Why I Turned My Blog Into a Book?
Painless AI Lab – A Hong Kong Practitioner’s Real-World AI Journey (Part 35):
I’ve been writing this blog for a while now. Over time, I wanted to put what I’ve learned into one place, in a clear order, so it would be more useful to readers. I wrote a book, and it’s finally out.
It started more than ten years ago, when I lost nearly everything. A relative I trusted completely pulled me into a scheme, and when it fell apart I had less than US$300 in my wallet. In Hong Kong, that doesn’t cover a week’s rent.
I wasn’t an AI expert. I was a business professional with a family to support and very few options. Opening a shop needed capital I didn’t have, and a small online store failed during the lockdowns. So I turned to AI and started learning from scratch. I read documentation, took online courses, and tested tools on real problems.
Most of what I tried didn’t work the first time. The things that did work came down to a few plain habits. Keep your costs under control before you chase new tools. Learn the skill before you pay for the app. Test a product idea against a real frustration before you spend money on it. And be honest about what AI can’t do: it can automate a lot of work, but it can’t predict the future for you.
The $300 AI Rebuild isn’t a technical textbook, and it doesn’t promise quick money. It’s a field guide for beginners, solopreneurs, and anyone on a tight budget who wants to use AI for real work.
If AI tools and hype have ever left you overwhelmed, start small. Pick one problem you actually have this week and see whether AI can take one step of it off your plate.