Apparatus and methods for autonomously shifting a downhole sliding sleeve. A shift tool includes a shifter arm, an artificial neural network, and a control circuit. The artificial neural network is trained to identify engagement of the shifter arm with a shifting feature of a sliding sleeve. The control circuit is configured to extend the shifter arm at a first pressure for seeking engagement with the shifting feature of the sliding sleeve, and responsive to the artificial neural network recognizing engagement of the shifter arm with the shifting feature of the sliding sleeve, extend the shifter arm at a second pressure for shifting the sliding sleeve.