How to Start Your AI Journey

The GenAI wave is real, but most engineers still feel stuck between hype and practical skills. That’s why I created this 15-step roadmap—a clear, technically grounded path to transitioning from traditional software development to advanced AI engineering. This isn’t a list of buzzwords. It’s the architecture of skills required to build agentic AI systems, production-grade LLM apps, and scalable pipelines in 2025. Here’s what this journey actually looks like: 🔹 Foundation Phase (Steps 1–5): → Start with Python + libraries (NumPy, Pandas, etc.) → Brush up on data structures & Big-O — still essential for model efficiency → Learn basic math for AI (linear algebra, stats, calculus) → Understand the evolution of AI from rule-based to supervised to agentic systems → Dive into prompt engineering: zero-shot, CoT, and templates with LangChain 🔹 Build & Integrate (Steps 6–10): → Work with LLM APIs (OpenAI, Claude, Gemini) and use function calling → Learn RAG: embeddings, vector DBs, LangChain chains → Build agentic workflows with LangGraph, CrewAI, and AutoGen → Understand transformer internals (positional encoding, masking, BERT to LLaMA) → Master deployment with FastAPI, Docker, Flask, and Streamlit 🔹 Production-Ready (Steps 11–15): → Learn MLOps: versioning, CI/CD, tracking with MLflow & DVC → Optimize for real workloads using quantization, batching, and distillation (ONNX, Triton) → Secure AI systems against injection, abuse, and hallucination → Monitor LLM usage and performance → Architect multi-agent systems with state control and memory Too many “AI tutorials” skip the real-world complexity, including permissioning, security, memory, token limits, and agent orchestration. But that’s what actually separates a prototype from a production-grade AI app. If you’re serious about becoming an AI Engineer, this is your blueprint. And yes, you can start today. You just need a structured plan and consistency. Feel free to save, share, or tag someone on this journey.

I asked the smartest people I know about AI... I’ve been reading everything I can get my hands on. Talking to AI founders, skeptics, operators, and dreamers. And having some very real conversations with people who’ve looked me in the eye and said: “This isn’t just a tool shift. It’s a leadership reckoning.” Oh boy. Another one eh? Alright. I get it. My job isn’t just to understand disruption. It’s to humanize it. Translate it. And make sure my teams are ready to grow through it and not get left behind. So I asked one of my most fav CEOs, turned investor - a sharp, no-BS mentor what he would do if he were running a company today. He didn’t flinch. He gave me a crisp, practical, people-centered roadmap. “Here’s how I’d lead AI transformation. Not someday. Now.” I’ve taken his words, built on them, and I’m sharing my approach here, not as a finished product, but as a living, evolving plan I’m adopting and sharing openly to refine with others. This plan I believe builds capability, confidence, and real business value: 1A. Educate the Top. Relentlessly. Every senior leader must go through an intensive AI bootcamp. No one gets to opt out. We can’t lead what we don’t understand. 1B. Catalog the problems worth solving. While leaders are learning, our best thinkers start documenting real challenges across the business. No shiny object chasing, just a working list of problems we need better answers for. 2. Find the right use cases. Map AI tools to real problems. Look for ways to increase efficiency, unlock growth, or reduce cost. And most importantly: communicate with optimism. AI isn’t replacing people, it’s teammate technology. Say that. Show that. 3. Build an AI Helpdesk. Recruit internal power users and curious learners to be your “AI Coaches.” Not just IT support - change agents. Make it peer-led and momentum-driven. 4. Choose projects with intention. We need quick wins to build energy and belief. But you need bigger bets that push the org forward. Balance short-term sprints with long-term missions. 5. Vet your tools like strategic hires. The AI landscape is noisy. Don’t just chase features. Choose partners who will evolve with you. Look for flexibility, reliability, and strong values alignment. 6. Build the ethics framework early. AI must come with governance. Be transparent. Be intentional. Put people at the center of every decision. 7. Reward experimentation. This is the messy middle. People will break things. Celebrate the ones who try. Make failing forward part of your culture DNA. 8. Scale with purpose. Don’t just track usage. Track value. Where are you saving time? Where is productivity up? Where is human potential being unlocked? This is not another one-and-done checklist. Its my AI compass. Because AI transformation isn’t just about tech adoption. It’s about trust, learning, transparency, and bringing your people with you. Help me make this plan better? What else should I be thinking about?

