This is so infuriating because then they’ll turn around and tell you that black people own nothing because we dont make the right investments meanwhile theyre literally stealing from us. This should be bigger news & all of the black people in powerful positions should step in
Microsoft just dropped a FREE path to become AI certified
all the training materials, study guides, and practice exams are completely free on Microsoft Learn
you don't need to pay $5,000 for a bootcamp
you don't need a $2,000 udemy bundle
you just need Microsoft Learn and discipline
the certification path has 3 levels:
LEVEL 1: Azure AI Fundamentals (AI-900)
your entry point. no prior knowledge needed. no coding required
what it covers:
- how AI and machine learning work on Azure
- computer vision and NLP basics
- generative AI workloads
- responsible AI principles
prep time: 2-4 weeks
passing score: 700/1000
training: FREE on Microsoft Learn
this cert never expires. once you pass, it's yours forever
IMPORTANT: this exam retires June 30, 2026 and gets replaced by AI-901
if you want the current version, MOVE NOW
LEVEL 2: Azure AI Engineer Associate (AI-102)
this is where it gets real. you're building actual AI solutions
what it covers:
- Azure OpenAI integration
- RAG (retrieval-augmented generation)
- AI agents and agentic solutions
- computer vision and NLP pipelines
- document intelligence
- building with Python or C# SDKs
Microsoft updated this in 2025 to focus on generative AI and agents
(exactly what companies are hiring for right now)
prep time: 1-3 months
passing score: 700/1000
renewal: every 12 months, FREE online
training: FREE on Microsoft Learn
this cert alone qualifies you for Azure AI Engineer roles
ALSO RETIRES JUNE 30, 2026. the window is closing
LEVEL 3: Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305)
the expert tier. you're not just building AI, you're designing entire cloud architectures
PRIOR KNOWLEDGE: you need Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104) first
what it covers:
- identity and governance solutions
- data storage architecture
- business continuity planning
- full infrastructure design
prep time: 2-4 months
passing score: 700/1000
renewal: annually, FREE online
training: FREE on Microsoft Learn
this isn't AI-specific but it's the cert that gets you into the room where AI architecture decisions happen
median salary for Azure Solutions Architects: $170k+
the full roadmap:
> month 1-2: study and pass AI-900
> month 2-4: study and pass AI-102
> month 4-8: get AZ-104 then AZ-305
total time: 6-8 months
all training materials: $0
DISCLAIMER: "but the exams AREN'T free"
you're right. they cost $99-$165 each
but Microsoft Virtual Training Days give free vouchers for AI-900
students with .edu emails get exams for $0-15
Microsoft Ignite challenges give 50% off
and even full price is UNDER $600 for all 3 levels
no bootcamp needed
no overpriced course needed
3 certs. 6-8 months. and you're certified by the company that powers half the enterprise AI infrastructure on the planet
the June 2026 deadline makes this urgent, AI-900 and AI-102 both retire after that
START TODAY ❤️
Recommendation: at least complete all free materials, and as you will have this knowledge, buy the exams to get certified
if you don't have money to pass them, just get a free knowledge which is confirmed with TOP universities of this world
win-win situation anyway
The research behind this is wild. Your sperm carries a set of instructions that tell your genes when to turn on and off. A Duke University study found that THC rewrites those instructions. The more weed in your system, the bigger the changes. It goes straight for the genes your future embryo needs in its first week of life.
I had to read the "day 3 crash" part twice. For the first three days after fertilization, an embryo runs entirely on the mother's DNA. Day 3, the father's genes switch on. If those genes carry cannabis damage, the embryo just stops growing. Fertility doctors see this happen in their labs: embryos that fertilized fine and looked healthy on day 2 go completely still by day 5.
Boston University tracked 1,535 couples trying to have a baby. Men who smoked weed once a week or more doubled their partner's miscarriage risk. That number held up even when the woman herself never touched cannabis. And the miscarriages clustered in the first 8 weeks, right when the father's damaged DNA would be doing the most harm.
Duke also found that the specific genes THC alters in sperm overlap with genes linked to autism. One of those genes, called DLGAP2, helps brain cells communicate with each other. It was changed in cannabis users' sperm. When researchers bred THC-exposed male rats and checked their offspring, the same altered gene pattern showed up in the pups' brains. The damage crossed a generation.
Weed has gotten way stronger over the last 30 years. THC content was about 4% in the 1990s but nearly quadrupled to 15% by 2018, and modern dispensary strains regularly sit at 20-30%. Concentrates go up to 95%.
Quitting for about 11 weeks (one full cycle of sperm production) reverses some of the DNA changes. Not all of them. Duke's lead researcher says men should stop at least 6 months before trying for a baby. Half of your kid's genetic blueprint comes from you, and right now, THC is editing that blueprint before conception even happens.
Got laid off from my job(fully remote) of 4 years last year February Worked a bullshit job for a year just to pay the bills and took a hell of a pay cut. Shit was over a hour away. Applied to hundred of jobs. Finally Started my new role today making 6 figures.
We have a lot of gatekeepers in IT. Don't listen to them.
I remember when I failed my comptia a+ twice in a row. I wanted to give up. It was very discouraging. I didn't think IT was for me. I'm still here.
I remember when I started a YouTube channel. People made fun of me because of my accent. I'm still here.
I remember getting rejected over 100 times when I was new in IT. I ended up finding a job. I'm still here.
Don't let anyone label you as a failure. You got this. You have a community of people that want to see you win.
You can win but you need to believe in yourself.
See you at SF. Happy traveling! Happy Sunday!
#itsupportspecialist #desktopsupport #desktopsupporttechnician #careers #systemadministrator #systemengineer #desktopsupport #desktopsupportengineer #cybersecurity