taught by a genuine AI expert

The Couch to AI programme is led by AiLab’s Co-founder and Head, Dr. John Flackett. Working in AI for 30 years, John is a leading AI educator, speaker and advisor.

He achieved his PhD in Artificial Intelligence in 2005 and was also awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science in 2025 in recognition of his significant contributions to AI and education. John’s pioneering AI research in the mid-1990s contributed to the early understanding of scaling neural networks for natural language processing (NLP), ideas that would later become central to the development of today's large language models (LLM).

He spent a decade as a senior university academic teaching AI at undergraduate and master’s levels and also served as the AI Specialist in Residence and AI Ambassador for Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand.

John serves on multiple boards and committees, has advised governments, including the Australian Federal Government's AI Action Plan Committee, has spoken at events around the world, and through AiLab, has helped thousands of people understand and apply AI in their organisations.

With Couch to AI, John brings that depth of expertise directly to you in live and engaging, weekly sessions designed to help you build confidence and practical skills step by step.

"Dr John has an exceptional ability to make complex topics understandable, enjoyable, and directly applicable to our work." – Kirsty Robertson, Motiv8

— 05 / WHY COUCH TO AI

Helping you take the next step with AI

Is AI moving faster than your confidence?

For many professionals and organisations, AI can feel unclear, overwhelming or difficult to apply in practice. It can also be hard to know who to trust, what to focus on or where to find the right support to use or adopt AI responsibly.

You may be wondering:

  • Where do we even start with AI? 
  • Which tools are worth using? 
  • What can AI realistically help us do? 
  • How do we use AI safely and responsibly? 
  • How do we move beyond early experimentation? 
  • How do we turn AI interest into real business value? 
  • What policies, guidance or governance do we need? 
  • How do we build confidence across our team or organisation? 

Couch to AI has been designed to help answer these questions.

Genuine Expertise

What makes Couch to AI stand apart from other AI training is the depth of expertise behind it. The programme is led by Dr. John Flackett, who has extensive academic and industry experience in AI and is one of the few AI educators whose experience reaches back long before the current wave of Generative AI.

That foundation means Couch to AI is grounded in how AI actually works, not just how to use the current generation of tools. Programme participants receive practical guidance shaped by genuine AI expertise, giving them a deeper understanding than platform-led training alone can provide.

Independent by Design

AiLab has no commercial relationship with any AI platform or vendor, so Couch to AI is built around independent, tool-agnostic AI education. This means the programme is focused on your needs and informed decision-making rather than a specific product. This programme explores a range of tools and provides an honest and balanced view of what AI can and cannot do, including its potential, limitations and risks.

Built for the Long-Term

AI is continually changing and the tools available today will look different in just a few months. Couch to AI is not built around temporary trends or a single platform. It helps you understand the bigger picture and stay confident as AI continues to evolve. This programme supports AiLab’s mission to help as many organisations as possible access trusted AI education, with responsible AI use at the heart of the learning.

Client Testimonials →
— 06 / REVIEWS

What clients say about AiLab

As Couch to AI is a brand new programme, these testimonials are from participants across all AiLab's AI workshops & education. The same expert team that brings you Couch to AI, we have genuine passion for helping everyone develop AI skills and capability.

Dr John Flackett recently joined Motiv8’s all-staff training day to introduce us to the strategic possibilities of AI...and Dr John’s session was the perfect starting point. His talk was engaging, relevant, and accessible for everyone, striking the ideal balance between expertise and practical insight. Dr John has an exceptional ability to make complex topics understandable, enjoyable, and directly applicable to our work. Thank you, Dr John, for inspiring and equipping us to take our first confident steps into this landscape.

K
Kirsty Robertson
Motiv8

Dr. John Flackett from AiLab not only addressed every anxiety I consciously and subconsciously had been holding in my brain, but calmly, knowledgeably and with impressive pragmatism completely changed my attitude. His explanations, insight and generosity in giving free tools and aids of how best to work with AI, were nothing short of a revelation. Calm, patient and balanced. It wasn't an advert for AI, but a reasoned, pragmatic overview of what was beneficial and what still had yet to be improved.

R
Robin Lander Brinkley
Maxwell Communications

John is very knowledgeable and presented the subject without bias and honesty. Pace was good and allowed interjection. The content and structure made sense with its flow enabling me to follow the learning well. Worthwhile spending this time, everyone needs to do this as this is coming like a fast train and I really don't think the general person is ready!

J
Jacqueline Rowe
Peter Cooper Prestige & Jeep Horsham

Very informative, excellently communicated with a good split of discussion, activity and talking. I really enjoyed the workshop, I didn't realise there was quite so much to learn about AI and how best to use it. I have already put into practice the prompt tool and have shared with my colleagues what I learned. All in all, it was well put together workshop with a good mix of activity, learning and conversation.

M
Molly Harbron
Portsmouth Water

Dr John provided a really accessible workshop, with learning that applies at work immediately. It’s given me confidence that I know more than I think, but also demystified some tech speak to remove the fear factor.

