Let me tell you about my experience with creating an AI that plays Connect 4. I took an undergraduate CS course during my Masters and we created the AI using a few algorithms. To be honest, I don't remember all of them, but I do recall using the min-max algorithm. The AI wasn't too difficult to create, but we used functional programming, which was new to me at the time. Overall, it was a great learning experience.
Recently, while going through my old software projects, I stumbled upon the Connect 4 game and realized that it was my first AI project. And if I don't start learning, it might be my last. So, I started searching for AI courses online and enrolled in Udacity's AI Nanodegree.
Let me tell you, the course is no joke. It's a rigorous 6-month program, split into two terms of 3 months each, with an expected workload of 10-15 hours per week. You can find more information about it here.
I just finished the first chapter of the program, and it feels great to have taken that first step. As Lao Tzu said, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step." So here's to learning and taking that first step towards becoming an AI expert.
Cheers!