Sometimes, people like to begin with a plan. For Ayushi Ajay Walia, the journey into AI didn’t begin that way. It began, like it did for many of us, with curiosity and a little bit of uncertainty.

In 2022, when ChatGPT first launched, she was still a student, experimenting with it for college work.

“I just tried it — like most people did — to see how it works.”

At that point, AI was a booming tool. Something interesting. Something new for her. But not yet something she saw herself building a career in.

A Pause, Then a Push Forward

Ayushi’s academic path was already aligned with technology. With a background in computer engineering and a master’s in analytics and applied machine intelligence, she understood the landscape.

At one point, she pivoted toward digital marketing, and AI took a back seat. But even then, she found herself exploring it in quieter ways—experimenting with AI tools, testing prompts, and working with image generation workflows that blended technical thinking with creativity.

“I was thinking, what’s next for me? Should I continue in this field or not?”

What followed was a series of nudges from friends and the people around her.

“They kept telling me, you’ve studied this, you’ve worked on it, just give it a try.”

There was one hesitation, though.

“I didn’t like coding,” she admitted.

So, instead of forcing herself into a role that didn’t fit, she adjusted her direction by moving toward AI in product, where she could focus on understanding users, workflows, and problems.

The Moment It Became Real

Her first attempt was an automation workflow to generate user personas from raw research data—something she needed for her product work.

The first day, it didn’t work.

“I was like, okay, let it be. I don’t want to try again.”

But the next day, she sat down again. This time, she finished it.

That moment—quiet, uncelebrated, but persistent—marked the beginning of her real AI journey.

Building One Project at a Time

From there, things started to move quickly. She began working on projects consistently:

• User Persona Automation Tool: Reduced product research timelines from a month to just two weeks.

• TripGuard: An AI-powered travel intelligence concept that provides real-time safety and travel alerts.

• Reddit GTM Intelligence: A tool utilizing Reddit data to generate valuable Go-To-Market insights.

• Mythology Storytelling App: An interactive app rooted in Hindu mythology, designed to help children stay connected to cultural values.

Each project reflected her curiosity, identity, and a desire to make AI feel meaningful.

“I believe AI should reflect more of our stories, not just the ones that mean nothing.”

Navigating the Noise

Like many people entering the AI space today, Ayushi found herself initially overwhelmed.

“There were so many models, so many tools… I didn’t know where to start.”

The pressure to keep up, to know everything, and to use the “right” tools was constant. Her solution was to simplify.

“Let’s just focus on one part and move ahead with it.”

And that became her approach: choosing one specific area, blocking out the noise, and going deep.

Today, Ayushi works as an AI Product Analyst, where her focus is less on building models and more on understanding how AI fits into real, everyday workflows. Her toolkit is practical and evolving, utilizing tools like Gamma and Claude for rapid prototyping and experimentation.

For her, tools are secondary to utility.

“What matters is what works for you — not what others recommend.”

Finding Community

Ayushi first came across Women Applying AI through a tagged post for a meetup.

At first, she wondered whether she would fit in. Many members brought decades of industry experience, while she was still early in her career and building her path. But instead of feeling out of place, she found the mix of generations energizing.

“I feel like I belong here. I feel appreciated. Their experience and my vision — it completes the story for me.”

For her, the community became a space where learning is truly collaborative.

The Takeaway

Ayushi’s story isn’t about having it all figured out from day one. It’s about starting anyway.

In a space that moves incredibly fast and often feels overwhelming, her “why” with AI is refreshingly simple:

• To keep building.

• To keep learning.

• And to make the journey a little easier for the next person.