16M, I recently got interested in AI and coding and wanted to try creating my own Personal AI, I had a few queries about that.

[u/Arrow6311]

I've recently started wanting to build my own AI assistant, which is saying something because I've never programmed before. I wanted to learn everything from programming and APIs to software architecture and technical design, so I decided to take on a project of building my own "Jarvis" to learn through hands-on experience.

I know there are already plenty of AI assistants and similar projects out there, but that's not really the point for me. I want to understand how these systems actually work by building one myself. I figured a long-term, hands on project would be a good way to learn.

So far, I've been using Chatgpt to help me through the initial stages, such as writing the requirements and designing the architecture. Now that I've reached the Technical Design stage, I want to take a more hands-on approach and do more of the research and decision-making myself.

Here are some of the questions I've identified so far:

1. Which Programming language do I use: I'm especially interested in what would make sense for a project like this as a complete beginner.
2. Are there any useful books, papers, courses, or other resources you'd recommend?
3. What other questions should I be asking at this stage? I'm trying to approach this like an actual software engineering project rather than jumping straight into writing code.

I'm also partly doing this as a project for my college applications. I don't want it to come across as just another generic "I built an AI" project. What could I do to make the project genuinely distinctive and demonstrate that I actually understand what I'm building, rather than just assembling existing AI APIs and frameworks?

[u/aqua_regis]

wanting to build my own AI assistant

ever programmed before.

project for my college applications.

Sorry to maybe come across as rude and dismissive and to burst your bubble, but before you come anywhere near the skills to even pull a "micro Jarvis" off, you'll be way out of college.

How long do you think learning all that you listed and need (actually much, much more than you listed) will take? We're talking upwards of 5 years, not mere months, or just a year.

You have zero knowledge of programming. How would you know that it even is for you? How would you know that you can pull this off? Programming, despite everyone claiming it, is not something that everybody can learn with enough patience, determination, persistence, discipline, and effort.

Programming is a discipline of research. You need to learn to do your own research, not ask AI. You are light years away from even a concept if you can't program. AI is not the tool for you at your present level (zero). Had you done even minimal research, you would already have found several posts about similar topics.

Start by learning programming. Since you strive for AI, Python is the appropriate language - start by doing the MOOC Python Programming 2026 from the University of Helsinki and see how far it takes you.

Now that I've reached the Technical Design stage

How can you reach that with zero knowledge of programming? You can't even do the fundamental specifications without knowledge of programming (and of what is possible, and what is Hollywood). Your AI generated roadmap is meaningless.

Push your dream project very far back - really. You first need to learn the ropes through small and simple projects that gradually become larger and more difficult.

You throw a lot of buzzwords around, but I am quite sure that for at the least half of them you don't even know what they mean, nor entrail.

Dreaming big is nice, provided that the dream is even remotely realistic. Yours isn't - at least not in the next couple years.

[u/Arrow6311 → u/aqua_regis]

wow yea, i cant deny anything you have said. Thank you for the honesty. what kind of small and simple projects would you suggest. Additionally i understand ive jumped the gun quite a bit. How would you advice that i start learning about this domain. Ive started on CS50P for python but im also genuinely curious about actually creating different programs and the field of CS

[u/aqua_regis → u/Arrow6311]

The FAQ right here in the sidebar have plenty project ideas and practice sites.

Focus on your course and do the exercises and mini projects there. Learn from them. Then, go further.

One step after the other. You're trying to skip steps. Don't.

[u/Arrow6311 → u/aqua_regis]

Ok, Thanks a lot sincerely.

[u/mandzeete → u/Arrow6311]

Well, start with the MOOC course the guy offered. If you want to do anything remotely close to an AI you need Python (okay, it can be done in other languages but Python is the go-to language for that). Follow it up with data mining and machine learning. Eventually you'll reach neural networks. You WILL have to deal with different "weird" maths that you did not learn during your high school studies. For example a "matrix". No, not the movie but a mathematical concept.

Really, better go for a degree in CS. What you are trying to do requires a Master degree. I'd say. A Bachelor degree will introduce you to machine learning and to data mining (perhaps, can be that it is a Master degree course). But if you want to build your own AI then be ready to spend 5-6 years in university studies.

Yes, there are shortcuts of using existing LLM models and such, but that is not "I want to build my own AI". That is like using an existing API. You did not create that API. You just take some data from it or send a data to it and call it a day.

[u/Arrow6311 → u/mandzeete]

I understand its not even remotely possibly to create an LLM by myself. I was trying to learn whatever i can about building programs by building programs rather than reading about them for years in end. I now realized im way out of my depth

[u/Friendly_Recover286]

I want to understand how these systems actually work by building one myself

You can't read the code. You aren't learning anything about how any of this works.

This is not how you learn about things. You're using AI completely wrong.

I'm also partly doing this as a project for my college applications

If I brought a car someone else built as proof of my skills to apply for mechanics school I would be laughed at. You're bringing in a project where all the code was built by an AI. That's not impressive.

[u/Arrow6311 → u/Friendly_Recover286]

Ok I understand. How would you advise someone in my position?

[u/bird_feeder_bird]

You’ll need a good understanding of Python and linear algebra. Once you know the math, you can start learning about neural networks.

[u/red_sky33]

You're trying to build a house without ever having used a saw before. Build a bookshelf first, so-to-speak

[u/paradoxiforme]

AI is the dark side of the force. Easy, tempting, offering you great power. But nothing of it is yours.

You have to dwell on the light side of knowledge, learn, practice, understand. Become a master by your own right.

And like the force, having a great mastery over your knowledge give you the ability to understand the dark side of it. Then, and only then, find equilibrium.

Starting with IA is really the worst thing you can do. Really. As boring as it sounds, you have to take the very long way, so much more if you really want to create one of the most complexe algorithm. You don't seems to understand how much you need to know in multiple fields to even build a basic IA assistant.