If you’re feeling lost about where to start with AI, you’ve come to the right place for guidance. Mastering AI doesn’t require a PhD, just a structured path. Here’s a beginner-friendly roadmap to help you understand, build, and apply AI step by step. 1. 🔸AI Fundamentals Start with the basics. Learn how AI, Machine Learning, and Deep Learning differ, and explore how they impact real-world use cases. 2. 🔸Python for AI Python is the backbone of AI development. Understand its core concepts and use it to build dashboards and simple AI models. 3. 🔸Prompt Engineering Learn to speak the AI language. Write prompts that get better results by mastering format, structure, and role-based queries. 4. 🔸Generative AI Tools Explore tools that create images, text, audio, or slides. Ideal for marketers, creators, and anyone building with AI without code. 5. 🔸Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) Build AI that can fetch and reason over your documents. Combine search with language models for smart assistants. 6. 🔸Fine-Tuning Models (Advanced) Train models on specific tasks using your data. Learn techniques like supervised fine-tuning and preference optimization. 7. 🔸AI Agents & Workflows Build autonomous systems that act, decide, and complete tasks using tools like LangChain, AutoGen, or Flowise. [Explore More In The Post] Feel free to use this roadmap as your step-by-step guide to learning AI in 2025. Any background or experience level can benefit from this. #genai #aiagents #artificialintelligence

Want to future-proof your career and start leveraging AI? Here's how I did it, ranked from easiest to most ambitious: 1️⃣ 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘂𝗽 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗜 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀, 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘂𝘀𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 • 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗: https://lnkd.in/eT-nzYP9 I recommend Heather Murray 's AI for Non-Techies Newsletter. It's a fun treasure trove of useful information. • 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗕𝗟𝗘 𝗨𝗦𝗘: AI (Generative AI especially) is not infallible. Learn about the mistakes it can make, the issues it can cause, and how to navigate them. • 𝗧𝗘𝗦𝗧 (𝗜𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝗳 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸): For $15/mo, Canva is an amazing option because you can test alot of current capabilities. For $20/mo, Microsoft Copilot Pro can be added to your Office 365 account. Also for $20/mo, Google offers AI premium for your workspace (GMail, Docs, Sheets, etc). 2️⃣ 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗔𝗜-𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀. If your company offers access to AI tools, get access and use them according to their use policy. If not, create sample scenarios at home and practice. 3️⃣ 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗜 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. Share that you're interested in learning more in your field. Ask if coworkers or your LinkedIn network if anyone incorporated AI into their work. Offer to continue to learn together. 4️⃣ 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗜 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝘆𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀. There's no shortage of free webinars, conferences, etc. talking about AI. Get involved. 5️⃣ 𝗘𝗻𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗜 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱. Professional organizations and technology vendors offer lots of free training for specific use cases. 6️⃣ 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗜 𝗽𝗶𝗹𝗼𝘁. Talk to your manager about opportunities. Make it one of your professional goals to stand out. If they aren't there, contact your professional or volunteer organizations. 7️⃣ 𝗣𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀-𝗼𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲. Use what you've learned to pitch an opportunity to create value at your company, your professional, or your volunteer organizations. Do these make sense for you? How are you going about it? #artificialintelligence #innovation #changemanagement #technology #digitaltransformation

