A Year of Learning, Building, and Sharing

Today marks the final day of 2024 according to Vietnamese culture. Tomorrow, the Lunar New Year begins, and I am turning to a new age – it is the first time this coincidence has happened. So, I wanted to write some notes sharing my 2024 journey and the lessons I learned along the way.

When talking about 2024, what will you remember?

This year gave us a clearer view of how AI is shaping our future – not only through countless iterative improvements in popular foundational models, frameworks, and AI tools but also through clearer approaches to embedding these capabilities into enterprises’ existing systems. Specifically, there has been a noticeable increase in the demand for AI engineering roles to manage the complex production stage, rather than stopping at the prototype phase by merely applying basic prompt engineering techniques to adapt foundational models. As 2024 comes to a close, I’m thinking more than ever about my next steps to navigate my profession through these changes. Will AI become a catalyst that enables business teams with deep domain knowledge to access advanced data analytics at levels we have never seen before? Will the widespread availability of foundational models democratize the development of advanced AI applications, leaving less room for traditional data science roles?

It is never easy to predict where the path will lead, but building a stronger and stronger foundation to help me stay resilient is the only way I have in mind. This year, I dedicated myself to “true learning” more than ever before. Building production-quality AI products forced me to address gaps in my knowledge – from programming fundamentals and mathematics to front-end and back-end development. I don’t know exactly how many hours I spent in 2024 on Udemy, DeepLearning.AI, YouTube, reading books, and browsing posts. But I earned a few top 1% learner recognitions on learning platforms, my YouTube content suggestions are now flooded with AI-related news and content, and my bookshelf has been filled with more AI books than ever – so much so that my wife gave me a Kindle to reduce the overload on our small bookshelf. Beyond learning on my own, I am always grateful to be surrounded by so many lifelong learners, with whom I’ve had so many fun discussions and shared knowledge.

One of the moments I remember most about sharing knowledge was when I returned to my university to talk about Data Science to a graduate-level class. I was a bit nervous, as there were so many learners with far more work experience than me. But it turned out to be one of the most memorable discussions I’ve ever had. I was impressed by their perspectives on the business use cases I shared, which helped me learn how to approach business problems not just with a data scientist’s mindset but also with a broader, more holistic view. This two-way exchange of learning always reinforces my belief that sharing knowledge with others is one of the most meaningful pursuits in my life. Beyond that moment, I was also thrilled to hear from my mentees that my guidance helped them navigate their early careers more effectively, especially in today’s chaotic job market.

I’ve learned that there is a strong correlation between sharing and knowing more people. This year, it was my privilege to have a chance to meet some extraordinary people who inspired me a lot with their passion and dedication in their work. They were unexpected but unforgettable. Among them, there was a standout woman I met who has been dedicating her life to helping others, living by the simple yet profound purpose: “to see smiles on the faces of seniors.” I can only wish her the best health to keep doing her work as long as she can and inspire more and more people to follow what she is doing.

Lastly, 2024 was also a year of good health. It was the first time I completed a 21 km run in a relay competition with my friend. I will never forget the moment when I saw my friend coming back from the sea after a 2 km swim in the last few minutes. It was also his first time, so no words can describe the feeling when I thought I no longer had a chance to complete the competition, and then suddenly he appeared. I see the great connection in any sport I play – not only to connect with new people and strengthen my friendships but also to bring more opportunities for my wife and me to spend time together. We shared lots of common time as well as memories, thanks to sports.

Now, as the Lunar New Year approaches, I sit in a cozy coffee shop in my hometown, soaking in the atmosphere of spring, listening to Vietnamese music, and reflecting on the year. I wish you all the best and a remarkable 2025 ahead.