How AI & LLMs Work – A Fast-Track Crash Course for Busy Professionals by Ishan Anand

Learn AI, LLMs, GPT models, tokenization, embeddings, neural networks, and attention mechanisms without advanced mathematics.

Artificial Intelligence is transforming every industry.

But most professionals still don't understand how it actually works.

They use ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and other AI tools daily, yet the technology behind them remains a mystery.

How AI & LLMs Work – A Fast-Track Crash Course for Busy Professionals is designed to eliminate that confusion.

Created by Ishan Anand, an MIT-educated CTO, the course breaks down complex AI concepts into simple, intuitive explanations using a unique "Spreadsheets Are All You Need" framework.

Instead of drowning students in advanced mathematics, academic jargon, or research papers, the program uses visual demonstrations and spreadsheet-based simulations to explain exactly how modern AI systems operate.

The goal is to help professionals become AI-literate without needing a computer science degree.

Key Benefits

✅ Understand how AI actually works

✅ Learn how ChatGPT and LLMs generate responses

✅ Build technical AI literacy without advanced math

✅ Understand AI concepts visually through spreadsheets

✅ Improve AI decision-making and implementation skills

✅ Communicate more effectively with technical teams

✅ Gain confidence leading AI projects and initiatives

✅ Understand the future of AI beyond hype and buzzwords

What You'll Learn

Session 1: Foundations of AI

Learn:

• What AI actually is
• How machine learning works
• Why modern AI systems became so powerful
• The evolution of large language models
• Common misconceptions about AI

This session establishes the conceptual foundation needed for the rest of the course.

Session 2: Tokenization

One of the most important concepts in modern AI.

Learn:

• How AI reads language
• What tokens are
• Why words are broken into smaller units
• How language becomes machine-readable
• How token limits affect model performance

You'll see tokenization demonstrated step-by-step using spreadsheets.

Session 3: Embeddings

Understand how AI represents meaning.

Topics include:

• Semantic relationships
• Vector representations
• Similarity calculations
• Context understanding
• Meaning beyond keywords

You'll learn how AI recognizes that different words and phrases can carry similar meanings.

Session 4: Neural Networks

Discover the engine behind modern AI systems.

Learn:

• What neural networks are
• How information flows through layers
• Pattern recognition principles
• Training fundamentals
• Prediction systems

Complex neural network concepts are explained visually rather than mathematically.

Session 5: Attention Mechanisms

The breakthrough that powers modern LLMs.

Learn:

• Why attention changed AI forever
• How transformers work
• Context tracking systems
• Multi-head attention concepts
• How GPT-style models understand relationships between words

This session explains one of the most important innovations in modern AI.

The "Spreadsheets Are All You Need" Framework

The signature teaching method of the course.

Instead of relying on:

❌ Complex equations

❌ Research papers

❌ Dense technical lectures

The course uses:

✅ Visual demonstrations

✅ Spreadsheet simulations

✅ Step-by-step examples

✅ Interactive learning

✅ Intuitive explanations

This makes advanced AI concepts accessible to non-technical professionals.

Why This Matters

Most AI users know:

• How to use AI tools

But very few understand:

• Why AI behaves the way it does
• How models process information
• Where AI strengths come from
• Where AI limitations exist

This course bridges that gap.

Understanding AI at a deeper level helps professionals:

• Make better strategic decisions
• Evaluate AI opportunities realistically
• Avoid common misconceptions
• Lead AI adoption initiatives effectively

Who It's For

• Business leaders
• Executives
• Founders
• Product managers
• Consultants
• Marketers
• Analysts
• Professionals working with AI
• Non-technical managers leading AI projects

Especially valuable for professionals who want technical AI literacy without becoming machine learning engineers.