Eight months ago, I decided to take my education into my own hands.

Since January 1st, I've completed 212 certificates across AI, ethics, business, education, basically following every thread that catches my interest and seeing where it leads. It's been messy, overwhelming, fascinating, and incredibly productive in ways I didn't expect.

After months of scattered AI tools making grand educational promises, we finally have enough mature platforms from the major players to conduct meaningful comparative analysis. OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic have each launched distinct educational offerings, each making compelling claims about their pedagogical approach.

The timing raises an interesting question: have these tools reached maturity at the perfect moment, or are we hitting the market just as educators experience AI fatigue?

"Write a 200-word introduction for an article about the future of remote work that sounds exactly like me. Here's what makes my writing unique: I use accessible language, focus on human impact over technical details, often include unexpected cultural references, and always end with a thought-provoking question that challenges conventional wisdom. I tend to use short paragraphs. I avoid corporate jargon and never use phrases like 'leverage' or 'paradigm shift.”

Universities once stood as intellectual sanctuaries where minds could explore, connect, and transform. Today, many have devolved into credential factories, churning out degrees while the very essence of education crumbles beneath bureaucratic weight and market pressures. This shift hasn't gone unnoticed by students who increasingly seek learning beyond institutional walls. The question emerges: are we witnessing the end of traditional higher education, or its necessary evolution?

Most of us have been thinking about accessibility all wrong. We've treated it like a regulatory afterthought, something we bolt on after the "real" design is done. But what if accessibility is viewed through the lens of excellence rather than accommodation?

I keep thinking about that robot. One Optimus unit, Tesla's $20,000+ humanoid creation, stands behind the bar on the second floor, methodically scooping popcorn into paper containers while 140 human employees do literally everything else, the cooking, the serving, the cleaning, the actual work of running a restaurant. But guess what everyone's filming?

The popcorn robot.

With the global computer vision market projected to reach $46.96 billion by 2030, now represents an ideal time to develop skills in this rapidly evolving domain. The field has experienced remarkable growth, with computer science courses in AI-related topics increasing by over 100% between 2016 and 2020.

After much research and learning (because you can never know too much), here are my top 5 beginner-friendly computer vision courses available in July 2025. All of them are accessible, open-source, and primarily free.

One of the tools, I mentioned in my latest newsletter to my Student Mentee's, is NotebookLM, this tool is fantastic and continues to evolve as a powerful AI-driven tool for student learning, and the latest updates make it even more helpful , especially if you’re juggling revision, reading, and research. Its useful to all, for auditory learners, a visual thinkers, or those trying to speed up their source-finding process, these features offer real, practical support.

Hey there, fellow digital explorers! If you're balancing academics, work, or family life while studying online, you know how tough it can be to stay organised and motivated. That's why I've put together this simple guide to help you incorporate AI tools into your distance learning routine all while keeping it, personal, and stress free.