My take on this: if you lack expertise in maths, you probably have functional expertise in one or several fields.

You can build a tool, projects and a company on the premise of "automating/improving field <X> through AI". What you lack in maths can be made up by your intimate knowledge of the field.

You will gradually improve your knowledge of maths and the day will come when you'll realise you are finally able to apply this knowledge to a field you know much less about.

That's pretty much what happened to me and the team I assembled for my current startup. Not bad in IT, not bad in e-commerce, decent in maths (as much as a double degree in EE & computer science goes: not an expert but can read maths written by others).

We started with a reduced functional scope, teamed with hardcore mathematicians, expanded our maths knowledge, expanded the functional scope, started writing our own maths, etc...

Like every skillset, learning maths is gradual. Don't expect to write the next "AI breakthrough research paper" tomorrow, but read and try to understand the whys and wherefores of trending stuff (which you'll often hear about here on HN).

It is a wide field. There are people building tools (obviously needing strong maths) and people applying tools to real-world problems. Don't get me wrong, you will benefit from learning math behind the concepts, but being a competent software developer is in itself a rare and valuable feature. Jump in, it's incredible what we can do. It's fun. :)

I work in this field. I can tell you that the maths involved is an easier (and more exciting) learning curve. A lot of software engineering already involves the tools necessary for getting good af math: example SVG transformations and matrix algebra, learning how to manipulate abstraction in operating systems etc.

I'd suggest an approach where you use your (presumably good) software engineering skills to join an engineering gig in a data science team. Then, gradually pick up tools, slowly pivoting into fully fledged ML/AI. It is definitely possible as a career path.

Can you use Excel?

The fast.ai course is very good.

Fortunately the AI riot police and soldiers will be far more effective at containing unrest than their human predecessors.