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AI courses: ChatGPT, Claude, automations and agents

Learn AI for everyday work one hands-on module at a time. Start with the basics (what AI is good at, how to ask it well, how to keep client data safe), then use ChatGPT and Claude on real office jobs, and finish by automating the work with n8n workflows and AI agents.

Every module is a practice in a copy of the real tool that checks your work, then a checklist to do it for real. Each course below comes with a one-page cheat sheet and the few glossary words it uses most.

By Robert Breen · Last updated

9 courses72 modulesFree

ChatGPT4 courses

  1. Beginner to AdvancedIntro to AI Automation
  2. Beginner to IntermediateAI at Work: Start Here
  3. BeginnerBetter Prompts
  4. Beginner to AdvancedMaster ChatGPT for Work
Step 1 of 4 · Beginner to Advanced

Intro to AI Automation

Learn AI automation from zero: three everyday AI jobs (pick your assistant, sum up a meeting, answer a tricky email), then a Custom GPT, an AI agent and a web form that answers leads.

8 modules~1½ hr of practiceFree
  • Choose the AI Assistant Your Team Should Use
  • Summarize a Meeting Transcript
  • Reply Faster: Customer Emails
The 8 modules
  1. Start Here: How Stepthrough WorksStepthrough · Beginner · ~2 min
  2. Choose the AI Assistant Your Team Should Use, Tested on ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and CopilotChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot · Beginner · ~8 min
  3. Summarize a Meeting TranscriptChatGPT · Beginner · ~9 min
  4. Reply Faster: Customer EmailsChatGPT · Beginner · ~9 min
  5. Get On-Brand Social Posts Every Time using a ChatGPT Custom GPTChatGPT · Beginner · ~8 min
  6. n8n: Sort Every Client Inquiry and Draft the Reply, Your First AI Workflow Automationn8n · Beginner · ~12 min
  7. AI Social Media Idea Agentn8n · Intermediate · ~12 min
  8. Build a Web App with an AI BackendLovable + n8n · Advanced · ~15 min

Cheat sheet: AI Glossary Cheat Sheet: 30 Terms in Plain English · PDF

Words to know: Generative AI Large language model (LLM) Workflow AI agent

Start the courseNext → Intro to AI Automation, Part 2

Step 2 of 4 · Beginner to Intermediate

AI at Work: Start Here

Use AI on real office work this week, without leaking client data.

14 modules~2 hr of practiceFree
  • Use AI at Work Without Leaking Client Data
  • Keep Client Data Safe, Set Up Your Team’s Data Controls in 10 Minutes
  • Clear Client Data Out of ChatGPT Before It Becomes a Problem
The 14 modules
  1. Start Here: How Stepthrough WorksStepthrough · Beginner · ~2 min
  2. Use AI at Work Without Leaking Client Data using ChatGPTChatGPT · Beginner · ~7 min
  3. ChatGPT: Keep Client Data Safe, Set Up Your Team’s Data Controls in 10 MinutesChatGPT · Beginner · ~10 min
  4. Clear Client Data Out of ChatGPT Before It Becomes a Problem: Delete Chats, Clear Memory and Use Temporary ChatChatGPT · Beginner · ~10 min
  5. Roll Out a Team AI Policy in One Afternoon using ClaudeClaude · Beginner · ~10 min
  6. Prompt Writing 101ChatGPT · Beginner · ~8 min
  7. Choose the AI Assistant Your Team Should Use, Tested on ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and CopilotChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot · Beginner · ~8 min
  8. Summarize a Meeting TranscriptChatGPT · Beginner · ~9 min
  9. Reply Faster: Customer EmailsChatGPT · Beginner · ~9 min
  10. Wispr Flow: Answer Emails and Write AI Prompts by VoiceWispr Flow · Beginner · ~10 min
  11. Projects vs Gems vs Gemini Notebook: Which to UseChatGPT + Gemini · Beginner · ~9 min
  12. AI Agent vs Chatbot vs AutomationChatGPT · Beginner · ~7 min
  13. What a Webhook Is, in Plain WordsWebhook.site · Intermediate · ~6 min
  14. Get a Morning Invoice Summary in Slack using ChatGPT DotsChatGPT · Intermediate · ~4 min

Cheat sheet: ChatGPT at Work Cheat Sheet: Facts, Format, Privacy · PDF

Words to know: Hallucination Knowledge cutoff Temporary Chat Personally identifiable information (PII)

Start the courseNext → Better Prompts

Step 3 of 4 · Beginner

Better Prompts

Turn vague AI answers into work you can send, with prompt habits that work in any assistant.

