Roadmap to Build Next-gen Skills to Work with AI
How to learn to work with AI
In a world where artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the job market, how can you ensure your career survives and thrives?
I wrote this piece to walk you through the essential skills and courses you need to stay ahead of the curve and become indispensable in the AI-driven workforce of tomorrow.
The AI Revolution: A New Era of Efficiency
Imagine a world where tasks that once required ten people can now be accomplished by just five or seven, thanks to AI. This isn’t science fiction — it’s the reality we’re rapidly approaching. But don’t panic! This shift presents an incredible opportunity for those willing to adapt and grow.
The Transient Phase: Where We Stand Now
We’re currently in a pivotal moment, a transient phase where:
- Large language models are evolving at breakneck speeds
- AI-powered apps and agents are emerging for major workflows and skills
- The nature of work itself is undergoing a fundamental transformation
Every industry, every domain, and every department will soon leverage AI in some capacity.
The question is: Will you be ready?
The Future Workforce: What Will It Look Like?
Picture this: Just as you learned to harness the power of the internet to solve problems in your field, soon you’ll need to master AI to tackle even more complex challenges. Your ability to leverage AI will become as fundamental as your expertise in your domain.
But how do you develop this crucial skill? Let’s dive into a roadmap that will set you on the path to becoming future-proof.
The Roadmap to AI Mastery: 5 Essential Steps
1. Learn to Code: The Foundation of AI Literacy
You might think, “But AI can code for us!”, True, but understanding the basics of programming will give you an edge in leveraging AI effectively.
LLMs work best when you know what you want out of them or at least how you want to code the application. They make mistakes all the time and not knowing programming will add to the frustration and you’ll give up sooner or later.
Here’s what you need to focus on:
- Python or JavaScript (beginner to intermediate level)
- Working with APIs and web servers
- Understanding HTTP and status codes
If you need any recommendations, you take these courses here from Datacamp:
Do at least Beginner and Intermediate courses on Python:
Then follow through by learning how to work with APIs:
2. Grasp the Fundamentals of AI and Large Language Models (LLMs)
To truly harness the power of AI, you need to understand how it works under the hood:
- Basics of machine learning and deep learning
- How LLMs are trained and their limitations
- Generative AI concepts across different modalities (text, image, audio)
Check out the complete skills track on AI Fundamentals to kick things off by learning the basics:
If you are looking for good starting points here, check out the following courses:
3. Master AI for Business: Identifying Opportunities and Developing Solutions
You will always need to be on top of what works for the business and how to leverage all available technologies to grow. Workflow automation is already huge. This step is crucial for those looking to enhance workflows and automate pipelines:
- Generative AI for business workflows
- Building LLM-based solutions
- Developing AI strategies for businesses
This is a dedicated skill that you will have to develop and this skills track will be very helpful for you:
If you don’t have time, I’d recommend going through these 2 courses:
4. Learn to Develop Applications with AI
For engineers and tech enthusiasts, this step is your gateway to building cutting-edge AI solutions:
- Working with APIs from LLM providers
- Structuring end-to-end applications
- Leveraging existing data with retrieval augmented generation (RAG) pipelines
This is for all the builders out there who are looking to build the solutions themselves. This is becoming a more and more valuable skill now. So, check out the complete track:
You should start by taking these courses:
You should know how to work on projects like these:
5. Advanced AI Development (Optional)
For those aiming to push the boundaries of AI and looking to develop / fine-tune / and deploy LLMs in production for themselves, learn to:
- Build an LLM from scratch
- Fine-tune existing LLMs
- Master LLMOps for production deployment
A resource that can help you in building this skill incrementally from basics to production deployment:
Video version of the post
If you want to see me explain this complete roadmap watch the video version of this post:
Your Path to an AI-Powered Future Starts Now
The AI revolution is not just coming — it’s already here. By following this roadmap and continuously updating your skills, you’ll not only survive in the age of AI but thrive as an indispensable part of the future workforce.
Remember, the key to success in this new era is not just knowledge, but the ability to apply that knowledge creatively and effectively. Start your journey today, and watch as doors to incredible opportunities begin to open.
Are you ready to future-proof your career? The time to act is now. Dive into these courses, experiment with AI tools, and stay curious. Your future self will thank you for the investment you make today.
What’s your next step on this exciting journey? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below, and let’s navigate this AI-powered future together!
