If you’re a beginner who has spent all their lives engaging in non tech endeavors, hearing terms like Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence can throw you into a sea of confusion. You hear people talk about it with so much passion yet you struggle to understand what it entails. Everyone claims it is important to become tech savvy but you do not exactly understand how. This post is all you need to start out on your Artificial Intelligence journey as we will be examining practical steps to ensure you that your learning process is smooth.
Before we dive right into these steps, let us examine briefly what Artificial Intelligence is?
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence is a broad field in computer science that seeks to create machines that are capable of mimicking human Intelligence. Simply put, the whole concept of AI is to make machines behave like humans, in thinking and in execution of tasks. AI systems now execute many tasks that previously required human intervention in times past. The aim of AI is producing systems that can perform tasks independently or assist humans in carrying out tasks faster and efficiently. You can also read more on Artificial Intelligence here
The advent of AI has caused massive disruptions across industries. Industries like healthcare, Finance, Education amongst others now use AI on a daily basis to carry out day to day activities. As AI continues to advance in the workspace generally, it is inevitable to familiarize yourself with its systems. In order to remain relevant in today’s Job market, it is expedient to arm yourself with appropriate technological skills. Which is why this post centers on how to kickstart your AI journey and ensure you have a smooth journey. If you’re a beginner trying to navigate the AI space, the practical steps discussed below will help you on your journey.
Start With Why
A lot of students start on their journey of learning tech and stop halfway because of this important factor. They do not start with a “WHY”. Some people start for the wrong reasons and end up lacking motivation along the way because they do not take time to figure out what their goals are. Why do you want to learn AI? What do you hope to achieve after learning? Answering these questions honestly can help you sustain your passion for learning especially when things get tough. Having a goal in mind can keep you focused and give you a sense of direction in your learning process.
Furthermore, another important mindset to have when starting out is to understand that your learning journey won’t happen in a day. You won’t achieve all the AI skills you desire in a day or a week or even a month. Therefore it is important that you see your learning journey as a marathon and not a sprint race. If you approach it this way you’ll be able to sustain and enjoy the learning process. A powerful hack to achieve this is to break your learning goals into small achievable steps. This will give you a sense of achievement as you progress in your learning journey.
Start With the Basics
Understanding the foundation on which AI rests is a crucial factor to determine your learning success. There can be the temptation to start attempting complicated information as soon as you start. But it is worth remembering that everything starts with a foundation. The stronger your foundation is, the stronger your learning will be and the easier it will be to build upon to attain technical skills.
An important foundation to equip yourself with in your learning process is the understanding of mathematics and statistics.AI systems rely upon the foundation of basic mathematics. Mathematical concepts like algebra, calculus and probability are all terms used in developing AI algorithms and models. Also, AI relies heavily on Data and Data interpretation to perform efficiently. The understanding of data science and statistical terms like regression, clustering, distribution amongst others will help you in your AI learning.
Choose a Programming Language
Another important step in your learning journey is understanding and choosing the right programming language to learn. Programming languages are a set of instructions given to the computer to teach it how to perform tasks. Pro Programming is a core skill required in the Machine Learning process.
There are a variety of programming languages that are recommended for beginners such as python, Java, SQL amongst others. Python is a general purpose language known for its simplicity and versatility. It is widely suggested for beginners to start with on their AI learning journey. It is important to move from simple to complex while learning so as not to get overwhelmed with your learning.
Understand Data Science and Machine Learning
Understanding Machine Learning and Data science is another key factor in your Artificial Intelligence journey. Machine learning is a broad subset of AI that involves systems learning from data and improving over time without explicit programming. After familiarizing yourself with some programming languages, you should consider diving into machine learning. This is because machine learning is a core aspect of AI that is widely applied across industries.
Furthermore, since data is the lifepoint of both AI and ML, the knowledge of Data science can not be overemphasized in your AI journey. Knowing how data works, how it is gathered, imputed and analyzed in building algorithms will help to optimize your learning journey.
Focus on Practice
For your learning process to be productive, it should not solely depend on understanding theoretical terms. True Learning is in practice, how much of knowledge you can apply. As such, you must set ample time to practice what you’ve learnt in each class. Learning AI will require consistent repetition and practice to get to the place of skill or mastery. Joining coding games and challenges is a way to make your artificial intelligence journey fun and engaging.
Join a Community
In conclusion, it is vital to join suitable communities in your learning journey. This can aid you to rub minds with other learners and learn from each other. In the right community, people get to support each other and motivate each other daily.
Also, in a suitable learning community, you can ask questions to find clarity and understanding on Artificial Intelligence. This is why our learning community at MLtutors is suitable for like minded people who are on their learning journey. You can be a part of our community today by signing up for one of our courses. Be assured that your Artificial Intelligence journey will take a better turn while learning with us.