Hey everyone! I've been really curious about how AI actually works lately, but I'm on a pretty tight budget and mostly have time to learn during my daily commute. I am looking for a free mobile app that can help me get started with the fundamentals without needing a laptop.
Specifically, I'm interested in:
I’ve tried watching long videos, but I really need something interactive to stay engaged while I'm on the bus. Does anyone have a favorite free app they would recommend for a total beginner?
Late to the party but quick question—are you looking to dive deep into math or just start coding? I personally love Sololearn Python Programming App because its super interactive for Python, but Enki Data Science and ML Course is way better for technical theory. Sololearn is easy to follow but light on depth, while Enki is more detailed but can be a bit overwhelming if you dont have a background yet.
If youre looking for something genuinely free and mobile-friendly, Mimo Learn to Code Python is great for those bite-sized coding exercises. For the neural network theory, I usually suggest using the Coursera Mobile Learning App and just choosing the audit option. It lets you access all the lectures and materials for free, which is a total lifesaver when you're on a budget but still want high-quality content.
Honestly, I spent months trying to learn AI on my phone during my commute too, so I totally get the struggle. One big thing I gotta warn you about though: be really careful with those apps that feel too much like a game. A lot of free ones basically just give you multiple choice questions or fill-in-the-blank snippets. It feels like you're making progress, but its a total trap. You end up in what we call tutorial hell where you understand the theory but have no clue how to actually write a line of Python when you're staring at a blank screen. Tbh, you should look for something that actually lets you run code in a sandbox. If an app doesnt have a built-in terminal or console, you're probably just memorizing definitions instead of learning how neural networks actually function. Stick to stuff that forces you to fix errors... thats where the real learning happens.
Re: "If youre looking for something genuinely free and..." - unfortunately I have found that most free mobile apps are quite disappointing when it comes to the technical rigour needed for actual machine learning. I've had issues with how they simplify backpropagation to the point of being misleading. Before moving forward, could you clarify if you are looking for a conceptual overview or if you have the mathematical background to handle the underlying calculus? It makes a massive difference in what is actually useful. I am always a bit wary of learning on the go ever since I tried to manage a local server cluster from my phone during a train ride. The latency was absolutely brutal and I ended up accidentally wiping a configuration file because of a weird keyboard glitch. I was actually trying to fix a cooling issue on my home rig at the time because the ambient temperature in my office was getting way too high for my comfort. I ended up having to install a custom ducting system just to vent the heat outside. It was a whole weekend project involving power tools and way too much silver tape... anyway lol sorry kinda went off topic there.