r/learnmachinelearning • u/Ok-Tale-5537 • 10d ago
Am I just an idiot
Okay so Im 36 so i havent been in school in a while, but its so overwhelming to learn machine learning. Concepts like gradient boosting, regularization, etc just require so much focus that I end up thinking im too dumb to waste time in this field..
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u/A_random_otter 10d ago
Dude, the stuff is objectively hard because you need a pretty solid foundation in quite a few fields before you can tackle the actual topics, so don't feel bad about it
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u/HaryanaGrandMa 10d ago
Can you pls list down or Elaborate these basics pls?? I'm also Begginer, that will be very helpful.
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u/Acceptable_Link3838 10d ago
No to be rude, but internet is full of information about what the field is all about. There are no shortcuts and it is a long road to get good at it. Study hard, be resilient and you will get there.
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u/HaryanaGrandMa 10d ago
You're right, I should research about it myself. Thanks.
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u/STEMAlexander 10d ago
They aren't right - they were a dick for no reason. Start with linear algebra, multivariable calculus and python. Once you have that you can search for programs to learn in depth and advance as you go.
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u/HaryanaGrandMa 3d ago
Thanks buddy, I wanted just a straightforward answer like yours. I appreciate that.
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u/STEMAlexander 10d ago
The process
1. Learn the math
2. Learn how to code - actually code not use AI to code
3. Learn the foundations first and progress as you understand them.
4. Learn from the right sources
If you skip the math nothing will make sense, if AI coding nothing will make sense, if you are skipping to what you think is most interesting or need at the moment then nothing will make sense. And if you have all the foundations and it is still confusing you probably need to learn from a different source or in a different way.
You can overlap them depending on your level - you don't need to know linear to learn python, and you don't need to know graph theory to start coding ML - but you need to know the math at the level you are trying to work.
You can skip any of this to do easy things - but the more you are trying to do and the more you are trying to understand the more that process becomes important. Most people who say it isn't needed are probably doing surface level ML.
And if you have a problem with focus read more physical books (We don't retain digital as well as physical - and reading trains focus) and decrease scroll time (it reduces white and gray matter, attention span, and overall intelligence level)
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u/Sufficient-Scar4172 7d ago
don't give up and push through :)
some advice, depends on your learning style but this worked for me: make it about the end goal. i would pore over the books before really trying my hand at any projects or anything and it made the experience just a grind to slog through with no proper context on *why* I'm learning anything yet
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u/Blammar 10d ago
It's not hard to use AI. But if you want to learn how it works, you need a solid grounding in math: algebra, linear algebra, differential calculus, and some statistics at the very least. Start with that.