THE SPINE
How the phases stack.
Math is the floor; agents and production are the roof. Skip ahead if you already know a layer — but the order is there for a reason.
PHASE BY PHASE
Status and prerequisites.
#PhasePrerequisitesLessonsTimeVisual
00Setup & ToolingGet your environment ready for everything that follows.None. You need Git and Python 3.11 or newer to begin. Other1214 h12 stories01Math FoundationsThe intuition behind every AI algorithm, through code, not textbooks.Complete Phase 0, or confirm that Python 3.11+ and Git work2223 h22 stories02ML FundamentalsClassical machine learning is still the backbone of most production AI.Phase 1 Math Foundations and NumPy. Check the route with1821 h18 stories03Deep Learning CoreNeural networks from first principles. No frameworks until you build one yourself.Phase 1 Linear Algebra Intuition. Phase 2 is recommended1315 h13 stories04Computer VisionFrom pixels to understanding across image, video, and 3D.Phase 1 Lesson 12, Tensor Operations, and Phase 3 Lesson 11,2827 h28 stories05NLP — Foundations to AdvancedLanguage is the interface to intelligence. Master every layer.Phase 2 Lesson 14, Naive Bayes. Python 3.11+ is enough for2930 hplanned06Speech & AudioThe other half of human communication. Hear, understand, speak.Phase 1 vectors, matrices, and probability. The first demo1718 hplanned07Transformers Deep DiveThe architecture that changed everything. Understand every layer.Phase 3 Deep Learning Core, Phase 5 Lesson 09 on1614 hplanned08Generative AICreate images, video, audio, 3D, and more.Phase 2 ML Fundamentals, Phase 3 Deep Learning Core, and1514 hplanned09Reinforcement LearningAgents that learn by doing. The foundation of RLHF.Phase 1 probability and distributions, plus Phase 2 Lesson1213 hplanned10LLMs from ScratchBuild, train, and understand large language models.Phase 5 NLP Foundations. Phase 7 Transformers is strongly2426 hplanned11LLM EngineeringPut LLMs to work in production applications.Phase 10 Lessons 01 through 05, or equivalent knowledge of1717 hplanned12Multimodal AIModels that see, hear, read, and reason across modalities.Phase 7 Transformers and Phase 4 Computer Vision.2565 hplanned13Tools & ProtocolsThe interfaces between AI and the real world.Phase 11 LLM completion APIs. For MCP or Agent Skills, use3143 hplanned14Agent EngineeringThe core of modern AI engineering. Build agents from first principles.Phase 11 LLM Engineering and Phase 13 Tools and Protocols.5455 hplanned15Autonomous SystemsAgents that run without human intervention, safely.Phase 14 Lesson 01, The Agent Loop.2220 hplanned16Multi-Agent & SwarmsCoordination, emergence, and collective intelligence.Phase 14 Agent Engineering. Node.js 20+ and `npx` are2528 hplanned17Infrastructure & ProductionShip AI to the real world. Scale, monitor, optimize.Phase 11 LLM Engineering and Phase 13 Tools and Protocols.2832 hplanned18Ethics, Safety & AlignmentBuild AI that helps humanity. Not optional.Phase 10 Lessons 06, 07, and 08 on SFT, RLHF, and DPO.3031 hplanned19Capstone ProjectsProve everything you learned. Build portfolio-grade systems.Choose a project whose listed phases you have completed.85620 hplanned