This course covers the development of natural language processing (NLP), starting with basic concepts and moving to modern transformer architectures. You will learn about attention mechanisms and their impact on language modeling, as well as the details of transformer models, including scaled dot product attention and multi-headed attention. The course includes practical exercises in transfer learning using pre-trained models such as BERT and GPT, with instruction on fine-tuning these models for specific NLP tasks in PyTorch. By the end, you will understand the theory behind current NLP models and gain practical experience in applying them to real-world problems.

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Introduction to Transformer Models for NLP: Unit 1
This course is part of Introduction to Transformer Models for NLP Specialization

Instructor: Pearson
Included with
Recommended experience
What you'll learn
Understand the evolution of NLP architectures and the transformative impact of attention mechanisms.
Analyze the structure and mathematical foundations of transformer models, including scaled dot product and multi-headed attention.
Apply transfer learning techniques using pre-trained language models such as BERT and GPT.
Gain practical experience with PyTorch to fine-tune NLP models for custom tasks.
Skills you'll gain
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August 2025
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There is 1 module in this course
This module explores the evolution of natural language processing (NLP) through the development and application of attention mechanisms and transformer architectures. Beginning with the history and foundational concepts of attention in language models, it delves into the transformative impact of transformers and their unique attention mechanisms. The module concludes with practical instruction on transfer learning, demonstrating how to fine-tune state-of-the-art pre-trained models like BERT and GPT using PyTorch to achieve advanced NLP results.
What's included
14 videos3 assignments
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can preview the first video and view the syllabus before you enroll. You must purchase the course to access content not included in the preview.
If you decide to enroll in the course before the session start date, you will have access to all of the lecture videos and readings for the course. You’ll be able to submit assignments once the session starts.
Once you enroll and your session begins, you will have access to all videos and other resources, including reading items and the course discussion forum. You’ll be able to view and submit practice assessments, and complete required graded assignments to earn a grade and a Course Certificate.
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