AI is everywhere — in the headlines, in our inboxes, in our workplaces. And let’s be honest: sometimes it feels like it’s moving faster than we can keep up with.
If you’ve ever found yourself wondering how to catch up, how to keep up, or even where to start — you’re not alone. I’ve felt the same way, too, when I started my AI learning journey. The last 12 months certainly have been a bit of a whirlwind, but in an exciting way.
This article isn’t about claiming expert status. It’s about passing on a few personal reflections from my own AI learning journey — in the hope they might help someone else take the next step. Because AI is overwhelming… until you make it work for you.
Table of Contents
Accept the Overwhelm — But Don’t Freeze
It’s easy to feel like AI is everywhere all at once — from text, image, or video generation to team meetings to personal productivity tools. The pace of change is staggering, and for many of us, it’s the fastest shift we’ve seen in our careers (well, at least in my opinion).
At first, I found myself unsure where to begin. What to learn? What to ignore? How would I ever keep up?
But here’s what I’ve learned: you don’t have to know it all. You just have to be willing to learn — and to start.
Stay Curious — Because Learning Never Stops
The biggest lesson from every course, every experiment, and every conversation I’ve had about AI is this: there is no final destination.
Even when you think you’ve figured something out, a few months later the tools, capabilities, or best practices will likely have changed.
That’s why curiosity is so important. The real skill isn’t learning AI once — it’s continuing to learn as it evolves.
Be Fearless — You Don’t Need to Know Everything
At the start of my journey, I made the same mistake many people do: I thought I had to become an expert in everything.
But the truth is, hardly anyone is a true expert across all areas of AI. And trying to keep up with everything is a fast track to burnout.
So instead, I relaxed into the idea that every day is a school day. You experiment, you learn, you apply what works. And slowly, you become the expert in your space — the one that matters most to your role, your team, your customers.
Make It Tangible — Find Your Use Case
One of the most important mindset shifts for me was this: learning AI is easier when you make it real. I work in marketing and customer experience, and I manage a team that supports customers globally. So I focused my learning around that space. Two things helped me early on:
- LinkedIn Learning — very accessible, short videos and courses
- Microsoft certifications — especially as we use Microsoft tools internally (and the digital badges for my LinkedIn profile are a nice bonus)
I completed two Microsoft learning paths — one for MS Copilot for Managers and one for MS Copilot for Customer Service. These helped me apply AI in real scenarios, such as:
- Structuring annual objectives and development discussions
- Drafting customer responses
- Summarising issues and resolutions more quickly
The learning became practical, not theoretical. And when you see real results in your workflow, it’s motivating.
Formal Learning Matters — But Choose What Works for You
There’s no shortage of AI learning out there. But over time, I realised I needed something more structured — not just tips and tricks from social media.
The challenge? I’m not an academic or a full-time data scientist. I’m an AI practitioner — I needed something practical, business-focused, and immediately applicable. That’s where MMC Learning came in. Their courses gave me:
- A foundation of real understanding
- Live guidance from tutors who know business and marketing
- AI learning you can revisit — not one-and-done courses
“What really mattered to me was finding a learning model I could return to and help me stay up-to-date with the latest AI developments.”
A one-off course didn’t feel right — you complete it, and three months later, the content is already out of date. Instead, I needed something I could revisit. A course that evolves with the pace of AI. That way, I wasn’t just learning once — I was building a way to stay up to date and refresh my understanding as things change.
I’ve now completed two learning bundles with them, and the continuous access to updated content has been incredibly valuable. It’s not about a one-off certificate — it’s about having a learning mechanism to stay current.
👉 If that sounds useful, here’s the link to MMC Learning’s website — highly recommended: MMC Learning Homepage
In Summary
AI can be overwhelming — and that feeling doesn’t entirely go away. But it does get easier when you start applying it in ways that matter to you. So if you’re still early in your journey:
- Stay curious — there’s no “done” button with AI.
- Be fearless — nobody knows everything.
- Make it tangible — apply it where it counts for you.
- Find learning that fits — and keep updating as the field evolves.
You don’t need to be the world’s expert. You just need to make it work for you.
