AI Voyager - Exploring the Future of Intelligence

Hi there—and welcome to AI Voyager!

I’m excited (and a little nervous) to kick off this blog, where I’ll be documenting my journey into the world of artificial intelligence. I’m not a data scientist. I’m not a machine learning engineer. I’m just someone deeply curious about where AI is going—and I’ve decided to stop watching from the sidelines and start learning for real.

This blog will be my weekly log of progress: what I’m studying, the tools I’m using, the ideas I’m wrestling with, and the projects I’m building. If you’re also learning AI, curious about it, or just want a peek into the life of a beginner, I hope you’ll find something valuable here.

Why “AI Voyager”?

I chose the name AI Voyager because this feels like an exploration. Like sailing into unknown waters, where every week I’ll discover new concepts, technologies, and challenges. There are going to be rough seas—no doubt—but I’m committing to one post per week to chart the course and reflect on what I’m learning.

The goal of this blog isn’t to teach, at least not yet. It’s to document. To stay accountable. To make the process of learning AI a little less lonely—and maybe even help someone else who’s on the same path.

Why I’m Learning AI

My interest in AI was born after a meeting with our security specialist, where we had to document non-functional requirements. He used ChatGPT to assist with generating answers to security questions, and I was amazed that you could just ask a question and receive relevant text. My first thought was, "What? How is this possible?" A week later, he gave a presentation on AI, ChatGPT, and Copilot in Edge, which provided me with my first overview of AI and got my brain doing cartwheels.

Almost a year later, while on a heroic morning jog after the inspiring Microsoft AI Tour in Utrecht, Netherlands, the idea for AI Voyager burst forth like a caffeinated lightning bolt.

Like many others, I've been watching the whirlwind progress in artificial intelligence with a wondering eyes of awe and childlike excitement. From chatty chatbots and doodling image generators to self-driving cars and code-crunching tools, it's clear AI is set to shape the future in ways that would make even sci-fi writers do a double-take.

Instead of just being a passive observer, I want to dive into the action. I want to peek under the hood of these systems, understand their inner workings, and see how I can contribute to this exciting field. Whether it leads to a career change or just makes me a more enlightened human—I think it's worth the ride. Plus, it’s a great conversation starter at parties: “Did you know I’m learning how to build AI? No big deal.

My Goals

My specific goals? For now, they’re simple:

Build a few real AI/ML projects from scratch
Understand how models like ChatGPT and Stable Diffusion work
Build confidence in the core math and code behind AI systems

How I’m Starting

Right now, I’m starting with the fundamentals through the "Career path, Training for AI engineers" from Microsoft Learn. You can find the path here. This comprehensive training will guide me through the essential skills and knowledge needed to become an AI engineer.

It’s already been humbling. There’s a lot I don’t know—but that’s part of the point. Every week, I’ll share what I’m tackling, what’s working (or not), and what’s next on the roadmap.

Come Along for the Ride

Whether you’re an experienced AI engineer or just curious about where to start, I’d love to have you along for the ride. This blog is as much about community as it is about learning, so feel free to comment, ask questions, or share your own journey.

Next week, I'll be tackling a big question: What exactly is artificial intelligence? I'll try to break it down in a way that's easy to digest, covering everything from narrow AI to neural networks. Get ready for a fun and enlightening journey into the world of AI!

Until then—thanks for reading, and see you soon.