Are computers taking over the world? Quite possibly! The fact that 9 out of 10 individuals utilize artificial intelligence in some shape, way, or form just proves that artificial intelligence is no longer the stuff of fiction. What used to be a Sci-fi concept or something discussed in fictional books has grown by leaps and bounds over the years.
As technology has continued to evolve, so has our capacity to design artificially intelligent machines that can mirror human behavior as well as to adapt to situations just as well as human beings can.
Although artificial intelligence has certainly evolved from a mere buzz word to become something that has revolutionized the way we live modern life, it is still an alien concept to many people. A lot of people don’t even know that they utilize artificial intelligence technologies in their daily life. An even higher number doesn’t understand what it is or why it is of value.
A basic understanding of the principles and practices surrounding artificial intelligence, automation, as well as cognitive systems is a valuable skill to acquire, regardless of whichever your field of business or expertise is. For the few that are curious to learn, accessing the right learning materials can be a challenge, which makes it hard for anyone interested in grasping the fundamentals of the field.
The good news is that the resources available to curious learners have been on the rise in the past couple of years. This means that you don’t have to study for years at a university to become familiar and engaged with this complex but fascinating technology.
To ensure that you are on the right track and that you have everything you need to succeed, here is our carefully curated list of resources that can help you learn. The materials we have amassed range from simple, easy to follow guides to intricate courses for anyone that really wants to expand the little knowledge they already have.
Most of these resources are available online, which means that you can learn at your preferred pace. Here are excellent resources for anyone interested in artificial intelligence:
Learn with Google AI
This is a reliable resource from Google aimed at broadening the public’s understanding of AI. Google makes an effort to add new content regularly. But there are already components that you might want to dive right into such as a Machine Learning crash course with TensorFlow, which is Google’s machine learning library.
The Machine learning crash course covers everything from the basics (introduction to machine learning) as well as an introduction to TensorFlow to complex stuff such as designing and training neural nets.
Anyone can get started with this crash course, even those that don’t have any prior knowledge of machine learning. If you are a little more advanced, you can sort through the modules available to find the ones that interest you the most.
Stanford University’s Machine Learning
You can take this Stanford University course through Coursera under the guidance of Andrew Ng, who’s also the founder of Google’s deep learning research unit, Google Brain, as well as the head of AI for Baidu.
You can start taking this course for free as soon as you find the time. However, there is an option to pay for certification, which is essential for anyone that is intending to use their AI knowledge to advance their career.
Columbia University’s Machine Learning
Columbia University’s machine learning is also available free of charge with an option to pay for certification for anyone that needs it. With this course, learners will be able to master various models, applications, and methods for solving real-world issues through an array of non-probabilistic and probabilistic systems. The course also covers supervised and unsupervised learning.
The course materials are designed to be covered in 12 weeks. You need to be committed and dedicated to learning the concepts as the course is taught by an Ivy-League-level school after all.
Why are these resources important?
There is a lot of hype surrounding the field of artificial intelligence and machine learning. So, it makes sense that you’ve thought about viable artificial learning fields for a possible career change. But before you do anything too drastic, you might want to find out what the field is all about first- and these resources can help.
Like most things in life, the best way to learn about something new is by getting your feet wet. Start by watching some YouTube videos, read blog posts extensively, join forums and groups on Instagram and Facebook as well as read various resources and books on the subject.
If you discover that the field of artificial intelligence is something that interests you, then you can proceed to complete these free courses. When you are done with the free courses, you can then try the paid ones to take your artificial intelligence knowledge to the next level.
It might also be a good idea to find someone who already has a career in artificial intelligence so that you can pick their brains about how they started out and whether they would recommend it as a career choice or not.
Final Words
Artificial intelligence has officially taken over. If you want to be part of the movement that is changing humanity one app at a time, you don’t need to wait until you have an artificial intelligence mentor or professor to guide you or tell you what to do. There are many ways to learn artificial intelligence, you just have to find them.
Artificial intelligence is a broad field. It consists of different disciplines and a variation of platforms and tools. To prepare you for a career in artificial intelligence, you will need to be proficient in several of these disciplines and platforms.
Despite the exponential growth and potential of the industry, there is still a considerable shortage of skills in the field. There are various job profiles and specializations in artificial intelligence engineering. So, if you are interested in artificial intelligence, there is no better time to start learning than now.
