AI for the Rest of Us: An Illustrated Introduction

A joyfully lucid unravelling of AI-full of 'aha!' moments, mind-bending analogies, and charming doodles-that demystifies how these newfangled thinking machines actually learn and are already (quietly!) reshaping our world.
In AI For the Rest of Us, Sairam Sundaresan reveals AI's true nature: not cyborg sci-fi overlords, but clever tricks, surprising simplicity, and the human creativity teaching computers to, well, 'think'.
Understanding arrives in the form of playful puzzles (why AI sees your pooch as a pastry!), witty explanations, and charming drawings, from a guide passionate that AI's core ideas are for everyone.
Sundaresan helps you see AI's 'smarts' unfold by showing how a robot (eventually!) learns a dance, how it finds logic in 'king - man + woman = queen', or even cooks up faces so lifelike, you might recognize them. His signature doodles illuminate ideas, transforming baffling complexity into moments of pure, delightful clarity. From first building blocks to modern marvels like AI that chats, creates art, or decides what you buy, this book is your exhilarating ticket to understanding the AI age.

Author: Sairam Sundaresan
Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
Published: 10/30/2025
Pages: 256
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.82lbs
Size: 8.49h x 5.69w x 0.66d
ISBN: 9798881807955


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 08/25/2025

About the Author

Sairam Sundaresan is a seasoned Machine Learning Research Scientist with over 14 years of experience in the tech industry. He currently spearheads advanced AI projects at Valeo, managing a large team of researchers who teach automobiles to understand the world around them. Before this, he pioneered research at Intel Labs centered on deep learning algorithms, specifically algorithm-hardware co-design and multimodal models.

He began his career at Qualcomm as a Senior Machine Learning Engineer. Sairam's work on the development of Qualcomm's FastCV library, Touch to Track, and real-time 3D reconstruction on mobile devices earned significant recognition and was featured in Forbes. Some of this technology found its way into consumer devices.

His research work has earned him several patents and led to numerous publications.
An educator at heart, Sairam has served as a Machine Learning Lead and Mentor at the Frontier Development Lab (collaboration with NASA) since 2019. During this time, he has led
projects on understanding the Sun, focusing on Starspots, Solar Wind, and reconstructing its surface. The teams he mentored have achieved significant recognition, with their work accepted at high-profile conferences such as NeurIPS.

Passionate about making complex concepts accessible, Sairam created "Gradient Ascent," a weekly newsletter to demystify AI even for non-technical audiences. His skill at breaking down complex jargon has enabled a wide range of people to engage with the world of AI, from product managers at top tech companies to CEOs and analysts at premier VC funds.

Sairam is an alumnus of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, from where he holds a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering: Systems. There, he specialized in Computer Vision, Signal Processing, and Machine Learning. This academic foundation underpins his work, enabling him to integrate practical applications with a robust understanding of theoretical principles. Outside the lab, Sairam is an award-winning nature photographer, illustrator, and writer. These perspectives enhance his problem-solving approach and fuel his creativity.