8 modules~51 min of practiceFree
  • Prompt Writing 101
  • Prove a Better Prompt Works on Your Own Meeting Notes
  • Make ChatGPT Ask You Questions First
The 8 modules
  1. Start Here: How Stepthrough WorksStepthrough · Beginner · ~2 min
  2. Prompt Writing 101ChatGPT · Beginner · ~8 min
  3. The Prompter AI: Prove a Better Prompt Works on Your Own Meeting NotesThe Prompter AI · Beginner · ~8 min
  4. Make ChatGPT Ask You Questions FirstChatGPT · Beginner · ~6 min
  5. Give Examples: Few-Shot PromptsChatGPT · Beginner · ~6 min
  6. Catch Made-up Facts Before They Reach Customers using ChatGPTChatGPT · Beginner · ~7 min
  7. Break Big Jobs into Steps: Prompt ChainingChatGPT · Beginner · ~7 min
  8. Turn a Great Prompt into Reusable InstructionsChatGPT · Beginner · ~7 min

Cheat sheet: Role, Context, Task, Format Prompt Cheat Sheet · PDF

Words to know: Role, Context, Task, Format Prompt template Output format Prompt constraints

Start the courseNext → Master ChatGPT for Work

Step 4 of 4 · Beginner to Advanced

Master ChatGPT for Work

Go from safe first chats to ChatGPT that knows your job, reads your files and runs multi-step work: data controls, memory, prompts, meeting minutes, fact checks, spreadsheets, Projects, plugins, Deep Research, ChatGPT Work, Space and Dots.

15 modules~2 hr of practiceFree
  • Keep Client Data Safe, Set Up Your Team’s Data Controls in 10 Minutes
  • Keep Each Client's Work Together and Stop Re-explaining
  • Stop Losing Context: When to Start a New Chat vs Keep Going
The 15 modules
  1. Start Here: How Stepthrough WorksStepthrough · Beginner · ~2 min
  2. ChatGPT: Keep Client Data Safe, Set Up Your Team’s Data Controls in 10 MinutesChatGPT · Beginner · ~10 min
  3. ChatGPT Projects vs Chats: Keep Each Client's Work Together and Stop Re-explainingChatGPT · Beginner · ~8 min
  4. Stop Losing Context: When to Start a New Chat vs Keep Going using ChatGPTChatGPT · Beginner · ~9 min
  5. Prompt Writing 101ChatGPT · Beginner · ~8 min
  6. Tell the Client, the Boss and the Team in One Go using ChatGPTChatGPT · Beginner · ~9 min
  7. Summarize a Meeting TranscriptChatGPT · Beginner · ~9 min
  8. Catch Made-up Facts Before They Reach Customers using ChatGPTChatGPT · Beginner · ~7 min
  9. Never Miss a Contract Renewal Deadline using ChatGPTChatGPT · Beginner · ~10 min
  10. Analyze a SpreadsheetChatGPT · Beginner · ~10 min
  11. Compare Vendor Quotes Side by Side using ChatGPTChatGPT · Beginner · ~9 min
  12. ChatGPT Projects: Your Brand Voice in One PlaceChatGPT · Beginner · ~9 min
  13. A Cited Vendor Comparison in 5 Minutes using ChatGPT Deep ResearchChatGPT · Intermediate · ~9 min
  14. ChatGPT Work: Have ChatGPT Do a Multi-Step TaskChatGPT · Intermediate · ~8 min
  15. Get a Morning Invoice Summary in Slack using ChatGPT DotsChatGPT · Intermediate · ~4 min

Cheat sheet: Summarize a Meeting with ChatGPT Cheat Sheet · PDF

Words to know: ChatGPT Meeting transcript Action items File upload (in an AI chat)

Start the courseNext → Claude Jump Start

Claude2 courses

  1. Beginner to IntermediateClaude Jump Start
  2. Beginner to AdvancedClaude Skills
Step 1 of 2 · Beginner to Intermediate

Claude Jump Start

Get Claude to remember your business, research with sources, check contracts and build shareable tools.

