Most people using generative AI at work are either ignoring it entirely, hoping it'll go away, or diving in without really knowing what they're doing. Neither approach is going to serve you well.

The truth is that AI tools are genuinely powerful. They're also genuinely problematic if used without judgement. In policy and communications work, where nuance, context and credibility are everything, getting that balance right really matters.

This course is about how to use AI responsibly, in a way that makes you better at your job rather than replacing the parts of your job that actually require a human.

Because some things still do. Understanding the real-world problem you're trying to solve. Knowing when an answer, however polished, is ethically or politically wrong. Thinking critically rather than just prompting cleverly. Those aren't things a chatbot can do for you.

Led by Nick Scott, this course gives you the knowledge, skills and frameworks to work alongside AI tools with confidence, and the judgment to know when not to.

Course outcomes

By the end of this course, you will…

• Understand what generative AI actually is, and what its real capabilities and limitations are in a communications context

• Know how to have effective, purposeful conversations with AI tools — and get significantly better outputs as a result

• Be equipped to use AI for specialist and scaled communications work, without losing the human judgement that makes that work meaningful

• Have a clear view of how AI is likely to reshape your role, your audiences' lives, and how to prepare for it

Who this course is for

This course is for anyone working in policy, communications or influencing who wants to engage seriously with AI. No technical background is required. Curiosity and a willingness to experiment are.

Course structure & commitment required

This is a 7-week course with five online modules, covering everything from AI fundamentals to future-proofing your role. Each module combines video, text and hands-on exercises using real AI tools. There are four live discussion sessions built in, designed for peer learning and collaborative problem-solving.

Live sessions

The live sessions will be 2pm-3pm on the following days:

Weds 27th May

Weds 10th June

Weds 24th June

Weds 8th July