My own journey into AI began with ChatGPT when it first launched in 2022.
At the time, I was already working in data science and had a strong foundation in machine learning (ML). Being powered by ML itself, ChatGPT gave me a new way to explore what AI could do and was a useful complement to the knowledge and experience I had already built.
This leads to my most important piece of advice for getting started in AI, which is to use a platform! I would recommend going to ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude or one of the other major solutions and start interacting with the chat interface. It’s the best way of becoming more familiar with the ways that AI can automate some of our daily tasks. Start with some really basic prompts and you’ll naturally start building your skills over time. I would say this applies to both people at the beginning of their journey and those later in their careers who want to pivot towards an AI-focused role.
A good example of an ideal first AI project could be using an email summariser, which connects to emails and suggests the most important ones in your inbox, or a to-do list for the start of the working day. One of the great things with AI is that if you’re not sure about something, you can ask it to help you and guide you through the process. You don’t need to know exactly how to build something before you start, just tell it what you want to achieve and experiment from there.
It’s not as scary as people might think
One of the big barriers that people assume they’re going to face is requiring technical skills to build some of the more complex projects. For example, Claude Code is specifically an AI coding platform, but the perception that it’s too complex simply isn’t true. Again, if a user isn’t sure of something, just ask the platform to help! It can even provide external resources to help you learn. Working with these tools can be an iterative process, so don’t be put off by initial outputs that may not seem useful. You can refine your prompts and instructions as you go and gradually get closer to the result you want.
For fellow women who want to get into AI or even the wider tech industry, there are tons of resources online. YouTube has some great walkthroughs of the platforms and for those who are looking for deeper expertise in something, there are paid courses as well. I’ve explored these before to fill some of the gaps in my own technical knowledge.
The great thing about the rise of AI in the last few years is that everyone is learning how to use it together, so it’s actually a lot more approachable as a concept than some people may think. As the Applied AI Technical Lead at Thrive, I have a pretty good understanding of AI, but there are always new features and functionalities coming out. A coworker might say to me, “Have you tried this?”, and sometimes I haven’t yet. So, it’s great to lean on the wider community and work together to understand the latest advancements and functionalities as it evolves.
Get to know other people in the industry
AI platforms are becoming increasingly accessible, giving everyone the chance to build their skills. But the wider technology sector can be quite male-dominated, so my other advice to women is to meet people in-person. Particularly in major cities, there are lots of tech networking events, which sometimes are women-only groups as well. Most women attending have a shared interest in a specific tech field. They are super valuable experiences for women looking to learn about an industry, bond with others and access new opportunities.
It’s also important to focus on what you want to achieve and what you want to get out of your career. This is something I’ve thought about when having conversations with my younger sisters. Women do face barriers, but my advice is to not let that distract from their ambitions. A positive and confident mindset can make a real difference and motivate women to move forward in their careers.
The steps to take forward
The key is to constantly keep learning. Technology, particularly AI, is moving at such a fast pace that upskilling needs to be a continuous discipline, both for women and other people looking to make an impact. And AI isn’t going anywhere, so it’s really important to get familiar with using AI. Experiment with an AI platform, try something small, ask questions and learn from the results. At the same time, create and maintain connections with others at events, because mentors can help open doors.
Most importantly, do something you love. If you’re not enjoying what you’re doing, don’t be afraid to make proactive decisions to pursue something that genuinely interests you.
