How To Solve It With Code — Overview

Summary

Fast AI is launching an exciting new course designed to help intermediate programmers harness the power of AI in coding. This hands-on, live course addresses the challenges of generating code with AI without fully understanding it. Through a step-by-step, iterative approach, students will learn to build projects and improve their coding skills. The course is interactive, involving office hours, cohort learning, and a custom tool to facilitate the process. While in beta, this course promises to offer a transformative experience, much like Fast AI's previous successful courses, empowering learners to become better coders by combining AI and programming.

Takeaways

• 😀 This is the first Fast AI course in a long time, designed to be truly AI-native and aligned with the current AI landscape.
• 😀 The course addresses the common issue where users generate large pieces of code with AI but struggle to understand or modify them.
• 😀 Many new coders hit a wall when they realize they don’t fully understand the code they’ve generated with AI.
• 😀 The course focuses on helping learners avoid the feeling of being stuck with code they can’t edit or improve.
• 😀 It's not your fault if you're struggling with coding using AI—this course is here to bridge that gap and help you build real coding skills.
• 😀 Experienced programmers can also benefit by learning how to integrate AI into their coding workflow more effectively.
• 😀 To join, you should have basic Python knowledge (variables, loops, if-statements), but you don't need to be an expert.
• 😀 The course teaches a new way of solving coding problems using AI, without requiring a computer science degree.
• 😀 The course is highly hands-on, with learners building real projects from day one while learning powerful coding techniques.
• 😀 This will be a live, cohort-based course with weekly lessons and office hours, providing a supportive community of learners.
• 😀 As a beta course, participants will be helping shape the curriculum and providing feedback for continuous improvement.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the new Fast AI course?

The main purpose of the new Fast AI course is to teach learners how to combine traditional coding techniques with AI tools in a practical, hands-on way. It aims to help students build projects with AI and become better coders in the process.

Why has it taken a long time for Fast AI to release a new course?

It took a long time because Fast AI wanted to create something that is truly AI-native and makes sense in the new world of coding with AI. They also wanted to find the right approach that would be effective for learners.

Who is the target audience for this course?

The course is targeted at individuals who already know basic programming (e.g., variables, loops, if statements) and want to improve their skills with AI. It’s not for complete beginners but for those who have some programming experience and want to build on it.

What is the main challenge that the course aims to address?

The course aims to address the challenge where learners generate code using AI but don’t understand it fully. This often leads to frustration when they can’t edit or extend the code as they wish, making them feel like coding isn't for them.

How does the course differ from traditional coding courses?

Unlike traditional courses that might focus on building large codebases without understanding them, this course emphasizes iterative, hands-on learning, where students gradually build code line by line while learning how to use AI effectively.

What kind of learning environment does the course offer?

The course offers a live, cohort-based learning environment. Students will attend lessons twice a week, have office hours, and interact with a community of learners, which fosters collaboration and shared learning.

What tools and methods will be used in this course?

The course will utilize a custom-built tool designed to work well with the course’s iterative, hands-on approach to learning. It encourages students to solve problems step by step with AI assistance.

What is the duration of the course, and how is it structured?

The course will run for eight weeks, with lessons held twice a week. In addition to lessons, there will be office hours for direct interaction and support. It’s a live course with a focus on real-time learning and collaboration.

What should participants expect from the beta nature of the course?

Participants should expect that the course is still evolving, with feedback from the learners shaping its development. It might require some patience, but it also provides an exciting opportunity to be involved in a fresh, dynamic learning experience.

How does the course help both beginners and experienced programmers?

For beginners with basic programming skills, the course teaches them how to use AI tools to become better coders while solving real problems. Experienced programmers can refine their coding abilities and learn to combine their expertise with AI in a more effective way.