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AI Is Everywhere, But Are You Really Learning It?

Suad Seferi

Every decade leaves behind a word that defines its spirit. The internet did it in the 1990s. Social media took the 2000s. Smartphones claimed the 2010s. Now, Artificial Intelligence stands as the word of the 2020s. It fills headlines, keynote speeches, and daily conversations.

You hear about AI not only from Silicon Valley but also from your local training center. Every week there’s a new certificate, workshop, or masterclass promising to “make you an AI expert.” The posters are glossy, the instructors sound confident, and the word “future” is always there.

But let’s ask an honest question: will a certificate change how you work tomorrow?

The Promise and the Trap

The promise is simple: pay, attend, get a certificate, and suddenly you’re “AI-ready.” It feels good. You hold a document in your hand, something to post on LinkedIn. Yet, when you sit down at your desk the next morning, do you know how to use AI to draft an email faster? Can you set up an AI tool to analyze your weekly sales data? Or do you fall back into the same routine, waiting for the next course to inspire you again?

The trap is easy to see. Collecting certificates does not equal building skills. It is a form of comfort. You convince yourself you are learning, when in reality you are postponing the harder, quieter work of practice.

Why Learning AI Matters

The world is not waiting. AI is already in your pocket, in your apps, and in the systems that surround you.

  • At work: Microsoft 365 Copilot drafts presentations. Google Gemini suggests meeting notes.
  • In daily life: Spotify recommends music. Google Maps predicts traffic. Banking apps detect fraud.
  • In small businesses: Owners use AI to write ads, design logos, or translate websites.

Employers have noticed. LinkedIn’s 2024 Workplace Learning Report lists AI skills among the fastest-growing demands globally. This is not theory. Job descriptions already ask for “AI literacy” as a basic skill, like knowing Excel was 20 years ago.

If you don’t adapt, you don’t just risk being behind. You risk being invisible.

Andrew Ng and the Reality of AI Learning

Andrew Ng, one of the most recognized AI educators, said something that cuts through the noise: “AI is the new electricity.” His point was clear. Just like electricity transformed every industry a century ago, AI will eventually touch every sector today. But here’s the catch: electricity wasn’t useful unless you learned how to use it. A factory owner who only attended lectures about electricity but never rewired the machines gained nothing.

Andrew Ng also reminds learners to stay practical. In his widely followed course AI for Everyone on Coursera, he stresses that you don’t need to be a programmer to benefit from AI. What matters is knowing what AI can and cannot do, and how to apply it in your own work. That kind of learning doesn’t come from collecting certificates—it comes from practice, reflection, and experimentation.

How Real Learning Happens

Real learning is rarely glamorous. It does not happen in a conference hall. It happens in the small, repeated actions of your daily work.

The process is simple: pick a task, try a tool, measure if it saves you time or effort, then decide if it stays in your workflow.

This is what Andrew Ng calls “learning by doing.” Small, steady steps that add up to real capability.

A Few Places to Begin

For those serious about practice, here are entry points that are free or widely accessible:

These are not marketing gimmicks. They are platforms built for people who want to move from theory to practice.

What to Watch Out For

Following AI blindly is dangerous. You need to keep your eyes open.

  • Privacy risks: Never upload sensitive company or personal data to free AI tools. Check each platform’s data policy.
  • Over-reliance: AI can generate text or images that look perfect but include errors. Review everything before using it.
  • The shiny product trap: Thousands of startups add “AI” to their names. Not all are useful. Stick with tools that connect to what you already do.
  • Fake credentials: Beware of programs selling “AI Master” or “AI Pro” titles. If it sounds too big for a two-day course, it probably is.

A Better Way Forward

The healthier path is not to chase every certificate or download every app. The healthier path is to build a habit of practice. AI is not a subject you learn once. It is a tool you must test, adjust, and integrate into your routines.

This is slower, but it is real. Over time, you stop being a consumer of marketing promises and become an independent learner. You stop asking “Which certificate should I take?” and start asking “Which tool helps me today?”

The Human Side of Change

Technology has always transformed societies. The printing press, electricity, the internet. Each time, people feared losing control, but each time, those who engaged with the change gained more than they lost.

AI is no different. It is not about replacing you. It is about equipping you. It gives you speed, but you must provide judgment. It gives you summaries, but you must provide context.

As Andrew Ng often notes, “AI will not replace you, but a person using AI will.” That is the reality you must face. The question is whether you stay passive or take part.

Final Word

The world is transforming, and that is good. But transformation only benefits you if you move with it. Don’t mistake certificates for skills. Don’t mistake hype for truth. Learn by doing, one tool at a time.

AI will not wait. Neither should you.