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AI Research & The Quest for Artificial General Intelligence

Explore the ideas shaping the race toward AGI, including mechanistic interpretability, the AI scaling laws, compute trends, dataset scaling, and the future of advanced AI.

1.5 hours 0 projects 38 + lessons

Rated 4.9 out of 5 on Trustpilot

Rated 4.9 out of 5 on Trustpilot

2 Days

Average time students take to complete this course.

instructor
Taught by: Scott Kerr
Last updated: September 2026
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What you'll learn

  • Explore the research questions driving the pursuit of AGI
  • Apply prompt engineering through the lens of the Turing Test
  • Understand the basics of mechanistic interpretability
  • Examine how model size affects AI performance
  • See why dataset size matters when scaling AI systems
  • Understand the role of training compute in AI progress
  • Evaluate current trends across the AI landscape
  • Think critically about possible AI developments in the decade ahead

What does a world with Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) look like...and are we already there?

This course explores that question through some of the most important ideas in modern AI research. You'll move beyond the surface-level conversation around chatbots and generative AI to examine the concepts researchers use to understand increasingly capable models.

You'll explore prompt engineering through the Turing Test, then look inside neural networks through mechanistic interpretability. From there, you'll investigate scaling laws and see how model size, datasets, and training compute can influence AI capabilities.

You'll also step back and look at the bigger picture.

By examining current trends and thinking through possible developments over the coming decade, you'll build a more grounded way to follow AI research, question bold predictions, and understand the technical forces shaping the road toward AGI.

Who You Will Learn With

You're getting more than just a course

Our instructors, TAs, Mentors, Alumni, and fellow students go above and beyond to help guide you and ensure you're on the right path to achieve your goals. Our private ZTM Discord server is a key factor in taking your skills, confidence and career to the next level.

Course curriculum

To make sure this course is a good fit for you, you can start learning AI for free right now by clicking any of the PREVIEW links below.

1 sections38 lessons1.5 hours total length

AI Research and the Quest for Artificial General Intelligence

10 lectures · 1hr 23min
10 lectures · 1hr 23min

Introduction - Through The Looking Glass...·8:40

8:40
BEGIN

Applied Prompt Engineering with The Turing Test·7:33

7:33
BEGIN

Homework: Ex Machina

BEGIN

Mechanistic Interpretability - Part 1·13:24

13:24
BEGIN

Mechanistic Interpretability - Part 2·20:59

20:59
BEGIN

Scaling Laws - Model Size·12:55

12:55
BEGIN

Scaling Laws - Dataset Size·8:04

8:04
BEGIN

Scaling Laws - Training Compute·11:49

11:49
BEGIN

Exercise: Current AI Trends

BEGIN

Homework: Situational Awareness - The Decade Ahead

BEGIN

Who is Zero To Mastery Academy for?

You'll fit right in if:

You're struggling to make progress using free tutorials that aren't giving you the structure or clear path to achieving your goals.
You don't want to learn alone. You want personalized feedback, support, and motivation from instructors and mentors and want to be part of a supportive community of like-minded individuals.
You want to learn by doing. You're excited to embrace the struggle of making mistakes that comes with building real-world projects you'll be proud of.
You're sick of outdated & boring tutorials. We pride ourselves on having the most up-to-date (and fun!) courses in the industry so that you're not wasting your time and only learning what matters right now.
You can't afford to spend $8,000+ on over priced bootcamps and colleges. We got you. We'll help you go from zero to hired for less than the cost of a cup of coffee a day.
You're ready to embrace AI. You're excited to go beyond basic prompt tricks and hacks and learn the latest AI tools and skills.

We're not for you if:

You're just going to watch the lessons and take no action. Our courses are all about getting your hands dirty with exercises and putting what you're learning into action by building fun and impressive real-world projects.
You're not ready to invest in yourself by taking the time to deeply learn a topic or you're just looking for the cheapest way to learn.
You don't think fundamentals matter anymore because AI can do everything for you. Understanding the fundamentals and how things really work will always be important.
You think AI is going to replace you and think there's nothing you can do about it. Well, if you keep wasting time not learning AI tools & skills, you're probably right. Or you embrace them, and 2x your productivity (and your income).
You think influencers on YouTube are the experts and would rather watch superficial videos that get a lot of views to learn. Our courses are taught by actual industry experts.

Meet your instructor

Your AI & LLM instructor (Scott) has more than just a wealth of AI knowledge. He has years of real-world professional experience. He has been in your shoes. He makes learning fun. He makes complex topics feel simple. He will motivate you. He will push you. And he will go above and beyond to help you succeed.

Scott Kerr

Hi, I'm Scott Kerr!

Scott uses his years of professional research and enthusiasm for AI to teach and guide new students to learn how to utilize AI, get hired and advance their careers.

SEE MY BIO & COURSES

Scott Kerr

Head of AI Initiatives

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any prerequisites for this course?

  • None! All you need is an enthusiasm to learn. You will also have the option to use paid or free AI tools.

Who is this course for?

  • Anyone aiming to gain a comprehensive and practical understanding of modern techniques in prompt engineering and LLMs.
  • Developers looking to understand how to work with LLMs that are implemented in their AI-driven applications or within their organizations
  • Graduates of coding bootcamps or online AI courses who wish to delve deeper into the nuances of prompt engineering and explore beyond the introductory concepts
  • Individuals aspiring to integrate AI and LLMs into their career
  • You seek a structured guide to learning how to design effective prompts and interact with LLMs from scratch, progressing to proficiency levels that position you attractively compared to those without AI knowledge
  • Students who find beginner tutorials on LLMs inadequate, as they do not progress beyond basic examples and fail to provide advanced skills
  • Developers eager to transition into AI-focused roles, leveraging the powerful capabilities of LLMs for tasks such as iterating, summarizing, transforming, inferring, and expanding information.
  • You are an AI enthusiast who wants to learn more in a fun, interactive manner

Do you provide a certificate of completion?

We definitely do and they are quite nice. You will also be able to add Zero To Mastery Academy to the education section of your LinkedIn profile as well.

Are there subtitles?

Yes! We have high quality subtitles in 6 different languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Arabic, and Hindi.

You can even adjust the text size, color, background and more so that the subtitles are perfect just for you!

Still have more questions about the Academy?

Still have more questions specific to the Academy membership? No problem, we answer some more here.

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Rated 4.9 out of 5 on Trustpilot

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