Today, I decided to create this website not only to create a memory capstone for myself, but also to explore artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). I’m interested in ML/AI because they appear to be prominent topics in today’s time: GPT-5, the AI race, META poaching other employees, and NVDA (32%+ YTD) powering it all. This kind of work excites me, but I understand that it will take a significant effort to even grasp the core concepts of AI/ML – from understanding how artificial/convolutional neural networks (ANNs/CNNs) function to knowing the delicacies of how large language models (LLMs) work.
However, I am feeling different today: a little bit more bold. From reading Paul Graham’s essay “How to Do Great Work,” I realize that this is the perfect time to challenge myself, because I have the “advantages of a youth”[1]. My interest in this field may fade away someday, and while that may seem like time in vain for myself, I see myself learning more than I can expect. That being said, this is the beginning of my journey into AI/ML, and I’m committed to documenting each step along the way. For a quick sneak peek, my first project will be building a neural network from scratch in Python.(As a side note, before beginning the ANN, I ended up writing a poem —“Glass & Acrylic”— using a Python script I developed called invert-line.)
Notes
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“Use the advantages of youth when you have them, and the advantages of age once you have those. The advantages of youth are energy, time, optimism, and freedom. The advantages of age are knowledge, efficiency, money, and power. With effort you can acquire some of the latter when young and keep some of the former when old.”