How can you develop grit for a successful AI career?

For me Artificial Intelligence will always relate to Philosophy, Psychology, Linguistics, and Computer/Cognitive Science. As a lifelong learner living in the digital age, I believe maintaining a sense of wonder at the world is key to cultivating a growth mindset and developing grit, not just for a successful career in AI, but for life in general!

Forge your AI path with grit: Conquer challenges, don't quit! Set goals, chase dreams. Learn, adapt, innovate streams. Passion fuels, persistence seals. Embrace setbacks, grit reveals. Seek support, grow stout. In AI's realm, grit's your clout!

Developing grit for a successful AI career involves embracing challenges as opportunities for growth, persisting through setbacks, and maintaining a long-term focus on your goals despite obstacles. Cultivate resilience by learning from failures, staying adaptable to new technologies and methodologies, and consistently honing your skills to thrive in the dynamic and rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence.

View challenges as opportunities to learn and grow. Don't be discouraged by setbacks. Instead, analyze them, learn from your mistakes, and use them to improve your skills. Focus on effort and progress, not just on outcome. Celebrate small wins along the way, and understand that success often takes time and dedication. Be open to feedback and criticism. Use it to identify areas for improvement and become a better AI professional.

The journey in AI is not a sprint but a marathon, requiring a steady pace, resilience, and the determination to push through obstacles and setbacks. Curiosity plays an equally vital role. This constant quest for knowledge not only fuels your passion but also enhances your expertise and makes your work more fulfilling. The importance of surrounding yourself with the right people cannot be overstated. These relationships not only enrich your professional journey but also offer encouragement, inspiration, and a sense of community. They can be a source of constructive feedback, helping you to grow and refine your skills, and a reminder that every challenge is surmountable with the right support.

The main thing excites about AI field lies in ensuring AI technologies are designed and implemented in a way that promotes equality, inclusivity, and justice. The main challenges of bias in AI, from the data used to train models to the algorithms that make decisions, reflecting a commitment to creating AI that benefits all segments of society equally.

Exactly, so trying different domains, business areas, use cases that will allow you to learn and finding the right balance of learning and adding value. Given how quickly this space is changing in terms of regulations, expectations both from consumers and business owners, stakeholders. Finding what you enjoy doing is the key.

Over a decade and counting in this field, my fuel? applying A.I to passion projects and initiatives close to my heart. A.I is the universal helper, applicable to any field, the challenge and fun of figuring out how to integrate A.I into specific domains, to generate Value builds you up to viewing failure as a learning opportunity and a temporary state.

The AI landscape is evolving, with new technologies, tools, and methodologies emerging at a rapid pace. Rather than viewing this unpredictability as a hurdle, see it as an exciting aspect of your profession. This perspective makes you adaptable, a crucial trait for staying relevant and innovative in the field. Prepare to continuously learn, unlearn, and relearn as advancements unfold. Approach each shift as an opportunity to grow and diversify your skill set. Being comfortable with not having all the answers right away fosters creativity and problem-solving skills. Start your journey with the understanding that the only constant in AI is change itself, and let this knowledge empower you to thrive.

AI innovation moves swiftly, demanding flexibility and zeal for continuous learning. Approach novel technologies as avenues for growth. Experiment often with emerging methods and enthusiastically master new skills. Change offers more entry points to the field - take advantage to find your niche. Join professional networks to stay abreast of advances. Let curiosity chart your course amid shifting landscapes. With passion for lifelong discovery, you not only weather but thrive on AI’s winds of change.

The key is to give yourself permission to be vulnerable and to be aware of the absurdity of trying to control everything. As Buddhist nun Pema Chödron tells us: "We want to feel security and some kind of certainty, when in reality we have no place to put our feet. It doesn't mean that you have to admit that there's not much you can do. The essence of all this and the way forward is acceptance, which means an absolute and unconditional appreciation for the reality of what is happening and happening to you in each moment. Accepting that we are not in control, in absolute terms, can be both tremendously positive and somewhat paradoxical.

Embracing uncertainty and change in the world of AI is like riding a wave – it's exhilarating, unpredictable, and full of possibilities. Instead of fearing what lies ahead, imagine each twist and turn as an exciting opportunity to expand your horizons and evolve as a professional. Just as AI constantly evolves, so too should your mindset. Rather than clinging to the safety of what you know, dive headfirst into the unknown, ready to learn, adapt, and innovate. Surround yourself with a community of fellow adventurers – whether online or in person – who share your passion for exploring the frontiers of AI. Together, you can navigate the ever-changing landscape, embracing each challenge as a chance to grow.