𝟵𝟳 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗜 𝗝𝗼𝗯𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴—𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝟲 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗶𝘃𝗼𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 AI is transforming industries faster than we imagined. According to the World Economic Forum, by 2025, 85 million jobs will be displaced, but 97 million new ones will be created. The real question is: Will your career adapt to this shift, or risk being left behind? Back in 2018, I decided to pivot into AI. Here’s exactly what I did to make the shift, and how you can do it too: 1 - Learn the Fundamentals: Don’t wait for your company to train you. Back then, I joined one of the first executive AI courses at Stanford University. ↳Today, platforms like LinkedIn Learning ( 1 click away ) and Coursera make it easier than ever to start. ↳Own your learning—curiosity is your greatest advantage. Follow people like Andrew Ng who is always sharing great content and free here. 2. Integrate AI Into Your Current Role: I started small by incorporating AI into strategy discussions, product improvements, and productivity initiatives. ↳Whether it’s better forecasting, writing, smarter customer engagement, or automating workflows, go find a way for AI to add value in your role right now. 3. Play to Your Strengths: Pivoting doesn’t mean starting from scratch. ↳I didn’t try to become a data scientist—I focused on using AI to innovate and reinvent businesses, which was my core strength. Find a niche within AI that fits your expertise, and build from there. 4. Rebrand Yourself: Update your job title to reflect your focus on AI. ↳Add “+ AI” and show your commitment by writing, speaking, or even teaching about how AI impacts your field. ↳Thought leadership is built by taking action, not waiting for permission. 5. Be Relentless About ROI: AI is powerful, but it’s not cheap. ↳Avoid the hype by always tying AI initiatives to measurable outcomes. ↳Knowing exactly how AI creates value will set you apart as a strategic thinker. 6. Build Your Career Path Around AI: Once I integrated AI into my work, I expanded further—joining AI companies, advising startups, and eventually writing a book (coming soon) about the field. ↳These moves weren’t without risk, but they aligned with my vision for the future. AI has become central to everything I do, and it’s been worth every step. For additional inspiration, follow Allie K. Miller—a top AI influencer whose career pivot from an employee in AI to an entrepreneur and evangelist in the field has inspired many people, including myself. Let me know the steps you are taking to make AI part of your career. If you like this post share it to network ♻ #AI #JobsOnTheRise #GetHired2025 #career

You can start using AI this week. Here's how: 𝟭/ 𝗣𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗳𝘂𝗹, 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄. 𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀: – Writing proposals or RFPs – Reviewing contracts or compliance docs – Summarizing research, meetings, or reports – Drafting job descriptions or performance reviews – Answering repetitive customer or internal questions – Creating slide decks or campaign briefs – Brainstorming campaign ideas or product names – Exploring competitor strategy or market insights – Drafting internal comms or executive summaries – Filling out forms, invoices, or compliance templates 𝟮/ 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗳𝗳-𝘁𝗵𝗲-𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗔𝗜 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 & 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁. 𝗥𝗲𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀: – What steps can AI automate or assist? – What if AI drafted the first version every time? – What if humans only reviewed and approved? 𝟯/ 𝗥𝘂𝗻 𝗮 𝟱-𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁: 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗔𝗜 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝘀𝗸, 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲. 𝟰/ 𝗘𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀: – Time saved per task – Error reduction or quality improvement – % of task handled by AI – User trust: would you ship this? Share the results. If it works, scale. AI is a tool; grab it and prove value fast.

Leaders who don't embrace AI aren't being replaced by it.   They're being replaced by those who do. AI is about leadership, not coding.   Here’s your start guide to get past the hesitation. You don’t need to learn to code.   You need to learn to think differently.  Here’s how to start embracing AI as a leader:  1️⃣ 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀   - Automate your calendar with AI assistants.     - Filter emails to focus on what matters.     - Use AI project tools to uncover insights.  2️⃣ 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀   - Spot trends with AI-driven market insights.     - Track team performance using AI dashboards.     - Predict outcomes to optimize strategies.  3️⃣ 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗺   - Follow one AI expert.     - Watch a 10-minute video or read one article weekly.     - A little progress adds up fast.  4️⃣ 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺   - Ask them what tools they use and love.     - Brainstorm how AI could make workflows smoother.     - Remember: AI thrives on collaboration.  5️⃣ 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆   - Identify one area in your workflow where AI could help.     - Start small, build momentum.  The future isn’t about competing with AI;   It’s about leading with it.  Ready to start?   Your journey as an AI-powered leader begins with just one small step.  

