Gwen Davis
Gwen Davis is a senior content strategist at GitHub, where she writes about developer experience, AI-powered workflows, and career growth in tech.
Editor’s note: This piece was originally published in our LinkedIn newsletter, Branching Out_. Sign up now for more career-focused content >
Pop quiz: What do healthcare, self-driving cars, and your next job all have in common?
If you guessed AI, you were right. And with 80% of developers expected to need at least a fundamental AI skill set by 2027, there’s never been a better time to dive into this field.
This blog will walk you through what you need to know, learn, and build to jump into the world of AI—using the tools and resources you already use on GitHub.
Let’s dive in.
1. Learn essential programming languages and frameworks 💬
Mastering the right programming languages and tools is foundational for anyone looking to excel in AI and machine learning development. Here’s a breakdown of the core programming languages to zero in on:
Beyond programming, these frameworks give you the tools to design, train, and deploy intelligent systems across real-world applications:
Spoiler alert: Did you know you can learn programming languages and AI frameworks right on GitHub? Resources like GitHub Learning Lab, The Algorithms, TensorFlow Tutorials, and PyTorch Examples provide hands-on opportunities to build your skills. Plus, tools like GitHub Copilot provide real-time coding assistance that can help you navigate new languages and frameworks easily while you get up to speed.
2. Master machine learning 🤖
Machine learning (ML) is the driving force behind modern AI, enabling systems to learn from data and improve their performance over time. It bridges the gap between raw data and actionable insights, making ML expertise a must-have if you’re looking for a job in tech. Here are some key subfields to explore:
Luckily, you can explore ML right on GitHub. Start with open source repositories like Awesome Machine Learning for curated tools and tutorials, Keras for deep learning projects, NLTK for natural language processing, and OpenCV for computer vision. Additionally, try real-world challenges by searching for Kaggle competition solutions on GitHub or contribute to open source AI projects tagged with “good first issue” to gain hands-on experience.
3. Build a GitHub portfolio to showcase your skills 💼
A strong GitHub portfolio highlights your skills and AI projects, setting you apart in the developer community. Here’s how to optimize yours:
For detailed guidance, check out the guides on Building Your Stunning GitHub Portfolio and How to Create a GitHub Portfolio.
4. Get certified in GitHub Copilot 🏅
Earning a certification in GitHub Copilot showcases your expertise in leveraging AI-powered tools to enhance development workflows. It’s a valuable credential that demonstrates your skills to employers, collaborators, and the broader developer community. Here’s how to get started:
Check out this LinkedIn guide for tips on becoming a certified code champion with GitHub Copilot.
I coded my latest app entirely in Markdown and let GitHub Copilot compile it into Go. This resulted in cleaner specs, faster iteration, and no more context loss. ✨
Learn how to use GitHub Copilot agent mode to modernize legacy Java projects with guided upgrades, automated fixes, and cloud-ready migrations.
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