In this page
Why attend this course?
Our story with AI
Who is this course for?
What will I learn?
Topics covered
Delivery format
Course options and prices
This online course teaches technical communicators how to use generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude to improve their efficiency and deliver better technical documentation.
Our story with AI
We came to AI the same way most people did: slowly, then all at once.
We’d worked on decision-tree AI projects in the past, but like many, we didn’t pay much attention when ChatGPT first appeared. Then a group of developers contacted us, researching AI’s potential in technical writing. Those conversations changed everything. They revealed how much there was to learn, and how profoundly AI could reshape our field.
We made a deliberate choice: lean in. We committed to exploring everything AI could offer technical writers, approaching it with curiosity rather than caution.
One of the best ways to learn is to teach, so we built this course. It forced us to go deeper, think harder, and translate what we were discovering into something genuinely useful for others.
We went through all the key stages in a technical writing project. At each step, we investigated whether AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude could make a Technical Writer’s job easier and better. After a lot of research and testing, we ended up with the content for this course.
The curriculum covers AI basics, prompt engineering, content development, publishing with AI, and advanced techniques.
It provides a framework that attendees can use to identify opportunities and best practices for integrating ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and similar tools into their technical authoring processes – creating, managing, and delivering technical content.
It’s ideal for technical writers involved in creating user guides, help files, and knowledge bases with some prior experience in technical writing.
Since then, we’ve been invited to speak about AI at conferences across the industry, and have been recognised as pioneers in applying AI to technical communication. We’ve also been involved in AI-related writing and consultancy projects. That recognition means a lot, but what matters more is staying at the edge of what’s possible and bringing you with us.
Why attend this course?
Integrating AI and natural language processing technologies promise to make Technical Writers more efficient and more effective at what they do.
By attending this course, you’ll gain a better understanding of how generative AI can be used by technical communicators. You learn a framework you can use for using tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot and Gemini at the different stages of a technical writing project.
The Using Generative AI in Technical Writing course content is accredited by the Institute of Scientific and Technical Communicators, the professional body for Technical Communicators in the United Kingdom. It is an independent assessment of the course’s quality.
Who is this course for?
This course is for anyone involved in creating user guides, Help files, knowledge bases, and other forms of user assistance for products.
We assume you have some experience of technical writing.
Comments from delegates
Using Generative AI in technical writing training course – Craig W
I’m happy to share that I’ve obtained a new certification: Using Generative AI in Technical Writing from Cherryleaf!..everything is explained from a tech comm perspective so it’s a bit easier to see how AI might be used.
Using Generative AI in technical writing training course – Robert M
It’s an excellent course. Very thought provoking.
Using Generative AI in technical writing training course – Matthew G
I’m excited to share that l’ve completed Cherryleaf’s ISTC-accredited course on Using Generative Al in Technical Writing – and it was packed with insight.
Using Generative AI in technical writing training course – N.B.
Thanks for the great course! It was very comprehensive.
Using Generative AI in technical writing training course – Kerry Williams
The course offered practical insights and techniques to make my writing sharper, more concise and more readable. It feels great to freshen up my skills and explore how AI is reshaping the world of technical communication. AI isn’t replacing technical writers (yet!), but it is changing how we work; the advantage lies in knowing when,… Read more “Using Generative AI in technical writing training course – Kerry Williams”
Using Generative AI in technical writing training course – Caleb K
I just completed “Using Generative AI in Technical Writing” from Cherryleaf! Highly recommended – really comprehensive, helpful and up-to-date course whether you know little or loads about using AI in your writing.
Using Generative AI in technical writing training course – Karen C
I’ve been empowered to try out AI for myself, which now makes me the ‘expert’ on my team. It’s a career boost to have increased knowledge in this area. I’ve just created a custom agent and am happy with the results. I’ve set up the agent to highlight its changes in yellow, with deletions in… Read more “Using Generative AI in technical writing training course – Karen C”
Using Generative AI in Technical Writing – Mariia H
Thank you for a very engaging and practical course, I’ve implemented lots of methods and prompts in my workflows.
Using Generative AI in technical writing training course – Diana Lakatos
I chose this course because it promised exactly what I was looking for: insights into how AI can support many different stages of the documentation workflow. I wanted to gather more ideas, discover new tools, and see practical examples of AI in action — and this course delivered exactly what I was hoping for. Some… Read more “Using Generative AI in technical writing training course – Diana Lakatos”
What will I learn?
In this course, we’ll take you through the process of using generative AI to create technical documentation. You’ll learn and practice:
- What are AI technologies and their relevance to technical writing?
- Career opportunities and threats
- How you can use AI at different stages of the documentation process. We cover topics such as planning, writing, reviewing, and production.
- How to work more efficiently.
- How to work more effectively.
- Time-saving workflows
Practical demonstrations
Our course shows you powerful ways to use AI in technical documentation. These include:
1. API Developer Relations content made simple
Transform OpenAPI/Swagger files into engaging DevRel articles and blog posts.
2. Content extraction and analysis
- Extract and synthesise product specifications from multiple PDF sources.
