Why So Many AI Tools Are Free?
By
Galit Feige
Have you noticed how many AI companies are handing out free stuff lately?
-
Free classes
-
Free credits
-
Free tools for students
-
Free APIs for startups
-
Basically: free everything… just enough to get you in the door
No, it’s not just tech generosity or some utopian "AI for all" dream. It’s a strategy.
AI Is New. And That’s Scary.
AI companies aren’t just being nice—they’re playing the long game.
Their goal? Get us used to their tech, embed it into our routines, and watch as we build our work, businesses, and lives on top of it. Because once that happens… we’re not going anywhere.
A lot of people are still a little freaked out by AI. But even more common? Just… not wanting to mess with something you don’t understand. Especially if it asks for your credit card.
Most people don’t like paying for tech they don’t fully get. Especially if it's new, unpredictable, or sounds like magic. (“It writes my emails? Yeah, and what else is it doing?”)
That’s why these tools go free first. Free lowers the fear. Free builds trust. Free lets people try things without commitment—and slowly, those fears fade.
Real Freebies That Are Actually Real
🎓 Free AI Learning Resources - to name a few
-
OpenAI Academy – Launched in 2025, it includes free lessons, livestream events, and beginner-friendly guides on using ChatGPT and other OpenAI tools.
-
Founderz AI Course – 100% free, designed for non-technical entrepreneurs and professionals who want to use AI practically—like writing emails, launching startups, or automating tasks. Includes hands-on tools and templates.
-
Google’s AI Essentials – A free course for beginners that teaches the basics of AI, how it works, and how it can help you at work or in life.
💡 Free Credits & Trial Access
-
OpenAI – New users get free credits to try GPT models via ChatGPT or the API.
-
Claude by Anthropic – Offers free access tiers for users to test out Claude’s conversational AI.
-
Hugging Face – Tons of open-source models and demos you can test without ever entering a credit card.
-
Replicate – Lets you run AI models like image generation and video-to-video demos with limited free usage.
🚀 Startups & Student Freebies
-
Google Cloud for Startups – Offers thousands of dollars in free credits for eligible startups, including access to AI tools like Vertex AI.
-
AWS Activate – Grants startups free credits and tools, including for SageMaker.
-
GitHub Student Developer Pack – Students can get free access to tools like Copilot (AI code assistant) and other dev tools.
Whether you're launching a startup, freelancing, or just updating your LinkedIn—AI is showing up everywhere.
These companies know that if they make it easy (and free) to start, you’ll stick with them as you grow. Your business grows, your usage grows, and boom—now you’re on a paid plan and they’ve got a lifelong customer.
It’s not a trap. But it’s definitely a funnel.
What You Should Do
-
Take advantage of the free stuff while it lasts
-
Test different tools so you’re not locked into one
-
Think ahead—how much will it cost when you scale?
What free AI tool or course have you tried that actually worked? Or didn’t? Drop your war stories in the comments—I’d love to include some real-life recommendations (or warning signs) in a follow-up.
