Pre-purchase checklist.
This quick checklist helps you see what your student's computer is set up to do. Even if some items don't tick green, your student can still complete the rest of the course — the only hardware-heavy step (the local-model install in Module 2, Lesson 2.3) is optional, and everything downstream runs on cloud.
Most of the course runs in the cloud. Your student can complete every module on virtually any modern laptop with broadband and admin rights. The two hardware-heavy items below (RAM and disk space) only apply to the optional local-model install in Module 2, Lesson 2.3 — if your student's machine can't run a local model, the rest of the course still works.
How to fill this out
For each row, check the box only if you've verified it on the real machine. Your progress is saved in your browser as you go — close this tab and come back, the boxes stay ticked. When all seven are green, the Ready to buy button unlocks.
If anything stayed unchecked
- Only #1 or #2 unchecked (RAM or disk): these only block the optional local-model install in Lesson 2.3. The rest of the course runs cloud-side and works without them. Your student can take the course, read Lesson 2.3 for the concept, skip the install, and continue through the capstone.
- #3 unchecked (old OS): most machines still under manufacturer support can upgrade for free. Try the upgrade, then re-check this item.
- #4 unchecked (no admin rights): use a different machine if one is available. This is a hard requirement — the course will not work without it.
- #5 unchecked (internet): the initial ~5–8 GB download can be done anywhere with broadband (a library, a relative's house), one-time only. After that, most of Module 2 runs offline.
- #6 unchecked (browser): install a current browser for free. Chrome and Firefox are the lowest-friction options if you don't already have one.
- #7 unchecked (Chromebook / tablet): this course will not run on that device. Consider waiting until your student has a laptop, or start with our shorter sibling course (AI Builder Lab), which runs fully in a browser.
Short answers to the hardware questions we hear most.
Will this work on a Chromebook?
No. The course is built around the Claude desktop app, which only runs on macOS and Windows — not on Chromebook's ChromeOS. If your student's only machine is a Chromebook, consider our shorter sibling course (AI Builder Lab) instead, or wait until a Mac or Windows laptop is available.
My student's laptop only has 8 GB of RAM. Can they still take the course?
Yes. They will run a smaller AI model (Mistral 7B) instead of the recommended one (Llama 3.1 8B). A few lessons will be slightly tighter, but everything in the course still works.
Do we need to buy anything else besides the course?
One ongoing subscription, paid directly to Anthropic. The course requires an Anthropic Pro subscription (around $20/month) so your student can use the Claude desktop app, where most of the course takes place. Pro is month-to-month and you can pause it between modules if your student needs a break.
Other than that, the course has no required paid software. The editor we recommend (VS Code) is free, and the optional local AI stack (Ollama) is free. A small number of later lessons introduce an optional advanced path that uses a separate API key with its own monthly cap; we walk you through that one when it shows up, and most students will never need it.
Will these requirements change?
They might. We refresh our tool stack and Recipe Book quarterly. Recommended specs are likely to stay stable for several years; specific software versions will change. We will notify enrolled students of any changes and keep this page updated.
Does my student need to know how to code already?
No. That's the whole point — this course teaches your student to direct AI systems that write code, not to write code themselves. Curiosity and discipline matter more than prior programming experience. (If your student wants a gentler on-ramp, consider AI Builder Lab first.)