- Convert video walkthroughs into structured user guides for apps in development.
3. Smart documentation updates
- Monitor GitHub/GitLab code commits to identify needed user guide updates.
- Ensure documentation stays synchronised with code changes.
4. Personalisation features
Customise chatbot interactions and responses for individual user needs.
5. GitHub documentation analytics
Generate comprehensive release notes by analysing changes in documentation repositories.
6. Repository insights
Create detailed reports and summaries from GitHub/GitLab issues, helping teams understand documentation workload distribution and focus areas.
Topics covered
Introduction
AI basics
- What do the buzzwords mean?
- The four methods for applying AI in your work
- Using ChatGPT and similar tools
- Prompt engineering
Why use generative AI?
- Why use generative AI?
- The limitations of Large Language Models (LLMs) and AI systems
- Data security
- Legal considerations
Developing content with AI support
- A framework for using generative AI
- Using AI during the research stage of a documentation project
- Defining the goals and scope of a project with AI support
- Managing and automating a documentation project with AI support
- The Model Context Protocol (MCP) and Autonomous AI agents
- Developing the information model
- Writing the content with AI support
- AI-enabled authoring tools
- About the temperature and top_p settings
- Reviewing content
- Maintaining your content
Publishing – Creating LLMs, enhanced search, and chatbots
- Publishing to chatbots and LLMs – Introduction
- Collecting the data to be used by a LLM or chatbot
- Creating a chatbot – The easy way (Retrieval-augmented generation (RAG))
- Using OpenAI GPTs chatbots
- Creating a chatbot – The more complex way (fine-tuning LLMs)
- The other type of chatbots
- AI and metrics
- AI and video walkthroughs
- Making your content findable by AI systems (Agent-friendly content)
Advanced techniques
- Using custom profiles in ChatGPT
- Useful Chrome extensions
- Inserting variable information into a prompt
- Methods for personalising the responses for each user
- Adding user information and content from a repository into prompts
- Methods for personalising the responses for each user
- Connecting chatbots and LLMs to data stored in an API
- It’s now possible for an LLM to make calls to an API, and use the information returned from the API in its responses.
- Personalised learning techniques
- Developing personalised learning plans from YouTube video content
Automation
- AI Agents and AI automation
- Using coding assistants for technical writing
- Claude Skills
- Claude Cowork (this is only described briefly)
- OpenAI Codex
- Directory of Skills
Your project
Summary
- Summary of course topics
- Action plans
Over 40 interactive exercises
The course contains over 40 optional interactive online practice exercises.
You can try out our AI search query matching game .
Pack of general technical writing skills.md files
Delegates on the Professional, assessed option can get a set of eleven portable, company-neutral SKILL.md files for technical writers and documentation-focused AI assistants.
The skills files should work for both Claude and Codex as Agent Skills, with a couple of installation differences.
What the course does not cover
The course does not go into much detail about using generative AI to create images, audio or videos.
We also offer a separate course on Managing and mastering documentation projects with AI.
Duration and delivery format
Learning materials
- The course comprises online training modules, which you can complete at your own pace. The course modules are delivered over the Web in small, manageable video presentations. You can pause the videos at any time and return to the course at times that suit you.
- We have provided a knowledge file. This knowledge file is a user guide for an imaginary application called ABC video player. Delegates can use this file when creating a chatbot if they don’t have their own content they can use.
Examples
- The modules describe practical examples and techniques you can use right away.
Demonstrations
- The modules contain demonstrations of the techniques and tools when they’re applied to technical writing.
Exercises and certificate
- You’ll be given exercises to work on throughout the course. This is a great way to put your learning to practice.
- This course includes 44 optional online practice exercises. They’re designed to help you apply what you’re learning as you go, not just absorb theory.
- You’ll get feedback on your final project from experts. You’ll discover what you’re doing right, and how you could make it even better.
- You’ll receive a certificate of completion when you send in your final project and we’ve reviewed it.
Course options and prices
Self-paced basic option
Perfect for freelancers and individuals testing the waters.
- Core video modules
- Interactive exercises
- 12 months access to the course.
- The final project is not reviewed by us.
The cost is £195 per delegate (ex VAT).
This will be converted into your local currency by the Teachable elearning platform.
VAT will be added if you are in the UK or the EU. Additional VAT or similar tax will be charged where legally required.
Professional, assessed option
Ideal for in-house technical writers wanting practical ROI.
- Everything in Basic
- Pack of general technical writing skills.md files
- Q&A via email
- The final project is reviewed by us
- Certificate of Completion
- 13 months access to the course.
The cost is £295 per delegate (ex VAT).
This will be converted into your local currency by the Teachable elearning platform.
VAT will be added if you are in the UK or the EU. Additional VAT or similar tax will be charged where legally required.
Team / Enterprise option
For technical documentation teams.
- 5+ licences for the professional, assessed course
- Pack of general technical writing skills.md files
- Q&A via email
- The final project is reviewed by us
- Certificate of completion
- 13 months access to the course.