Microsoft Learn AI Skills Challenge 2023

Microsoft offer challenges pretty regularly through their training platform: Microsoft Learn. Last year, I completed one on cloud fundamentals - last time they gave away a free exam for completing the challenge (I write about it here if you're interested). This time it is a virtual badge - so not worth as much in pocket but still lots of free training. The theme this year is AI skills.

What actually is the challenge?

This year, Microsoft have put together 4 AI/ML related challenge pathways to complete: Machine Learning, Machine Learning Operations (MLOps), Cognitive Services and AI Builder. You only need to pick one of them to participate/complete the challenge, but you may do as many as you want. There are between 13 and 19 modules in each of the pathways to complete. These modules are the same as those in the Learn content, except that the related ones have been cherry picked for the pathway.

How do I chose which pathway to do?

There is down to your personal preference and areas of interest. Personally, I chose the Cognitive Services pathway as this is most related to my new workstream. We use Azure at work and I thought it would be a good way to get familiar with the tools that I might be using to be able to have conversations with a bit of knowledge behind me. It was almost made for what I needed right now!

I could have chosen the Machine Learning one (or any of the others!), because I'm also interested in this. The main reason I didn't was because I thought there would be less new content for me to learn. I wanted to use this as an opportunity to expand my knowledge and really directly help me at work. Actually, when I do look more closely, I have completed 11/13 modules previously! Whilst it would have been a great way to a quick certificate, it wouldn't have stretched me as much as I would have liked.

NB - it's worth saying that any previous learning that you've done on Microsoft Learn will count towards your challenge progress. So if you've completed all the MS Learn content for a particular pathway, you could enrol on the challenge and complete it immediately!

How much does it cost?

This challenge was free to complete, you just need an Azure subscription to be able to complete the labs. The learning content is freely available on the Microsoft Learn website, so if you wanted you could do all the learning outside of the challenge in a longer period - still all for free. You just wouldn't get the badge/certificate, but it might suit you better to take the time you need to properly work through the content and digest it. After all, the badge/certificate are more a personal record for your learning, rather than a certificate that is likely to make/break your career.

What are my overall thoughts on the challenge?

I think it's a great way to earmark some time to get some upskilling done. I don't know about you, but I have a lot of things on my list that I want to learn and yet that list always seems to get bigger. This is the sort of thing that gets pushed to the side when work things come up. However, a short day challenge adds a little bit of pressure to actually make that time to complete the modules...rather than just having tabs open for months on end.

However, in terms of value for time...I'm torn. I found this challenge helpful in a lot of ways because what I needed was a high level overview of different cognitive AI services provided by Azure. For that it was pretty good - there were some modules that weren't super relevant to what I'm doing but interesting nonetheless. If I wanted to actually get hands on knowledge of using these tools, then I'm not sure I would complete the challenge. It is very theoretical and high level. Sure, there are some 'exercises' which you can do but they are very much follow along with the instructions, rather than thinking and working things out for yourself. For those, I would say pick the specific modules you want to do, complete those and then pick a demo/self made project to get stuck in. There's only so far theory and follow-along is going to take you.

Also, maybe it goes without saying, but these are Azure focused challenges so if you don't use Azure - they're probably not super relevant to you!

In my view, these challenges are a great way to put a little pressure on to get some high level skills development, knowledge expansion happening. But, that's if the content aligns with what you're after. If you want in depth, hands on learning then this isn't for you. I'm glad I did this one, as it fitted with my needs but I wouldn't be rushing back to complete the next challenge in a hurry if it wasn't what I was after/the reward wasn't something I particularly wanted.