ok so i totally feel u on this. basically, trying to learn AI without spending a fortune is totally doable if u know where to look. i personally started with Sololearn cuz it's super gamified and great for those long commutes. it has a solid data science path that covers the basics of python and some machine learning stuff. also, check out Mimo for quick coding bursts on the go. but if u really want to understand the 'how' and 'why' of neural networks, the best move is to 'audit' classes on Coursera. you can access the Machine Learning Specialization by Andrew Ng for free that way! you dont get the certificate, but the content is top-tier and it works for a student budget. have you tried using any of the mobile IDEs to practice while ur on the bus yet? gl!

For your situation, I’ve actually been down that same rabbit hole. Learning the technical specs of AI without a fancy bootcamp is totally doable if you know where to look.

- I started with a mobile-centric app that gamified Python. It wasn't deep on theory, but it got the syntax into my muscle memory during my own commute.
- To grasp how neural networks actually process data, I used a web-based visualization sandbox. Seeing the decision boundaries shift while tweaking learning rates in real-time was a total game changer.
- Eventually, I used a site that hosts data competitions. They provide free cloud notebooks, so you can train models without melting your own laptop.

Honestly, just focus on understanding the "why" behind things like backpropagation. If you don't get the logic, the code won't help much. idk, it's a steep curve but stay consistent! gl

Following

Did this last week, worked perfectly

Yeah, I totally agree that the DIY route is the way to go if your trying to save cash. Honestly, those expensive bootcamps are often just repacked info you can find for free if you know where to look. Since you're on a bus, Enki is a solid shout—it feels like a more professional version of the basic coding apps and has a dedicated AI track that covers things like neural network architecture without being too dry. If you want to move past the syntax and into the "how it works" part, Kaggle Learn is basically the industry standard for self-starters. It's mobile-friendly enough to read through their mini-courses on things like Computer Vision or Reinforcement Learning during a commute. Tbh, in this field, building a portfolio is SO much more valuable than a paid certificate anyway. Just focus on understanding the underlying logic like Gradient Descent, and you'll be ahead of most people. TL;DR: Skip the paywalls. Hit Enki for the daily habit and Kaggle for the actual data science skills.

Regarding what #5 said about "Yeah, I totally agree that the DIY route is the way to go if your trying to save cash," I would suggest being a bit cautious about which free platforms you sink your time into. Many of these apps are basically just trial versions. They gate the actual machine learning theory behind a subscription after the first few lessons and it is honestly kinda frustrating. If you are looking for a truly budget-friendly path, I would suggest looking into Elements of AI. It is a web-based app that is specifically designed to be free for everyone. It runs great in a mobile browser during those morning commutes. It does a great job of explaining the logic behind neural networks without getting bogged down in overly dense academic language... definitely worth a look. You might also want to consider Programming Hero: Coding Fun for the Python side of things. It is much more interactive than a standard course. Just be careful tho. You wont be training massive models on a phone, but using something like Pydroid 3

• IDE for Python 3 can help you practice basic syntax while you are traveling. It is a solid way to build muscle memory without spending a cent. Just make sure to verify the storage requirements on your device before downloading too many of these.

Yep, this is the way