Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing our lives for better in numerous ways. We have come a long way from the days when AI was restricted to movies. Now it is present everywhere from smart virtual assistants to self-driving cars. And with the advancement of technologies, the need for talented AI professionals has become urgent. At the same time, starting to learn about AI can be confusing for beginners. Luckily, there is a plethora of AI learning resources accessible online for everyone from complete AI beginners to experienced creators.
The Basics of Artificial Intelligence
Before diving into artificial intelligence, it is essential to get acquainted with the basics of the topic. Artificial intelligence is a term used to describe a vast number of disciplines associated with this branch of technology. There are machine learning, deep learning, computer vision, and natural language processing among others. Machine learning involves training computer algorithms to recognize data patterns without programming. It is a component of artificial intelligence. Deep learning, which is a component of machine learning, makes use of neural networks for complex data analysis. In computer vision, a system analyzes videos and images. Finally, natural language processing is concerned with understanding the meaning of text and generating speech.
There are numerous online courses offered by different organizations dedicated to studying AI and machine learning. The platforms, such as Coursera, edX, and Udemy, have a variety of courses for learners. They consist of video lectures, exercises, and quizzes to make sure the learner understands all the concepts. Universities and research organizations offer free AI courses and tutorials online as well.
AI Learning Resources for Beginners
Since this post is aimed at beginners, here is a list of the best resources for AI novices:
CS231n: Convolutional Neural Networks for Visual Recognition. This course introduces the basics of deep learning and neural networks making it the perfect start for learners who are interested in computer vision.
Machine Learning. It is a thorough introduction course to machine learning, which includes such important topics as supervised and unsupervised learning, linear regression, and neural networks.
AI for Everyone. As the name suggests, this course introduces the basics of artificial intelligence for everyone.
Apart from online courses, there are many communities and forums where one can get familiar with other people’s experience in the field. One can participate in contests hosted by Kaggle. Moreover, such forums as Reddit’s r/MachineLearning and r/AI can help one stay informed of recent news and developments in the field of artificial intelligence.
Advanced AI Learning Resources
After gaining some basic knowledge about the nature of artificial intelligence, one can proceed to study it deeper. The following list presents the most relevant AI learning resources for experienced creators:
Deep Learning Specialization. It is a series of five courses dedicated to exploring the topic of deep learning with its numerous components.
Natural Language Processing with Python. It is a tutorial designed for beginners who want to master the basics of natural language processing using Python.
Computer Vision with Python. As the title says, this is a tutorial that teaches one to work with computer vision using Python.
Apart from online courses and tutorials, there is always an opportunity to attend AI conferences and meetups and thus gain much knowledge from specialists. For instance, the Conference on Neural Information Processing Systems (NIPS) is one of the major AI conferences. Also, AI Meetups, which take place regularly in numerous cities of the world, might be worth attending.
AI Learning Resources for Business and Industry
Although AI is often associated with universities and scientists working at them, it is highly beneficial for many industries and businesses. Therefore, here is a list of AI learning resources that may be useful for professionals willing to implement artificial intelligence technologies in practice:
AI for Business. This course covers the basics of artificial intelligence as well as its practical use in businesses ranging from chatbots creation to predictive analysis and decision-making processes.
Machine Learning for Business. This course is similar to the one mentioned above with the emphasis placed on predictive analysis and decision-making.
AI and Business Strategy. It talks about implementing AI in a company, creating an AI strategy, and measuring its influence.
Apart from numerous AI courses, there are AI conferences and meetups where learners can interact with other professionals and discuss the issues related to AI. Such conferences as AI for Business and AI in Industry might be of particular interest for AI learners.
AI Learning Resources for Creatives
Artificial intelligence technologies are beneficial not only for engineers and researchers. It also opens huge possibilities for artists, designers, and writers. To master the basics of using AI technologies in creative endeavors, one can attend the following courses:
AI for Creatives. This course introduces learners to the basics of AI and its implementation in creative fields ranging from image and video editing to music generation and writing.
Creative AI. It covers the basics of using artificial intelligence in the generation of art, music, and writing.
AI for Artists. This course gives an insight into artificial intelligence technologies that can be useful for painting, image editing, and sculpture.
Alongside online courses, there are communities and forums that provide learners with chances to discuss issues related to AI with other creative people. One can visit such forums as Reddit’s r/Artificial Intelligence and r/Creative AI.
Conclusion
AI learning resources have become very diverse due to the fast development of technologies and their wide distribution in everyday life. Numerous tutorials and courses are dedicated to machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, computer vision, and other aspects of AI technologies. There is also an array of resources one can use to get acquainted with other people’s experiences in using AI. So start learning AI today!
