Best first move
Pick one educator from the table, watch one matched video, then open one hands-on resource. The aim is to leave with a working habit, project, or mental model tied to official docs.
AI learning guide
Best official AI provider docs and model catalogs
Start with primary-source documentation when learning current models, APIs, agents, MCP, and provider-specific tradeoffs.
Quick answer
How to shortlist
Compare audience, level, format, and starting point. Favor a source that matches your current role and gives you exercises, examples, docs, or code you can use immediately.
What to avoid
Avoid collecting dozens of generic AI tips. Use this guide to choose a narrow learning loop: one topic, one educator, one video, one resource, one application in your own work.
Best picks
Start here if you want the shortest route from search result to useful learning.
Pick 1
The AI Engineer Roadmap
Free tutorial · Matt Pocock
You want a guided path through core AI concepts, model selection, the AI engineering mindset, evals, and techniques for improving LLM-powered apps.
Pick 2
Model Context Protocol Tutorial
Free tutorial · Matt Pocock
You want to understand MCP and build TypeScript MCP servers over stdio or HTTP, connect Claude Code to tools, use MCP prompts, and package servers for distribution.
Pick 3
AI Coding Dictionary
Dictionary · Matt Pocock
You want plain-English definitions for agentic coding concepts such as context windows, tools, MCP, handoffs, skills, subagents, feedback loops, and agent-ready work.
Pick 4
MCP: Build Rich-Context AI Apps with Anthropic
Short course · DeepLearning.AI
You want a hands-on MCP course for connecting tools, context, and Claude-powered apps.
Pick 5
Hugging Face MCP Course
Free course · Hugging Face
You want a free structured MCP path with concepts, assignments, SDKs, and a certificate route.
Videos to watch
The last six months in LLMs in five minutes
Simon Willison
Educators and sources
| Educator / source | Best for | Skills | Start with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Developers, technical generalists | LLM tools, Prompting, AI safety, Local models, Model selection | Read the recent model-roundup posts, then try the llm command-line tool with two or three different providers. | |
| Developers and self-directed learners building with AI coding agents | AI coding, Claude Skills, Agentic workflows, AI SDK, MCP, LLM fundamentals, Personalized learning | Use LLM Fundamentals or the AI Engineer Roadmap if you need concepts, the Vercel AI SDK Tutorial or AI SDK v6 Crash Course if you want to build apps, and the AI Skills catalog if you want practical agent workflows like /teach, /grill-me, /tdd, and /triage. |
Resources
The AI Engineer Roadmap
Free tutorial · Matt Pocock · Beginner to intermediate
You want a guided path through core AI concepts, model selection, the AI engineering mindset, evals, and techniques for improving LLM-powered apps.
Model Context Protocol Tutorial
Free tutorial · Matt Pocock · Intermediate
You want to understand MCP and build TypeScript MCP servers over stdio or HTTP, connect Claude Code to tools, use MCP prompts, and package servers for distribution.
AI Coding Dictionary
Dictionary · Matt Pocock · Beginner to intermediate
You want plain-English definitions for agentic coding concepts such as context windows, tools, MCP, handoffs, skills, subagents, feedback loops, and agent-ready work.
MCP: Build Rich-Context AI Apps with Anthropic
Short course · DeepLearning.AI · Intermediate
You want a hands-on MCP course for connecting tools, context, and Claude-powered apps.
Hugging Face MCP Course
Free course · Hugging Face · Beginner to intermediate
You want a free structured MCP path with concepts, assignments, SDKs, and a certificate route.
Perplexity Deep Research and Search API docs
API docs · Perplexity · Intermediate
You want to compare search, Sonar, Agent API, and cited research workflows from the primary source.
OpenAI model guide
Model docs · OpenAI · Beginner to advanced
You need to choose between GPT-5.5, GPT-5.5 Pro, GPT-5.4 mini, GPT-5.4 nano, reasoning levels, tool support, and cost-sensitive API paths.
OpenAI MCP and connectors
Guide · OpenAI · Intermediate
You need the official OpenAI path for wiring MCP servers and connectors into agent workflows instead of inventing your own tool contract.
Claude models overview
Model docs · Anthropic · Beginner to advanced
You need the official comparison of current Claude models, context windows, aliases, and release families before choosing cost, speed, and reliability tradeoffs.
Anthropic Academy
Official learning hub · Anthropic · Beginner to advanced
You want official Anthropic courses for AI fluency, Claude Code, MCP, or Claude API development before diving into narrower docs.
Anthropic MCP guide
Guide · Anthropic · Intermediate
You want Anthropic's official guidance for exposing tools and data to Claude through MCP instead of only reading the base spec.
Gemini API models
Model docs · Google AI for Developers · Beginner to advanced
You need to compare current Gemini 3.5 model families, context windows, modalities, stable releases, and experimental model IDs.
Gemini coding agent setup
Guide · Google AI for Developers · Intermediate
You want Google's official setup path for Gemini-driven coding-agent workflows, Gemini Docs MCP, and skills rather than generic prompt advice.
Mistral models overview
Model docs · Mistral AI · Beginner to advanced
You need to compare current Mistral families such as Devstral, Magistral, Voxtral, OCR, and general-purpose models.
Cohere models overview
Model docs · Cohere · Beginner to advanced
You need to choose between current Cohere Command, embedding, and rerank models for grounded enterprise search.
DeepSeek API docs
API docs · DeepSeek · Beginner to advanced
You need first-call examples, OpenAI-compatible API usage, and current migration notes for DeepSeek models.
Questions this guide answers
Which official AI provider docs are actually worth bookmarking?
Use the educator table, videos, and resources above to compare options by topic fit, depth, and format. A good choice gives you a concrete next step: a course module, code example, video walkthrough, project, or workflow you can try today.
Where can I compare current model catalogs without relying on screenshots or blog posts?
Use the educator table, videos, and resources above to compare options by topic fit, depth, and format. A good choice gives you a concrete next step: a course module, code example, video walkthrough, project, or workflow you can try today.
Which primary-source docs cover coding agents, MCP, deep research, and model routing?
Use the educator table, videos, and resources above to compare options by topic fit, depth, and format. A good choice gives you a concrete next step: a course module, code example, video walkthrough, project, or workflow you can try today.