Build the mental model first, then ship. Don't skip Foundations — every later pillar assumes it.
How models learn, the math you need, neural nets, the road to LLMs — concise, for engineers.
An agent is just a loop. Build one by hand — this is the most common interview topic.
Ground a model in real data. The #1 applied-AI system-design question.
Manage what the model sees — the discipline that replaced prompt-tricks.
If you can't measure it, you can't ship it. Learn to evaluate before you build.
Drill the loop: leveling, rounds, and the cross-pillar Q&A bank.