From Hidden Developer to Recognized AI Thought Leader: How I Got Noticed in the AI Space
Subtitle:
Discover the proven strategies I used to rise from coding in silence to becoming a visible voice in AI development—without a fancy degree or a massive following.
“Nobody knows me. I’m just a developer learning AI. Who would listen to me?”
That was me a year ago—buried in YouTube tutorials, building side projects late at night, and lurking silently in developer communities. I was passionate about AI and machine learning, but I didn’t know how to get noticed, let alone get taken seriously in the space.
I thought I needed to master complex algorithms, publish academic papers, or have a giant Twitter following to matter in the AI world.
I was wrong.
What I needed was visibility, value-driven content, and a clear personal brand.
Today, I get invited to speak at virtual events, collaborate with AI-focused startups, and contribute to real-world projects. But the real win? I’m now recognized in a space I once felt invisible in.
This article isn’t theory—it’s my playbook. Let’s walk through how you, too, can go from hidden developer to recognized AI voice—no matter your current level.
🚀 Step 1: Share as You Learn
You don’t need to be an expert to talk about AI. In fact, your beginner perspective is gold. Most developers are intimidated by AI because it feels overwhelming. That’s where your voice comes in.
What to do:
Write LinkedIn or X (Twitter) threads breaking down AI terms in plain English
Document your projects or code snippets on GitHub and share what you learned
Create a short series like “AI Concept of the Day” on Medium or Substack
Post “What I learned today about LLMs” or “Struggled with this AI model? Here’s what helped.”
Why it works:
People love relatable content. You're showing you're in the trenches like them. That’s authentic, and it builds trust.
🔍 Step 2: Niche Down to Stand Out
Trying to talk about “all things AI” is like trying to drink from a fire hose. Focus is power.
What worked for me:
I niched down into AI for developers — focusing on tools, APIs, and how devs can integrate AI into apps.
Other great niches:
AI for productivity
AI for design or marketing
Natural Language Processing (NLP)
Computer vision for mobile developers
Ethical AI for businesses
Pick your lane. Go deep, not wide.
🧠 Step 3: Build in Public with AI Projects
Instead of just talking, show.
I started building simple tools—an AI image tagger, a chatbot using OpenAI, a code summarizer—and sharing my process publicly.
How to make it count:
Don’t wait for perfection—share your MVPs
Walk your audience through challenges you face
Record short Loom videos or write tutorials
Share your GitHub link, even if it’s not “fancy”
Bonus: Tag relevant tools or communities to increase reach.
🌐 Step 4: Plug into the Right Communities
Most of my first 100 followers on X and LinkedIn came from commenting on other people's AI posts.
Join and engage in:
r/MachineLearning and r/learnmachinelearning
AI Discords or Slack communities
Kaggle forums
LinkedIn AI hashtags (#AI, #MachineLearning, #GenerativeAI)
Leave thoughtful comments, not just emojis. People notice.
🗣️ Step 5: Talk Like a Human, Not a Research Paper
Tech Twitter and LinkedIn are full of jargon-heavy posts no one reads. The secret? Speak like you’re explaining to a friend.
How to do it:
Use analogies. (e.g., “An LLM is like a really smart autocomplete.”)
Avoid buzzwords unless necessary
Use storytelling to explain how you overcame a coding challenge
Example Tweet that got traction:
“Tried to fine-tune an LLM last night. RAM said goodbye. GPU said bye-bye. But I learned something cool about memory optimization. Let me break it down 🧵👇”
—
🧭 Step 6: Use SEO to Multiply Your Reach
Search is still powerful. I optimized my blog posts with basic SEO:
Quick SEO wins:
Use tools like Ubersuggest or Ahrefs to find keywords like “AI tools for developers”
Add subheadings with keywords
Write Meta Descriptions (like this one!)
Use image alt-text and internal linking
Result? One of my dev.to posts started ranking on Google within 3 weeks ...
💼 Step 7: Create a Thought-Leader Portfolio
Most developers ignore this step. But it’s huge.
Set up a basic site with:
Your bio + AI focus
Projects you’ve built
Links to your blogs, talks, GitHub
A clear “I help [audience] with [outcome] using AI” tagline
Use platforms like About.me, Webflow, or even a Notion page.
Why it works:
When someone Googles you (and they will), they find your work instantly. It builds authority.
Final Thoughts: You’re Closer Than You Think
Don’t let imposter syndrome stop you. You don’t have to be the best—just be visible and be valuable.
People are looking for developers who understand AI, can explain it simply, and share openly.
Start with what you know. Share it. Grow from there.
And when someone messages you saying, “Hey, your post helped me finally understand transformers,” you’ll realize—it was worth it.
💬 Let’s chat!
What’s holding you back from sharing your AI journey publicly? Drop a comment—I reply to every single one.