My Experience at SideQuest AI Bootcamp at Qassim University

I had the chance to join the SideQuest AI Bootcamp at Qassim University, led by students Saud Al-Ashrah and Khalid Al-Humaidan, under the guidance of Dr. Mohammed Al-Suhaibani, Head of the Computer Science Department. It was a powerful three-day experience that opened my eyes to the real-world potential of AI.

Dr. Mohammed Al-Suhaibani presenting a session on deep learning and the architecture behind ChatGPT.

Learning AI from Scratch

We started with the basics of machine learning, learning about different algorithms and applying them in hands-on exercises. Although I had no prior experience in AI, my curiosity pushed me to keep going — and I quickly fell in love with the process.

First Day

We Built a Digit Recognition Model!

One of the coolest parts of the bootcamp was building an AI model that recognizes handwritten digits. For example, we drew the number 1, and the model correctly predicted it. It was so exciting to see our code working in real-time.

An AI model successfully predicting a handwritten digit using a trained neural network.

Deep Learning, ChatGPT & Real Advice

On the final day, we had a session with Dr. Mohammed Al-Suhaibani about deep learning and how ChatGPT works. He addressed the big question: “Will AI replace programmers?” —

His answer was both honest and empowering:

If you stay stagnant, maybe. But if you evolve and use AI as a tool rather than a threat, you’ll always stay one step ahead.

That message stayed with me.

AI + Camera: Seeing the World Through Code

Another exciting part of the bootcamp was using AI with a camera to recognize real-world objects. We worked with computer vision models that could detect and label items like bottles, people, chairs — all in real time using just a webcam and Python code.

It was amazing to see how the model could instantly identify what’s in front of the camera with bounding boxes and confidence scores. It felt like we were giving sight to machines!

Real-time object detection using the YOLO algorithm, successfully identifying a cup and a person among other objects through a live camera feed.

YOLO model detecting and recognizing a person in real time, showcasing the power of computer vision for human detection.

Kaggle Challenge Experience

As part of the bootcamp, I participated individually in a Kaggle competition focused on predicting hotel booking cancellations using machine learning. Although it was my first time working on this type of challenge, I was eager to test what I had learned.

From the very first submission, my model achieved an accuracy of 0.77, which was an encouraging and motivating result. It gave me the confidence to keep experimenting and improving.

Kaggle Result

Certification

Upon completing the program, I received a certificate of participation in the SideQuest AI Bootcamp at Qassim University, recognizing my involvement in hands-on training in machine learning, deep learning, and applied AI projects.

Certificate

Final Thoughts

This bootcamp sparked my interest in AI and gave me the confidence to keep learning. It wasn’t just about code — it was about building something real. And now, I’m excited for what’s next.