What I Wish I Knew 5 Years Ago - I Should’ve Jumped Into AI Sooner

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🎬If I could hop in a time machine and whisper something to 2020 me, it’d be this - “Drop the sourdough starter and learn AI—now.”

Because wow, have things changed. AI’s gone from being the nerd in the back of the tech classroom to running the whole school. And I’ve got a front-row seat to the “I should’ve paid attention sooner” regret parade.

AI Then vs. Now - Five years ago, AI was still wearing its training wheels.

Chatbots were awkward.

Most people thought “machine learning” was just robots watching reruns of Jeopardy.

And ChatGPT? It hadn’t even been born yet.

Now - Everyone from startups to the government is using AI.

Job descriptions practically scream, “Must be AI literate.”

And if you don’t know prompt engineering, people assume you still own a flip phone.

What I’d Do Differently - Here’s what I wish I had started doing back in 2020—maybe you can start now and thank yourself later.

1 - Play with AI, early and often - Get your hands dirty - Don’t just read articles about it—use it.

Chat with ChatGPT - Use Midjourney or DALL·E for images - Automate a boring task with a free AI tool.

Spend at least 5 hours just exploring - That’s your golden ticket to understanding how it works.

2 - Mix tech skills with human smarts.

AI can do a lot—but it still can’t empathize, read a room, or give a meaningful pep talk.

So the sweet spot is technical know-how + emotional intelligence.

Learn some Python or AI toolkits - But also practice asking better questions, giving feedback, and staying curious.

3 - Take courses that matter - Forget the fluff - Go after things that teach you:

Prompt engineering, ML Ops, Ethical AI, How to use AI tools for your actual job, or side hustle.

Bonus tip - Some companies like EY offer free MBAs focused on AI and tech.

4 -  Build something small - but real:

Make a chatbot - Create an AI-powered newsletter - Teach AI to write your dad jokes - Or maybe don’t.

The point -  Projects beat theory—every time.

Why It Pays Off - Here’s why getting into AI now makes you future-proof:

AI jobs are booming - 74% growth year-over-year.

Salaries are rising - AI engineers average over $200K in some places.

Entry-level jobs are disappearing—but people with AI skills - They're in demand more than ever.

In short - AI won’t steal your job - But someone who knows how to use it might.

But It’s Not Too Late - No, you didn’t miss the boat - You’re just not the captain yet.

Here’s a beginner’s roadmap you can start right now:

Month 1 - Explore no-code AI tools like ChatGPT, Pictory, Canva AI, and DALL·E—get comfortable using them.

Month 2–3 - Create something small using these tools—like a blog post, video, or AI-generated image.

Month 4–6 -  Take beginner-friendly courses on AI basics or prompt engineering - no tech degree needed.

Month 7–9 - Join an AI community or online forum, swap tips, and learn from others like you.

Month 10–12 - Build a personal AI portfolio—show off what you’ve created, or teach others to use these tools.

Year 2+ - Keep learning, try new tools, and become your group's unofficial AI expert.

A Word About Ethics - Learning AI isn’t just about tools and skills - It’s also about responsibility.

Understand AI bias - Know how to ask, “Should we build this?”

And yes, read the privacy policy once in a while—or better yet, feed it to ChatGPT and ask it to explain it like you're five. It’s like turning ancient scrolls into bedtime stories for grown-ups.

💡Pro Tip - Copy and paste any confusing privacy policy into ChatGPT or another AI tool and say:

"Summarize this in plain English—what data do they collect, and how do they use it?" - Boom—legalese decoded.

The Takeaway - So, if I could rewind the clock, I’d skip binge-watching every new streaming show and binge-learn AI instead.

I'd stop saying "AI will replace humans" and start saying:

“Humans who understand AI will replace humans who don’t.”

If that stings a little—good. Let it light a fire - Because it’s not too late. It’s never too late.

And the next 5 years - They’re going to move faster than the last 50.

Final Thought - Whether you're 20 or 80, here’s the truth:

Curiosity beats experience - Consistency beats intensity - And learning AI today beats wishing you had—tomorrow.

So go ahead - Play, Build, and Learn.

Stay safe, stay secure and next time someone asks, “When did you get into AI?”—you’ll proudly say - “Right before it got really interesting.”

(AI was used to aid in the creation of this article.)

“Thanks for reading, watching, and listening — and hey, if you had half as much fun as I did, go ahead and tap that subscribe button - It’s free, painless, and comes with a lifetime supply of curiosity👋”