11 modules~1½ hr of practiceFree
  • Your first chat
  • Claude Projects: your business, remembered
  • Roll Out a Team AI Policy in One Afternoon
The 11 modules
  1. Start Here: How Stepthrough WorksStepthrough · Beginner · ~2 min
  2. Your first chat with ClaudeClaude · Beginner · ~7 min
  3. Claude Projects: your business, rememberedClaude · Beginner · ~8 min
  4. Roll Out a Team AI Policy in One Afternoon using ClaudeClaude · Beginner · ~10 min
  5. Artifacts: build a price calculator you can shareClaude · Beginner · ~7 min
  6. Research: a cited competitor price scanClaude · Beginner · ~7 min
  7. Check a contract for red flags with ClaudeClaude · Beginner · ~11 min
  8. Claude: compare two versions of a document and see what changedClaude · Beginner · ~5 min
  9. What are Claude Skills?Claude · Beginner · ~7 min
  10. Connect your tools: Google Drive, Gmail and CalendarClaude · Intermediate · ~8 min
  11. Use case: build your own skill with the skill creatorClaude · Intermediate · ~8 min

Cheat sheet: Claude First Chat Cheat Sheet: Models, Files, Prompts · PDF

Words to know: Claude Claude model picker Effort level

Start the courseNext → Claude Skills

Step 2 of 2 · Beginner to Advanced

Claude Skills

Teach Claude your way of working once, then reuse it: install a skill, apply your brand, build your own, work with Excel and automate code tasks.

7 modules~45 min of practiceFree
  • What are Claude Skills?
  • Install a custom skill
  • Use case: a brand skill that makes every doc on-brand
The 7 modules
  1. Start Here: How Stepthrough WorksStepthrough · Beginner · ~2 min
  2. What are Claude Skills?Claude · Beginner · ~7 min
  3. Install a custom skillClaude · Beginner · ~6 min
  4. Use case: a brand skill that makes every doc on-brandClaude · Beginner · ~7 min
  5. Use case: build your own skill with the skill creatorClaude · Intermediate · ~8 min
  6. Use case: messy export to clean Excel workbookClaude · Intermediate · ~8 min
  7. Install skills in Claude CodeClaude Code · Advanced · ~7 min

Cheat sheet: Install a Custom Claude Skill Cheat Sheet · PDF

Words to know: Claude skill Code execution and file creation Markdown

Start the courseNext → n8n for Beginners: Your First Automations

n8n2 courses

  1. Beginnern8n for Beginners: Your First Automations
  2. Beginner to AdvancedAI Agents 101
Step 1 of 2 · Beginner

n8n for Beginners: Your First Automations

Learn what n8n is and how it thinks, then build your first workflows: a form that logs itself, reminders on a schedule, data shaped with expressions, a Google Sheet that fills itself, rules that route work, and a first AI step.

11 modules~1½ hr of practiceFree
  • Explain what n8n is, what a trigger, a node and an item are, and when…
  • Build a workflow from a blank canvas and test it with Execute step and…
  • Read data as Schema, Table and JSON, pin test data, and write…
The 11 modules
  1. Start Here: How Stepthrough WorksStepthrough · Beginner · ~2 min
  2. n8n: What Is n8n? Build Your First Workflown8n · Beginner · ~8 min
  3. n8n: Sort Every Client Inquiry and Draft the Reply, Your First AI Workflow Automationn8n · Beginner · ~12 min
  4. n8n: Items, JSON and Expressions, Explained by Doingn8n · Beginner · ~9 min
  5. n8n: Execute step, Execute workflow and Publishn8n · Beginner · ~6 min
  6. n8n: Run a Workflow on a Schedule (Every Monday at 8am)n8n · Beginner · ~6 min
  7. n8n: Send Form Answers Straight to Google Sheetsn8n · Beginner · ~10 min
  8. Find and Use n8n Templatesn8n · Beginner · ~9 min
  9. Get Answers from Your Google Sheet in Plain English using n8nn8n · Beginner · ~16 min
  10. IF and Switch: Route Work by Rulesn8n · Beginner · ~10 min
  11. n8n: Summarize Customer Emails with OpenAIn8n · Beginner · ~9 min

