Getting Started with Java and AI

Imagine a computer capable of understanding spoken commands, where a simple request like “Tell me a joke” is met with an immediate, intelligent response.

You say, “What’s my name?” and the computer remembers. Or you ask, “What is the result of adding 1,929,299,292 and 4,239,284?” and it instantly provides the correct answer.

This is the essence of coding: instructing a computer to perform tasks for you, step-by-step. In this course, you’ll learn how to do that using Java programming.

Your first Java instruction

In Java, the command System.out.println generates a message on the screen. It’s one of the most basic and essential instructions for communicating with the user.

Try this yourself:

Run it. See those words appear? You just made your computer talk. 

Personalize it

Change "Hello, world!" into something personal or lighthearted. Replace it with something like "I am learning Java!" or "Bananas are the best fruit."

Run it. Observe the output.

Prompting your AI assistant

Now let’s bring in your AI helper. Try prompting AI with the following instruction:

Write Java code that prints “Hello, world!”

Run the AI-generated code.

Great! You just got the same result, but this time the AI generated it for you.

Now revise your prompt within the same AI assistant interface where you previously entered it.

Note: Change the code so it prints my name three times.

Notice how the AI adapts when you change the wording.

The secret to effective prompting, therefore, is simple: start small and then refine. You will practice this skill throughout the course, writing your own code, experimenting, and asking the AI to provide examples, alternatives, or corrections.

What will you learn in this course?

By the end of this course, you’ll know how to use Java to solve real problems. You’ll start with the basics like printing output and working with variables. Then, you’ll learn how to use conditionals, arrays, and functions (called methods in Java) to write programs that make decisions and store information. You’ll also work on a capstone project: gathering requirements from a customer, implementing the logic in Java, and adding a simple graphical interface. By completing the course, you’ll have a finished application to add to your portfolio.