This repository provides code and resources for software engineers transitioning into AI Data Science, GenAI, and LLMs. It offers a structured course designed to build practical skills, culminating in an autonomous Agentic AI solution, benefiting individuals seeking career advancement in AI fields.

How It Works

The project is organized into distinct course segments, guiding users through practical application and hands-on coding. The core learning philosophy emphasizes active engagement: running code cells, inspecting data structures, and iterating on solutions. This approach aims to foster a deep understanding of AI concepts and business applications, leading to the development of a sophisticated autonomous AI agent in the final segment.

Quick Start & Requirements

• Primary Install: Ollama for local AI model inference.
• Installation: Download and install Ollama from https://ollama.com. Run models via ollama run llama3.2 or ollama run llama3.2:1b. Administrator permissions may be required on Windows. If issues arise, run ollama serve in a separate terminal.
• Prerequisites: A Google account is needed for the provided Google Colab alternative.
• Alternative: A Google Colab notebook is available for cloud-based execution: https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1-_f5XZPsChvfU1sJ0QqCePtIuc55LSdu?usp=sharing.
• Dependencies: Specific AI models (e.g., llama3.2) are required, with a strong recommendation to avoid llama3.3 due to its large parameter count (70B) making it unsuitable for most home computers.

Highlighted Details

• Focuses on learning by "DOING" with practical code execution and modification.
• Culminates in building a "powerful autonomous Agentic AI solution" in Segment 4.
• Includes dedicated AI agents (Cursor Agent, Claude Code) within the repo for direct assistance.
• Emphasizes cost-effective learning, with total API spend estimated at only a few dollars.

Maintenance & Community

The project encourages community engagement via LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/eddonner/) and direct email (ed@edwarddonner.com). The author is available to assist with technical issues and course improvements.

Licensing & Compatibility

The repository's README does not specify a software license. This omission requires clarification for understanding usage rights, particularly for commercial applications or derivative works.

Limitations & Caveats

The llama3.3 model is explicitly warned against for local use due to excessive size. Setup may require administrator privileges or specific command sequences (ollama serve). While API costs are minimized, users must monitor their usage. The code is primarily educational, and production readiness is not explicitly stated.