Part 3/12:
Step 1: Learn Python — The Foundation of AI
The first step in Shapiro’s roadmap is mastering Python. Interestingly, he recommends starting with languages like C or C++—but he quickly affirms that Python is the most practical starting point today given its dominance in AI. His personal background includes starting with Pascal and then moving into robotics, but he advocates for a multimodal approach to learning—combining online courses, books, and hands-on projects.
He highlights Udacity as one of his early platforms because of Sebastian Thrun’s pioneering work in online education. The core purpose at this stage is orientation: gaining enough familiarity to navigate AI topics confidently. Certification is secondary; the goal is literacy and confidence.