AI Literacy Companion

A course book for VU students

Student Edition · v1.91

What generative AI is, what it does to your learning, and how to use it without shortchanging yourself. Written for VU students.

14 parts ·2 hours 58 minutes of reading ·1 September 2026

Download as PDF

Contents

  1. Foreword to Version 1.912 min
  2. Foreword to Version 1.11 min
  3. 1Introduction18 min
  4. 2What is generative AI, and what can you do with it?10 min
  5. 3Risks and opportunities for your learning13 min
  6. 4How do you ensure good output when using generative AI14 min
  7. 5Language models: what’s under the hood of your generative AI system?30 min
  8. 6Chat software: a neat wrapper around your LLM14 min
  9. 7How does your AI use impact the environment?25 min
  10. 8Generative AI and work7 min
  11. 9Societal forces around AI31 min
  12. 10Your AI-aware future13 min
  13. 11Indexes19 min
  14. 12Appendices3 min

About this book

Authors
  • Silvester Draaijer, Programmamanager VU Onderwijswerkplaats / VU Centre for Teaching & Learning
  • Marianne Eggink, zelfstandig journalist en redacteur
  • Charlotte Meijer, onderwijskundige VU Onderwijswerkplaats / VU Centre for Teaching & Learning
Edition
v1.91, 1 September 2026. Published by the VU Centre for Teaching and Learning.
Licence
© 2025 Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. CC BY-SA 4.0. You may share and adapt it, provided you credit the source and license your version the same way.
Builds on
Pennsylvania State University

The other language version: Studenteneditie (in Dutch).