After a decade as a full-stack developer (mostly back-end CRUD work, nothing cutting-edge), I'm now on medical leave and mostly bedridden, while I get treatment for a moderately serious condition.
That means I'll be on leave for at least 3 months.
While I’m grateful to have a fully paid medical leave for the entirety of my absence, I'm also terrified about what it means for my current job.
My company laid off a significant percentage of my colleagues over the past couple of years, and I'm afraid my role will be at risk after having someone take over my responsibilities and contributions for such a prolonged period.
Therefore, I don't want to waste this time.
My goal is to retrain into a high-specialization, future-resistant field, ideally adjacent to AI/ML, since that’s where the momentum (and compensation) seems to be.
My background:
- 10 years in software dev (Java/Spring, Python, some React).
- Comfortable with algorithms, databases, distributed systems.
- Zero ML/AI experience beyond basic Coursera dabbling.
Constraints:
- 3 months of ~4hrs/day study time.
Prefer self-guided resources (books, MOOCs, OSS projects).
- Targeting roles that aren’t easily automated (e.g., niches where human expertise + technical depth matter).
What specialized subfields of AI/ML (or adjacent domains) would you prioritize? (E.g., reinforcement learning, MLops, AI safety, etc.)
What concrete resources (courses, books, codebases) would you recommend for a fast ramp-up?
Are there lesser-known niches (e.g., quant-focused ML, robotics, etc.) where a software vet could pivot quickly?
No sugarcoating: if this is unrealistic, don't hesitate to say so. But if you’ve successfully pivoted into AI/ML (or know someone who did), I’d love to hear your battle plan.
PS: I'll also appreciate any recommendations on any gear/devices that facilitate using a laptop while on bed.