#5 The 5 Levels of AI Expertise: Where Do You Stand and How Far Can You Go?
AI is everywhere—but how deep is your knowledge?
Artificial intelligence isn’t just the future—it’s already here, shaping industries, automating workflows, and even writing articles like this one (through previous research, playing with ideas, testing, refining prompts, and adding a final human touch). However, not all AI knowledge levels are the same. Some are just exploring AI’s potential, while others are building the very systems that power our digital world.
So, where do you fit in? Whether you’re casually using AI-powered apps or developing deep learning models from scratch, understanding the different levels of AI expertise can help you assess your skills—and plan your next move!
In this article, we’ll explore:
The five key levels of AI expertise
The skills required at each stage
Real-world applications and learning resources
TL;DR Summary
AI Enthusiast: Uses AI tools but doesn’t build them.
AI Practitioner: Integrates AI into workflows and automation.
AI Developer: Builds and fine-tunes AI models, but thanks to AI tools, anyone can now develop AI-powered apps.
AI Entrepreneur: Creates AI-driven businesses and leads the industry.
AI Architect: Develops cutting-edge AI architectures and models.
1. AI Enthusiast (Beginner Level)
You're a curious person exploring AI without a deep technical background. You use AI tools in daily tasks but haven’t ventured into coding or model training yet.
Skills & Knowledge:
✅ Basic understanding of AI concepts like machine learning, deep learning, and natural language processing (NLP).
✅ Familiarity with AI-powered apps like ChatGPT, MidJourney, Notion AI, Grammarly, and Zapier.
✅ Knows how to write effective AI prompts (prompt engineering basics).
✅ Uses AI for productivity hacks like email drafting, content generation, and automation.
Practical Steps, Courses & Challenges:
Start with AI For Everyone by Andrew Ng to understand AI fundamentals.
Experiment with AI-powered tools like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Claude, Perplexity, NotebookLM, and Sora in your daily tasks.
Challenge yourself to write better AI prompts with Jeff Su’s AI productivity tutorials.
Automate tasks using Zapier to integrate AI into your workflow.
Basic reading
2. AI Practitioner (Intermediate Level)
You're no longer just using AI—you’re integrating it into your workflows, automating processes, and applying AI models functionally.
Skills & Knowledge:
✅ Advanced AI prompting techniques to optimize AI tool responses.
✅ Task automation using AI workflows (Zapier, Make, Gumloop, APIs, Python scripting).
✅ Can fine-tune AI tools (e.g., customizing GPT models for specific needs).
✅ Builds AI chatbots and simple AI applications using no-code/low-code platforms.
Practical Steps, Courses & Challenges:
Advanced Prompt Engineering to refine AI interactions.
Experiment with ChatGPT API and no-code platforms like Gumloop or ManyChat to create AI-driven customer service solutions.
Automate content workflows by building an AI-powered research assistant that summarizes articles and generates insights with Make.
3. AI Developer (Advanced Level)
You're someone who wants to move beyond using AI tools and start building with them. Whether you're a developer and AI enthusiast, you're learning to fine-tune models and develop AI-powered solutions.
Skills & Knowledge:
✅ Proficient in Python and AI frameworks like TensorFlow, PyTorch, or Hugging Face.
✅ Can train and fine-tune AI models (NLP, computer vision, generative AI).
✅ Builds AI-powered applications like recommendation systems and fraud detection models.
✅ Works with AI APIs (OpenAI API, LangChain, etc.) to develop custom solutions.
✅ Uses AI-powered coding assistants like Cursor, Vercel, and Lovable to create AI apps without deep programming knowledge.
Practical Steps, Courses & Challenges:
Take the Machine Learning course by Andrew Ng to understand model training.
Experiment with Hugging Face and OpenAI API to fine-tune AI models.
If you're new to coding, use tools like Replit, Cursor, or Lovable to build simple AI applications.
4. AI Entrepreneur (Industry Leader Level)
You see AI not just as a tool but as a business opportunity. You're identifying gaps in the market, leveraging AI to create new products, and building companies that define the future.
Skills & Knowledge:
✅ Deep understanding of both AI technology and business strategy.
✅ Creates AI-powered startups, SaaS platforms, or automation tools.
✅ Focuses on AI scalability, ethics, and regulatory compliance.
✅ Leads teams of AI researchers, engineers, and strategists.
Practical Steps, Courses & Challenges:
Join AI startup incubators like Y Combinator to gain hands-on experience in AI business strategy, funding, and scaling AI-driven companies.
Take AI for Business course from Udacity or Coursera to understand AI commercialization and Product Managers.
Build an AI product MVP using Vercel and OpenAI API and explore monetization strategies. Learn from these AI startup case studies on how to generate revenue from AI products.
5. AI Architect (Expert Level)
You're not just using AI—you’re shaping its future. Whether you're designing new AI architectures or tackling ethical AI challenges, you're pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence.
Skills & Knowledge:
✅ Deep expertise in AI, machine learning, and deep learning.
✅ Designs and optimizes large-scale AI architectures (transformers, GANs, LLMs).
✅ Conducts AI research and publishes academic papers.
✅ Works on ethical AI, AI safety, and governance.
✅ Develops cutting-edge AI models at organizations like OpenAI, Google DeepMind, or Meta AI.
Practical Steps, Courses & Challenges:
Take Deep Learning Specialization by Andrew Ng.
Contribute to open-source AI projects on GitHub to gain hands-on experience.
Engage with academic papers from Google DeepMind and OpenAI.
Final Thoughts
Your AI expertise level isn’t fixed—it’s a journey. You might start as an enthusiast, progress to a developer, and eventually become an industry leader. The key is to keep learning, experimenting, and pushing the boundaries of what AI can do. 🚀
Where do you see yourself on this AI journey? Drop a comment with your thoughts!
If this article helped you take the next step in your AI journey, share it with a friend or colleague who might find it useful!