Build a network of collaboration and mentorship. A practical approach is to participate in peer review sessions within AI communities or platforms like GitHub. This reciprocal exchange of feedback not only sharpens your technical acumen but also builds a supportive ecosystem for personal and professional growth

Don't go it alone. Connect with mentors, join online communities, and find supportive peers. Share your struggles, learn from others, and get constructive feedback to fuel your growth.

Seeking feedback and support in your AI journey is like having a compass and a guide by your side – it helps you navigate the terrain with confidence and clarity. Rather than forging ahead blindly, invite others to join you on your quest for knowledge and improvement. Reach out to mentors, colleagues, and peers who can offer valuable insights and perspectives. Be open to their feedback, knowing that their input can help you refine your skills and strategies. Remember, seeking feedback isn't a sign of weakness, but a testament to your commitment to growth and excellence. So, embrace the wisdom of those around you, and together, you'll chart a course to success in the ever-evolving world of AI.

Surrounding yourself with like-minded people can foster a growth mindset and grit for a successful AI career. Shared passion motivates, while learning from peers enhances skills. Networking may present opportunities. Accountability from your group fosters resilience. Lastly, inspirational role models further encourage growth.

Celebrating your achievements and failures is like fueling your journey with both sunshine and rain – they're essential for growth and resilience in your AI adventure. When you achieve a milestone, take a moment to bask in the glow of your success. Share your triumphs with others, celebrate your progress, and reward yourself for your hard work. But remember, failures are also part of the journey. When you encounter setbacks or challenges, embrace them as opportunities for growth and learning. Reflect on what went wrong, extract lessons from your experiences, and use them to fuel your future endeavors.

L'échec, c'est la vie. J'aime beaucoup cette phrase de Maye Musk, le mère d'Elon, que j'ai eu la chance de rencontrer à Paris pour son livre : "Elon, baisse la tête sur tes réussites, et lève la tête sur tes échecs !" Célébrez et soyez fiers de ce que vous faites ou tentez de faire ;)

Maintain a project diary or a reflective blog where you document the journey of your AI projects, including the hurdles and breakthroughs. It serves as a tangible record of your growth. This practice not only celebrates milestones but also distills lessons, for a resilient and growth-oriented mindset in the ever-evolving AI landscape.

I recommend celebrating both successes and setbacks. Each achievement marks progress, while every failure offers invaluable lessons. This balance keeps motivation high and fosters resilience.

The #1 tactic to accelerate my learning in every new space? (and over a career in front edge tech, I've done this a lot) Build a learning circle! (a network of motivated "friends" that regularly share insights, ideally over coffee or wine). Here are 3 steps to get there: 1. Determine your objective (Do you just want experience in the tools? Want to understand impact to your industry?) 2. Reach out to people who also want this (I've even cold called to invite people to join my learning circle). 3. Set regular meetings and agendas. My most successful circles meet weekly, alternating zoom & in-person, with time boxed topics (for example, share "What did you learn this week that surprised you?" or discuss "What new possible does this unlock?"

Get your tribe in place. Working on AI projects can be fun, but when you are trying to bring it to production or if you work in a large organization, sometimes the non technical part can get in the way. Procurement, business case approval, security, deployment etc, can be things that drain your energy. Get your team who are good in these to support you in the journey to maximize the impact of what you do, so that you get maximum long term sustainability for your efforts.

AI is a lot like why people come to America; it's the land of opportunity. For tech, AI is that land of opportunity. I have learned that the AI space is so vast and all encompassing of our world that there is a space for everyone who wants to build a career in here. All types of people are needed in AI from industry domain experts, builders, operators, users, to evangelists. More experts are needed in this field otherwise you wouldn't have companies like Netflix offering over 900k for AI engineer roles like they were last year. So whatever your passion or purpose is or may be, if you look, you can find it here. There is a space for everyone, you, you and you. #ai #artificialintelligence #aijobs #aijobsearch

It's important that you allow yourself to learn. Network with other AI professionals, attend conferences, and participate in online forums to learn, share knowledge, and stay updated on the latest developments. Start small, Work on personal projects. Continuously expand your knowledge and skills by taking advantage of online resources and educational opportunities. There are many free resources out there. Remember, success takes time and effort: Don't get discouraged by initial setbacks. Stay focused, keep learning, and celebrate your progress along the way.

It takes grit to use the GenAI hype only to open and force a broader AI discussion. De-hype your stakeholders by pointing out that GenAI, while "cool", is just an algorithm class of many in the world of AI. This is the most unpopular opinion right now and nobody wants to hear it. But if you manage to convince your stakeholders of that, and convince them to invest in technical debt reduction, data quality improvements and MLOps infrastructure instead, it will make you successful not only in the short-run with shiny GenAI pilots which will be dismantled again in a few months, but also in the long-run by establishing a value creation base for many more AI systems - including GenAI of course, but real value from AI is created in many more ways.