Understand the Technology Behind Modern Generative AI
Generative AI has rapidly evolved from a research concept into a foundational technology shaping modern software, business, education, research, and digital products.
But truly understanding Generative AI requires more than knowing how to write prompts or use an AI application. It requires understanding the technologies, architectures, and ideas that make these systems possible.
Foundations of Generative AI is Book 1 in the Generative AI Series and establishes the conceptual and technical foundation needed to understand modern Generative AI systems.
The book takes you on a structured journey from the evolution of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Deep Learning to the technologies powering today's Generative AI systems. Along the way, you will explore neural networks, language models, tokens, embeddings, transformers, attention mechanisms, Large Language Models (LLMs), and the fundamental architecture of Generative AI.
The goal is not simply to explain what these technologies are, but to help you understand how they work, why they work, and how the different components connect to form modern AI systems.
What You Will LearnBy the end of this book, you will develop a strong foundation in:
Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Deep Learning
Neural networks and modern deep learning architectures
The evolution of language models
Tokens and tokenization
Embeddings and semantic representations
Transformers and attention mechanisms
Large Language Models (LLMs)
How Generative AI systems generate content
Prompting and interacting with AI models
The fundamental architecture of modern Generative AI systems
Limitations, challenges, and responsible use of Generative AI
Understand Before You BuildGenerative AI is evolving rapidly, with new models, tools, and applications appearing constantly. Learning individual tools is useful, but understanding the underlying concepts provides a foundation that can remain valuable as the technology changes.
This book therefore focuses on understanding before building.
Instead of treating Generative AI as a collection of disconnected tools, it explains the concepts that connect them and provides a foundation for understanding the systems behind modern AI applications.
The Beginning of the JourneyFoundations of Generative AI is the starting point of the Generative AI Series.
Once these foundations are established, the subsequent books progressively move toward building AI-powered applications, connecting AI systems with external knowledge, developing AI agents, engineering production-ready systems, and exploring advanced AI architectures.
Foundations first. Systems next. Engineering beyond.