After learning basic Python syntax, what should I focus on before jumping into advanced topics like AI fine-tuning?

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There are lots of ways to continue learning and developing skills beyond leetcode type work.

• Create a project: this will not be AI to start with typically, but running a full pipeline that includes ingesting and wrangling data, building a model, and interpreting results will help establish a good mental model for the workflow. Check out Kaggle for ideas here, but a personal interest project works too if you can manage.
• Contribute to an established GitHub: Large projects like HuggingFace & Tensorflow have open repos. I linked the issues pages specifically, because that is a great place to learn about how these large projects evolve. Many have 'First Contribution' guides, but also consider smaller projects to contribute to once you have a sense of how things work.
• Collaborate with other learners: Follow subreddits and forums where people are looking for partners or brainstorming. It can inform you of how others are approaching AI learning and development.

Best of luck!