According to the TIOBE Index, Python currently stands as the most popular programming language. It’s remarkable trajectory over the past three decades can be attributed to its inherent simplicity, an expansive ecosystem of libraries and packages, and its remarkable versatility across a diverse array of domains including data analytics, machine learning, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, IoT, robotics, and automated task execution.

Embark on a two-day journey to learn a new programming language with far-reaching applicability. As the language of choice for data science, advanced research, and the expanding field of AI, Python will propel you into the heart of machine learning and artificial intelligence.

Join Microsoft Azure MVP, Eric D. Boyd, for an immersive hands-on lab, a two-day expedition into the world of Python, AI, and ML. You don’t need to have any prior knowledge of Python or AI to attend. We'll begin with the bedrock principles of Python. And on day two, we will explore the foundations of artificial intelligence and machine learning through many types of problems, scenarios, and algorithms.

Day 1 – Getting Started with Python

On Day 1, we will begin by getting a modern Python development environment set up with Visual Studio Code. Once everyone is up and running, we’ll spend the rest of the day exploring the Python language and writing Python code together, focusing on the parts of Python that matter most for today’s software developers, data engineers, and AI developers.

We’ll start with the fundamentals, including variables, data types, functions, conditionals, loops, and error handling, then quickly move into Pythonic patterns and conventions established by the Python community that make your code readable, maintainable, and production-ready. Along the way, we’ll work with core data structures, comprehensions, and powerful language features like type hints, dataclasses, and modules so you can structure and reuse code effectively. You’ll also get a practical introduction to object-oriented design in Python, learning how to design and organize classes for real applications.

From there, we’ll explore what’s available in the built-in Python standard library and the broader ecosystem of Python packages and libraries that you’ll use in practice, including popular libraries like NumPy, Pandas, and Matplotlib. You’ll see how to manage dependencies and environments, use Notebooks for interactive exploration, and bring your Python skills into data and analytics workflows with platforms like Microsoft Fabric.

As a developer, one of the most important things you can do to create great software is test your code. In addition to exploring the troubleshooting and debugging capabilities of Visual Studio Code, we’ll introduce automated testing so you can gain confidence in your Python code from the start.

Closing out Day 1, we will bring it all together by building a small, AI‑ready Python service. We’ll create a web app using Flask and FastAPI that will show how the foundational Python skills you’ve learned can power applications and services that call modern AI and machine learning models.

Before we conclude, we'll also see how to leverage Python's strengths from the .NET ecosystem by calling Python code from C# applications using CSnakes.

Day 2 – Introduction to Artificial Intelligence using Python

To attend Day 2 of this lab, you must have either attended Day 1 of this workshop or have a strong working knowledge of Python with a functional Python development environment. There will not be any time spent on day 2 teaching Python fundamentals or setting up Python development environments.

Artificial intelligence is a machine’s ability to perform the cognitive functions we usually associate with human minds. And there are many challenging problems that we face as developers of technology solutions that can be simplified using techniques and algorithms from the field of artificial intelligence.

On Day 2, you will immediately get to employ your newfound knowledge of Python to craft innovative solutions across the pivotal domains of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Together, we will delve into the foundations of artificial intelligence, spanning the topics of search algorithms, knowledge representation, uncertainty modeling, optimization strategies, machine learning, neural networks, and natural language processing. This dynamic learning experience will be underpinned by the utilization of established libraries such as Scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, NLTK, and more.

We will also explore other platforms like Azure Machine Learning to create and deploy machine learning models and solutions, and how you can use your Python knowledge and skills with Azure Machine Learning.

And our journey won’t conclude there. You’ll get to embark on a journey through the emerging world of generative AI, large language models, and prompt engineering. We will explore LLMs and AI models from OpenAI, Anthropic, and more. We'll learn how to use LLMs with your private data, and how to navigate the world of prompt engineering using tools like LangChain, opening doors to novel applications and possibilities in language-driven AI systems. We'll also explore how to build Agentic LLM-orchestrated AI solutions that can autonomously perform tasks and make decisions.

Unlock the potential of Python and AI over the course of two days in a hands-on environment where theory evolves into tangible skills, and where your career potential gains an invaluable edge.