Cheat sheet: n8n Beginner Cheat Sheet: Triggers, Items, Expressions · PDF

Words to know: Trigger Node Expression Credential Pinned data

Start the courseNext → n8n Intermediate: Real Business Workflows

Step 2 of 2 · Beginner to Advanced

AI Agents 101

Know when an agent beats a chatbot, then build agents that onboard clients, answer questions and book work.

11 modules~2 hr of practiceFree
  • AI Agent vs Chatbot vs Automation
  • What are Claude Skills?
  • Onboard New Clients Without the Back-and-Forth
The 11 modules
  1. Start Here: How Stepthrough WorksStepthrough · Beginner · ~2 min
  2. AI Agent vs Chatbot vs AutomationChatGPT · Beginner · ~7 min
  3. What are Claude Skills?Claude · Beginner · ~7 min
  4. Onboard New Clients Without the Back-and-Forth using AiriaAiria · Beginner · ~8 min
  5. Answer Employee Policy Questions Instantly using AiriaAiria · Intermediate · ~10 min
  6. Your First Voice Agent in ElevenLabsElevenLabs Agents · Intermediate · ~9 min
  7. AI Social Media Idea Agentn8n · Intermediate · ~12 min
  8. Book Appointments from Chat, Automatically, using n8nn8n · Advanced · ~11 min
  9. A Support Agent That Answers from Your Own Docsn8n · Advanced · ~13 min
  10. Speed-to-Lead Agent: Answer Every Web Lead in 60 Secondsn8n · Advanced · ~15 min
  11. Guardian: Make Your n8n AI Agent Ask Before It Emails a CustomerGuardian · Intermediate · ~14 min

Cheat sheet: n8n AI Agent to Google Sheets Cheat Sheet · PDF

Words to know: AI Agent node System prompt (system message) Chat model Agent memory Human in the loop

Start the courseNext → Vibe Coding for Business

Lovable1 course

Beginner to Intermediate

Vibe Coding for Business

Build the small apps an office actually needs by describing them to an AI app builder: a first internal tool, a one-page website, an intake form that saves every answer, a price calculator, an internal dashboard, a simple client portal, and the three checks before you share any of them.

12 modules~2 hr of practiceFree
  • Decide when to build a tool and when to buy one
  • A client status page clients check themselves
  • Three checks before you share an app
The 12 modules
  1. Lovable: Build or Buy? Vibe Code an Office App in One PromptLovable · Beginner · ~10 min
  2. Runable: Brief a One-Page Website, Approve the Plan and Budget Your CreditsRunable · Beginner · ~16 min
  3. A contact form that saves to a databaseLovable · Intermediate · ~8 min
  4. Build a Web App with an AI BackendLovable + n8n · Advanced · ~15 min
  5. Artifacts: build a price calculator you can shareClaude · Beginner · ~7 min
  6. JavaScript: An Instant Quote Calculator for Your WebsiteJSFiddle · Beginner · ~12 min
  7. A simple dashboard from your dataLovable · Intermediate · ~9 min
  8. SunSed: Build a Purchase Order Tracker App by Describing ItSunSed · Beginner · ~12 min
  9. Lovable: Cut "Where's My Return?" Calls with a Status PageLovable · Beginner · ~9 min
  10. Lovable: Check Logins, Data and Cost Before You Share an AppLovable · Beginner · ~10 min
  11. Publish it and connect your own domainLovable · Advanced · ~9 min
  12. Atoms: Build a Request App, Then Lock the Staff PageAtoms · Beginner · ~10 min

Cheat sheet: Vibe Coding for Business Cheat Sheet · PDF

Words to know: Vibe coding Build vs buy Row-level security (RLS) No-code

Start the course

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