J
Jane Lamer
Portsmouth City Council

I am a beginner AI user and found the course brilliant. Excellent talk, PowerPoint and speaker. The prompt tool is excellent, and I will use this a lot, thank you! I will be talking to our Directors regarding implementing more training and an AI policy.

R
Rebecca Andrews
Peter Cooper Prestige & Jeep Horsham

Amazing workshop, John and team were very welcoming. Amazing and warm welcome. John very knowledgeable of his stuff around AI. Very informative, I did enjoy the session and learned a lot today.

C
Caroline Katsande

The workshop covered a lot of background to AI which helps in understanding the limitations and advantages. The different AI's available and what their specialties are was very informative. A great event for those of us that are just starting out on our AI journey. Thank you again for the Event at the Queens Hotel.

F
Fiona Gicquel

John spoke in a way that was inclusive and easy to understand. He was engaging and made AI easier to understand. Really good. I'd go again and I would tell people to go.

L
Louise Eeles
WarrenBoats

Explanations that made sense and will help us in our company. We are on the cusp of using AI in our business and this has really helped me to make the decisions to use it effectively but also safely.

V
Vikki Webb
Drayton Medical Services

Bring Couch to AI to your Organisation

Are you a business or Not-For-Profit charity looking to upskill your staff? If you are looking to build AI confidence and capability across your organisation, Couch to AI provides private cohort training. Get in touch to find out about special group training rates and delivery options exclusively for your staff and organisation.

Get in touch →

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Couch to AI different?+

Couch to AI is an independent, tool agnostic programme, designed and developed by global AI training provider AiLab and led by a qualified AI expert, Dr. John Flackett. Unlike many AI courses, Couch to AI does not present AI as the solution to every problem. Rather, this programme helps you understand where AI can be help and what limitations and risks need to be considered. You will also explore different tools and platforms, giving you the confidence to make informed decisions about how AI should be used or adopted in your work or organisation.

Can businesses and NFP’s book a private cohort?+

Yes. Businesses and Not-For-Profit charities can book Couch to AI as a private group programme exclusively for your staff and organisation. This is a good option if you want a shared learning experience across a team, department or wider workforce. If you are looking to build AI confidence and capability across your organisation, please contact us to find out about our special group training rates and delivery options.

Who do I contact if I have a question about my booking or the programme?+

Please contact AiLab if you have any questions using either our enquiry form or you can call us on +44 (0)23 8129 0225 (UK).

I live outside of the UK, can I still join the Couch to AI programme?+

As Couch to AI has just launched, online sign-up is only available for individuals based in the UK. However, we are able to take group bookings from overseas organisations, so please get in touch to find out more.

What are the requirements for taking part in Couch to AI?+

You will need a reliable internet connection, access to Microsoft Teams and a device that allows you to join the live online sessions. Participants will need to have access to one of the common text-based Generative AI models, such as ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude, Gemini, etc. A paid version is preferred, but the sessions can be undertaken using the free versions offered by the major providers. Please check you can attend all 5 sessions as we cannot guarantee a missed session can be rescheduled.

Do I need to commit to all 5 dates that are scheduled?+

Yes. Each level runs over 5 scheduled weekly sessions (1-hour per week), so you should make sure you can attend the published dates when you make your booking. The sessions are designed to build week by week, so attending each one will help you get the most from the programme. You will need to attend all 5 sessions to receive a Certificate of Completion.

What happens after I book?+

Once your booking and payment have been confirmed, you will receive a welcome email with everything you need to join the programme. This will include the dates, session details and the Microsoft Teams links for each live session.

Do you offer refunds?+

Couch to AI places are limited, so we ask participants to check all the session dates carefully before booking. Refunds are not usually offered once a booking has been confirmed, especially after the programme has started or access to course materials, online tools or the community has been provided. Where possible, we may offer a transfer to a future cohort. Please refer to the terms and conditions for more details.

— 08 / Send a message

Make an Enquiry

Ensures you re not a robot :)

Interested in an exclusive Couch to AI private session for your staff?

Want to ask a question about Couch to AI?

Interested in possible partnership?

 

— 09 / Couch to AI Story

The Couch to AI Story

Couch to AI is an awesome collaboration of ideas with fantastic people created through community and industry demand. The ‘Couch to AI’ title was coined by the brilliant broadcaster and podcaster, Zoe Hanson, at the inaugural Solent FutureScape event organised by Solent Growth Partnership in March 2026 (which AiLab were a proud sponsor). Couch to AI beautifully encapsulated AiLab’s workshops and mission, so exciting conversations ensued, work began and Couch to AI was born!

AiLab (Artificial Intelligence Laboratory) are a global education company and a UK Registered Learning Provider. Since 2017, AiLab have been helping organisations learn about AI. Through AiLab's AI workshops and masterclasses, talks, research and advisory services, we empower companies to develop AI skills and capability, build effective strategies for implementing AI and become AI-ready. Headquartered in Southampton (UK) with additional offices in Australia and New Zealand, we are proud to have helped thousands of people around the globe in their AI journey.

Client Testimonials →