Zero-to-AI Learning Roadmap 2026: 12-Month Detailed Turkish Roadmap
Detailed 12-month roadmap to become an AI engineer from zero: Month 1-2 Python + math foundation, Month 3-4 classic ML, Month 5-6 deep learning + PyTorch, Month 7-8 LLM + RAG + agentic, Month 9-10 MLOps + production, Month 11-12 specialized + job search. Each month with specific courses (Coursera, fast.ai, DeepLearning.AI), books, milestone projects, Turkish resources (BTK Akademi, Coursera Turkish subtitles), daily study plan, portfolio requirements (5-10 GitHub projects), Kaggle strategy, certifications, job application tactics. SMB/freelance/abroad options.
1. Target
12-month roadmap. End state: junior AI/ML/DS engineer in Turkey (₺70-100K monthly net) or freelance/remote.
2. Month-by-Month
- Month 1-2: Python + Math (linear algebra, probability, calculus)
- Month 3-4: Classic ML (scikit-learn, XGBoost, first Kaggle)
- Month 5-6: Deep Learning (PyTorch, CNN, transformers, fast.ai)
- Month 7-8: LLM + RAG + Agentic (LangChain, Pinecone, Karpathy)
- Month 9-10: Production (Docker, FastAPI, AWS/GCP, MLflow)
- Month 11-12: Specialize + Job search
3. Portfolio Requirements
5-10 quality GitHub projects covering: pandas analysis, ML classifier, Kaggle medal, NLP (Turkish), Computer Vision, RAG chatbot, multi-agent, production-deployed ML API, full-stack AI app.
4. Budget
- Standard: $500-700 (Coursera Plus + books + certifications)
- Free: $0 (BTK Akademi, YouTube, fast.ai, Karpathy)
5. Turkish Resources
BTK Akademi (free Turkish content), Yapay Zeka Türkiye Discord, Veri Bilimi Türkiye, Boğaziçi/METU summer schools, Türk LLM models (Trendyol, Turkcell).
6. Certifications
DeepLearning.AI ML/DL Specializations, Hugging Face Certified ML Engineer, AWS AI Practitioner, Google ML Engineer (premium).
7. Job Search (Month 12)
GitHub optimization, LinkedIn, 50 target companies (Trendyol, Getir, banks, fintech, remote EU/US), referrals, cold outreach.
8. Conclusion
12 months + 2-3 hours/day is sufficient for entering the AI/ML field. Strong portfolio + LinkedIn presence + Turkish AI community involvement key. Specialization in Turkish NLP, agentic systems, or computer vision provides premium positioning.
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