How to Learn Artificial Intelligence: A Beginner’s Guide

Every time you shop online, search for information on Google, or watch a show on Netflix, you interact with a form of artificial intelligence (AI). The applications of AI are everywhere and will only continue to grow. Learning AI can help you understand how technology can improve our lives through products and services. There are also plenty of job opportunities in this field, should you choose to pursue it.

Learning AI doesn’t have to be difficult, and in this guide, we’ll take you through how to learn AI and create a learning plan. If you're ready to build your AI skills, consider enrolling in the Google AI Essentials Specialization, where you'll learn to write clear and specific prompts to get the output you want

you’ll apply prompting techniques to help summarize, create tag lines, and more.

Google AI Essentials

Skills you'll build:

Data Security, Prompt Engineering, Large Language Modeling, Workforce Development, Technical Writing, Digital Transformation, Generative AI, Business Solutions, Critical Thinking, Operational Efficiency, Process Optimization, Innovation, Analysis, Machine Learning Software, Productivity Software, Data Quality, Emerging Technologies, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Machine Learning, Strategic Thinking, Complex Problem Solving, Business Workflow Analysis, Content Creation

Why should you learn AI?

Learning AI is increasingly important because it is a revolutionary technology that is transforming the way we live, work, and communicate with each other. With organizations across industries worldwide collecting big data, AI helps us make sense of it all.

AI engineers earn a median salary of $136,620 a year, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics [ 1]. Professionals in this field can expect the number of jobs to grow by 23 percent over the next decade.

Besides being a lucrative career path, it is a fast-growing field and an intellectually stimulating discipline to learn.

Hear more about AI in this lecture from Stanford and DeepLearning.AI's Machine Learning Specialization:

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How to learn artificial intelligence

Here are four steps to guide your learning. To start your journey into AI, develop a learning plan by assessing your current level of knowledge and the amount of time and resources you can devote to learning.

1. Create a learning plan.

Before you take a class, we recommend developing a learning plan. This plan should include a tentative timeline, skill-building goals, and the activities, programs, and resources you’ll need to gain those skills. First, ask yourself the following questions:

Your level of knowledge of artificial intelligence: Are you a true beginner? Do you have a foundation in math and statistical skills? Are you familiar with basic terminology and concepts?
Your intention for learning: Are you pursuing a new career or just supplementing your current career?
How much time you can spend learning: Are you currently employed? Do you want to learn full-time or part-time?
How much money you can spend: Do you want to invest in a boot camp, take professional courses online, or watch some videos on YouTube and TikTok?
How do you want to learn: Are you interested in pursuing a degree program, a boot camp, or self-teaching through a variety of online courses?

2. Master the prerequisite skills.

Before starting your learning journey, you’ll want to have a foundation in the following areas. These skills form a base for learning complex AI skills and tools.

Basic statistics: AI skills are much easier to learn when you have a firm grasp of statistics and interpreting data. You’ll want to know concepts such as statistical significance, regression, distribution, and likelihood, all of which play a role in AI applications.
Basic math: Understanding AI, especially machine learning and deep learning, relies on knowing mathematical concepts such as calculus, probability, and linear algebra. These frequently appear in AI algorithms and models.
Curiosity and adaptability: AI is complex and rapidly evolving, so there is a constant need to keep up with new techniques and tools. Those looking to pursue a career in AI should have an insatiable thirst for learning and an adaptable mindset for problem-solving.

The depth to which you’ll need to learn these prerequisite skills depends on your career goals. An aspiring AI engineer will definitely need to master these, while a data analyst looking to expand their skill set may start with an introductory class in AI.

If you already have a baseline understanding of statistics and math and are open to learning, you can move on to Step 3.

Content

How to Learn Artificial Intelligence: A Beginner’s Guide

Google AI Essentials

Why should you learn AI?

How to learn artificial intelligence

1. Create a learning plan.

2. Master the prerequisite skills.

Fundamentals

Applications & Impact

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