Go from using AI to building with it — one simple concept at a time. Every step below explains one idea in plain, five-year-old-friendly language, in the order that makes it click. Start at step one and work down.
AI engineering means building real things with AI, not just chatting with it. Here's what it is, why it matters, and how to start — in plain English.
A large language model (LLM) is the brain behind tools like ChatGPT. Here's what an LLM is and how it works, explained in the simplest way possible.
Tokens are the small pieces of text that AI models read and write. Learn what tokens are, why they matter for cost and limits, in super simple terms.
A prompt is the instruction you give an AI model. Learn what a prompt is and what makes a good one, explained in the easiest way for beginners.
Prompt engineering is the skill of writing instructions that get great AI answers every time. Learn the core techniques in plain, simple language.
A context window is how much text an AI model can hold in mind at once. Learn what it is and why it matters, in the simplest possible way.
Embeddings turn words and sentences into numbers so computers can find things by meaning. Learn what embeddings are in the simplest way possible.
A vector database stores embeddings so AI can find information by meaning, fast. Learn what a vector database is and why it matters, in plain English.
RAG lets an AI look up real facts before answering, so it stops making things up. Learn what retrieval-augmented generation is in the simplest terms.
An AI agent can make decisions and take actions to finish a task, not just chat. Learn what an AI agent is in the simplest way, with clear examples.
Tool use, or function calling, lets an AI use real tools like search and email. Learn what it is and why it turns AI into a doer, in plain language.
Fine-tuning trains an AI model on your own examples so it behaves your way. Learn what fine-tuning is, and when to use it vs RAG, in simple terms.
An AI API lets your own app send text to an AI model and get answers back. Learn what an API is and how AI APIs work, in the simplest possible way.
AI evals are tests that check whether your AI is actually good and reliable. Learn what evals are and why they matter before you ship, in plain English.
Deploying AI means putting your AI where real users can rely on it every day. Learn what production means and what to watch for, in plain simple language.