Want to Learn AI or Advance Your Career? Here Are the Resources I Recommend

Over the past two decades, I've worked on technology initiatives at organizations including AT&T, Nortel, PepsiCo, Wells Fargo, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). One thing has stayed constant through all of it: technology keeps evolving, and there's always something new to learn.

Today, artificial intelligence is changing how businesses operate, how professionals work, and how people build new skills. But with so much information out there, knowing where to start is hard. People regularly ask me where they can learn AI for free, how to find AI jobs, which professional communities are worth joining, how to improve a resume, and how to keep up with AI news.

So I've put together the resources I think are worth your time. Whether you're a student, a technology professional, an Agile practitioner, a job seeker, an entrepreneur, or just curious about AI, I hope you find something useful here.

Start With Free AI Courses

You don't need to spend thousands of dollars to learn AI. Many of the companies building AI also publish free training.

We've gathered a collection of free AI courses from industry leaders on OnAirToday. It covers AI fundamentals, generative AI, machine learning and practical applications.

My advice: start with the free fundamentals before paying for expensive programs, then move into specialized topics that match your goals. Some providers charge for optional certificates, so check before you enroll.

Looking for AI Jobs or Remote Work?

AI is creating new roles and changing what's expected in existing ones. If you're looking for your next opportunity, check the OnAirToday AI and remote jobs board. It lists roles in AI engineering, technology leadership, project management and other technology fields. I recommend bookmarking it and checking it as part of your routine.

If you're an employer or recruiter, you can also post your first job for free to reach professionals interested in AI and emerging technology.

Applying for Jobs but Not Getting Interviews?

Qualified candidates often miss out on interviews because their resume doesn't clearly show how their experience matches the job. After many years in technology and project management, I've seen how much that matters.

If you're actively applying, try the free AI resume analysis tool on OnAirToday. It reviews your resume and points out where it may be falling short and how to improve it.

Tailor your resume to each role rather than sending the same version everywhere. And keep expectations realistic: AI feedback is useful, but it can't tell you why a particular employer passed on you, and it can't guarantee an interview.

Professional Communities I Recommend

One of the most valuable lessons of my career is that relationships matter. Technical skills are important, but connecting with other professionals and learning from their experience can be just as valuable.

For project managers, Scrum Masters, Agile coaches, product owners and technology professionals, I recommend the Agile Professionals LinkedIn group, a community I founded and manage. In my view, it's one of the best Agile communities on LinkedIn.

If you're interested in cybersecurity, AI security, privacy or emerging technology risks, I also founded and manage the iSecurity | AI & Cyber Security LinkedIn group.

My advice is simple: don't just join. Participate, ask questions, share useful information and build relationships.

Where I Follow and Share AI News

AI moves too fast for anyone to keep up with everything. That's why I created OnAirToday, an AI news and intelligence platform that makes emerging technology easier to understand. We cover AI developments, models, cybersecurity, technology trends and practical applications.

For deeper explanations, read the OnAirToday AI Blog, which explores AI topics, emerging technologies, practical applications and security considerations.

If you prefer video, subscribe to OnAirToday with Abbas Mirza on YouTube. My AI Made Simple series covers tutorials, technology discussions, career lessons and practical insights.

The easiest way to stay current is the OnAirToday WhatsApp channel, which shares AI news, useful tools and notable developments right on your phone. You can also follow the Real World AI LinkedIn page, AI_SmartHub on X, and me directly on X at @AbbasM.

Track AI Progress and Compare AI Models

Not every AI model is right for every task. Some do better at reasoning, others at coding, content creation, multimodal work, or specific business workflows.

To help with that, we built the OnAirToday AI Intelligence Dashboard. You can use it to:

• track AI progress and model updates
• compare model capabilities
• explore AI security risks and documented incidents
• find models worth evaluating for a specific use case

Look beyond popularity when choosing a model. Weigh capabilities, cost, security, integration needs and limitations, and for important decisions, confirm against current vendor documentation and independent evaluations.

A Few Final Thoughts

If you're just starting with AI, you don't need to learn everything at once. Take one course. Try one AI tool. Join one professional community. Look for a chance to apply what you've learned, and keep building your skills.

Throughout my career, curiosity, continuous learning and professional relationships have created opportunities I never expected. AI is opening new possibilities for students, professionals and entrepreneurs. You don't need to become an expert overnight; you just need to start.

Ready to Start Building With AI?

If you want to turn what you've learned into a working application, I've written a second guide covering the tools, books and technology I use and recommend: My AI Toolkit: The Tools, Books & Technology I Recommend for Building With AI.

Let's make AI simple, practical, and useful together.

— Abbas Mirza, Founder & CEO, Arsh.AI · Host, OnAirToday with Abbas Mirza