Interleave from phase 3
Core AI and Applied AI run in parallel — start building apps at Core phase 3.
Research starts at Core 5
The Research track is a depth layer that runs alongside Core AI, not after it.
Check off phases
Hit the circle on any phase to mark it done. Progress saves automatically.
Track 1 — Core AI
The foundations that let you read papers, implement models from scratch, and reason from first principles. Non-negotiable for the researcher half of this roadmap.
Track 2 — Applied AI
The practitioner stack. Build real systems, ship to production, and develop the engineering judgment that separates junior from senior AI engineers.
Track 3 — Research
Runs in parallel with Core AI from phase 3 onward. The goal is not to become an academic — it's to be an engineer who can originate ideas, not just implement them.