I've been trying to break into the AI industry for a while now. The whole idea seems like a dream: high-paying jobs, a lot of freedom, and the chance to work on cutting-edge projects from anywhere. With the world in the midst of an AI boom, I can't help but feel the pull to be a part of it.
However, getting into the industry is no easy task. Despite studying AI for over a year at university, I often feel like an imposter. The only practical skills I have right now are some experience with Langchain, a bit of Sagemaker, and Huggingface—but even with those, I feel like I’m barely scratching the surface.
With the year coming to a close in just 100 days, I’ve decided to challenge myself: 100 days of intense focus on AI. I’ll be sharing my journey along the way. Here are my key goals for these 100 days:
- Develop a deep and solid understanding of various AI topics.
- Build real-world, problem-solving skills.
- Gain the confidence and competence to land a job in the AI field.
The Plan
To make this goal measurable, I’m committing to spending 300 hours over the next 100 days, roughly three hours a day on average. Of course, some days may be more or less depending on my schedule, as I’ll still be balancing work and other responsibilities.
Ultimately, my end goal is to secure a better position in the IT industry, one that allows me to have a greater impact.
First and foremost, I’m doing this for the sake of Allah—to provide for my family and gain the expertise to help my community. I sincerely ask Allah for Barakah in this endeavor, as without His help, none of this would amount to anything.
Starting point
I’m not starting from scratch. I’ve been a web developer for two years and have already completed a full year of AI studies at university. However, like many others, I feel that traditional university education is somewhat detached from the real world. After speaking with fellow students, it seems many share this same feeling—unprepared for practical challenges outside the academic bubble.
Tracking My Progress
To keep myself accountable and track my progress, I’ve created a few tools, which I’ll also be sharing publicly:
Days Left: Tracker for my 100-day countdown.
Topics Covered: Visualizing the areas of AI I’m focusing on.
Learning Methods: Tracking how I’ll be learning (videos, projects, tutorials, etc.).
By the end of this project, I hope to have built a solid portfolio that not only proves my skills to potential employers but also reassures me of my own abilities.
Sharing Along the Way
In addition to tracking my progress, I’ll be sharing tutorials, guides, and mini-essays as I go. This is part of my commitment to learning in public, and I plan to post updates at least once per week.
I’m excited for this journey, and I hope that by sharing my experience, I might help someone else (if anyone, really. I don't think that even my wife would read this) who’s on a similar path. This is just the beginning—let’s get to work!