If your CX team has not started experimenting with AI, you are not alone. Many teams talk about the idea but haven't taken the first step yet either. But you can start today with a small, low-risk test. Experimentation is the fastest way to learn and show real results. To start, pick one clear use case. For example, sort incoming support tickets or suggest answers in your live chat. Keep the scope small so you can move fast. A simple test will teach you more quickly than months of planningever will. Once you have the use case, set a clear goal and timeline to deliver. Decide what you want to improve and how you will measure success. It could be cutting response time by 20 percent or identifying new product enhancements. Whatever the metric is, make sure it's quantifiable and you can measure it in either revenue or dollars saved. Once the experiment is done, share the results with your team and key stakeholders across your organization. Even small wins build trust in AI and open the door to bigger projects. Use what you learn to plan your next test. The point is you have to start. What simple AI experiment will you try starting today? #cxleaders #customerexperience #ai #aiexperimentation #testandlearn

Navigating AI tools can be daunting, especially for those who are new to it. Many of our clients have shared their struggles in adopting GenAI models for new business development. Their blockers range from psychological barriers, such as fear of the unknown, to privacy and security concerns to simply not knowing where to start. If you're feeling the same way, trust me, you're not alone. If you're not leveraging AI for sales yet, let's fix that! 🌟 I want to share a very simple, practical step for B2B sellers to dip their toes into AI. Start by using AI to research your prospective clients. Here's how: **Use AI for client research** Pick any AI model that you have an account with —ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, or Claude—and ask it to create a comprehensive profile of "Company XYZ" including a brief history, mission, values, key products or services, market position and recent news or developments. Review the response. If it's not what you are looking for or if it's not useful to you, redirect the model with follow-up questions. Ask it to dive more deeply into a particular area you are interested in. The beauty of these models is that they don't get tired or annoyed by multiple iterations. You can refine and adjust until you get the information you need. Start small, stay curious, and most importantly, have fun with it! Here's to kicking off your AI journey. 🚀 #AI #Sales

Most of the AI business advice online is full of noise. I’ve spent the past year interacting with AI more than I did with real humans (RIP social life) and here’s how I think you can best leverage AI. The key to success? Have a strategy. If you want to lose weight, you can dive deep into the rabbit hole, try everything, then burnout. Or you can hire someone to give you a strategy: First count calories, then increase physical activity, then get enough sleep… etc. You don’t need diet pills or liposuction. Stacking small changes gradually is the only way to sustainable change. So here’s the prompts I’d use: *Replace text in [ ] You are a digital transformation and AI expert who helps [small and medium-sized commercial real estate developers and investors] streamline operations, save time, and scale impact. I want you to act as a trusted advisor to help me develop a focused AI strategy and implementation plan tailored to my business. Here is my goal: I want to identify the 20% of AI tools and workflows that will give me 80% of the impact, so I can build an efficient and integrated workflow using the latest practical technology - without creating bloat or needing a large engineering team. I prefer low-code or no-code solutions where possible. Start by asking me a series of thoughtful, structured questions to understand: - My business model and processes - My typical daily workflows - My existing tools and technology stack - My level of technical skill - My goals and pain points - Any constraints (budget, timeline, team size) Once you have enough information, propose a simple and actionable AI strategy, prioritized by impact and ease of implementation. Present this as a clear step-by-step plan I can follow, including tool recommendations where relevant.