Step 1. Educate yourself about AI. In this module, we're going to learn why basic AI literacy will be so important during the AI technology revolution. In addition, I'll provide you with recommendations on how best to educate yourself about AI. Why is education important during a technology revolution? Why can't we just continue going about our day-to-day lives as the world changes around us? With each of the previous technology revolutions, there is a need to update human education to function in the New World. With the agricultural revolution, humans had to become proficient with agricultural technologies. As a result, we had to learn how to farm, domesticate animals, and use a plow. With the Industrial Revolution, humans had to become proficient with industrial technologies. As a result, we had to learn how to operate steam engines, run machinery, and use electricity. With the information revolution, humans had to become proficient with information technologies. As a result, we had to learn how to use telephones, work with computers, and program software. With the AI revolution, humanity will once again need to update its skillset to become literate in the basics of AI. We'll need to learn how to train AI models, develop AI applications, and use AI tools. You see, whether you realize it or not, our world is going through a major transition as we speak. We're entering the era of artificial intelligence and machine learning. A future where machines will be doing many of the jobs that humans are currently doing today. As a result, the software industry is preparing to go through a major workforce transition as well. In the past, we'd have to explicitly program a computer step-by-step to solve a problem. This involved a lot of if-then statements, for loops, and logical operations. Today, however, machines can teach themselves how to solve these problems on their own. We just need to provide the data. Now, this is a radically different way of working with a computer than we're used to as software developers and IT professionals. While there's a growing demand for individuals with the skills necessary to implement AI solutions, there's currently a shortage of people capable of teaching machines how to solve problems in this new way. As a result, those with the skills necessary to leverage AI are commanding significantly higher salaries, and this trend doesn't seem to have any end in sight. Think back to our last major technology revolution, the information revolution. Each of us had a choice to either learn how to use a computer or to stay computer illiterate. Think of all the opportunities that computer literacy has afforded you over the years, and think of all the disadvantages for those who can barely use a computer. The same will be true of AI literacy during the AI revolution. Those who are AI literate will be highly functional in our new economy, and those who are not will sit on the sidelines and eventually become obsolete. How should you educate yourself about AI? What should you be doing today to teach yourself about this new set of technologies? Unfortunately, there's no one size fits all answer to this question. It really depends on what your objectives are for learning AI. However, I have some general recommendations that I think will help get you pointed in the right direction. First, start by learning the basics of AI. Basic AI literacy will be important no matter who you are or what you want to do with AI. You need to learn the difference between what is real versus what is hype. What can AI do successfully today versus what things are currently impossible or impractical? Learn the basics of data science, machine learning, deep learning, and reinforcement learning. Learn what they are, how they work, and why they're important for AI. And learn the difference between the various types of AI like narrow AI versus general AI, symbolic AI versus data driven AI, and supervised learning versus unsupervised learning. Everyone in the general public will need to have a basic level of AI literacy in order to function effectively in an AI-driven society. Second, choose an objective with AI. What do you actually want to do with artificial intelligence? Do you want to automate decisions, predictions, or tasks with AI? If so, you need to learn how to train new AI models using machine learning algorithms. Do you want to solve new problems with AI software? If so, you need to learn how to develop AI applications using pre-trained AI models. Or do you just want to be more productive with your own day-to-day tasks? If so, you need to learn how to use pre-built AI tools created by third-party providers. You need to decide what you want to do with AI first before you can decide what AI skills you'll actually need. Third, get the right training. There's no one-size-fits-all training for your AI education. For each objective that we previously mentioned, there's an ideal curriculum in learning path. If you want to train new AI models using existing machine learning algorithms, then you'll need training in both data science and machine learning. If you want to develop new AI applications using pre-trained AI models, then you'll need both programming skills and the ability to use pre-trained AI models. Or if you just want to use pre-built AI tools, then you just need basic AI literacy and training on how to use each of these tools is necessary. What's important is that you get the right training based on what you actually want to do with AI. Fourth, you need to practice your skills. No matter which career path in training you choose, you're going to need lots of practice. It's one thing to know what a neural network is. However, it's an entirely different thing to be able to train a neural network to detect fraud. You can participate in online competitions like kegel competitions to apply your skills while learning from your peers. You can create and maintain an open-source project to share your knowledge with others while you learn. Or you can find low-risk projects at work to practice your new skills and build your portfolio. Ultimately, you need to find lots of opportunities to practice the skills that you've learned and build up your resume. Finally, choose reliable sources of information. Unfortunately, there are some people out there that are just trying to take advantage of you to take your money. So you want to avoid the AI Hucksters, Charlotons, and Snake Oil Salesmen out there. Look out for people trying to dazzle you with a bunch of big hype and buzzwords, or people that are making grand or unrealistic claims. Instead, you want to find trusted sources for all of your information and training. So be sure to check your sources, credentials, qualifications, and experience. You want to make sure that you're getting the most value possible for your investment in your AI education. To recap our first recommendation, educate yourself about AI. Learn the basics of AI, choose your objective for using AI, get the right training for that objective, practice your skills extensively, and choose your reliable sources for your education.