Is learning linear algebra necessary for starting in AI?

Question

Im seriously losing my mind trying to get into AI stuff. Every tutorial I click on starts rambling about vectors and matrices for hours and I just want to build something cool! I have like zero budget and I'm trying to get a portfolio project done by next month for a job app in Chicago. Is learning linear algebra actually mandatory or are these influencers just gatekeeping?

Need to build a basic chatbot or image classifier

Have about 5 hours a week to study

Just want to code not do math proofs

Should I just jump into Python libraries or am I gonna hit a wall if I dont suffer through the math first?

tqhziizffn · Accepted Answer

Honestly, you dont need to be a math genius to start. If you just wanna build stuff, skip the proofs and dive into the APIs.

Fast.ai Deep Learning Course is perfect for coding first.

Use Google Colab Pro to train models without frying your laptop. Just start building a classifier with PyTorch or TensorFlow. You can always learn the math later when you hit a wall, but dont let it stop you now.

ChapelMarketDaily · Answer

Late to the party but honestly, are you aiming for a junior role or just hacking? You could probably just grab NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB GDDR6 for local experiments.

lnylisoihk · Answer

This ^