Advice Needed

Hey everyone,

I’ve been diving into Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Deep Learning recently, but I find myself a little confused about how to approach the learning process effectively. My goal isn’t just to secure a job but to actually build cool AI products or startups—something innovative and impactful, like what companies such as OpenAI, Anthropic, or ElevenLabs are doing.

I often see founders or engineers building incredible AI-driven startups, and I can’t help but wonder:

• What kind of learning path did these people follow?

• Surely they didn’t just stick to basic Udemy or YouTube courses that most people use for job prep.

• What resources or approaches do serious AI practitioners use?

I’ve heard that implementing research papers is a great way to gain a deep, intuitive understanding of AI concepts. But as someone who is still a beginner, I’m unsure how to start implementing papers without feeling overwhelmed.

Here’s what I’m hoping to get clarity on:

1. Where should I begin as a complete beginner? What resources, projects, or habits would you recommend to build solid fundamentals in AI/ML?

2. How do I progress from beginner to a level where I can implement research papers? Are there intermediate steps I need to take before diving into papers?

3. What would the ideal roadmap look like for someone who wants to build startups in AI?

If you’re an AI practitioner, researcher, or startup founder, I’d love to hear about your experiences and learning pathways. What worked for you? What didn’t? Any advice or resources would be immensely appreciated.

I’m ready to put in the hard work, I just want to make sure I’m moving in the right direction.

Thanks in advance! Looking forward to learning from this community.