Artificial Intelligence Careers – Top 4 Jobs to Go for

AI is undoubtedly one of the hottest and most debated topics in the field of technology. While the implications of artificial intelligence for industries around the world are enormous, many consider that AI will lead to a large-scale displacement of jobs in the near future. Here we will discuss some of the artificial intelligence careers which will always be in demand.

However, a 2017 study report by Gartner predicts that by 2020, AI will create 500,000 more jobs than it will displace. Again, according to a Capgemini report, 83% of organizations using AI maintain that it has already started to create new artificial intelligence jobs. There’s no denying that the scope of artificial intelligence careers is only getting broader as we’re getting accustomed to more and more data. Today, every imaginable domain is looking to leverage the power of machine learning and overhaul its operations.

David Hanson, the founder of Hanson Robotics, is of the view that AI is still very much a developing field:

“…I think that AI now is at a stage where it’s still an infant. Still, you know, cognitively a baby in most ways. And in fact, it’s not even as smart as a baby in many ways.”

Be it for good or for bad, one thing is clear – AI is here to stay. And that means, there’s a rising opportunity for building a promising career in AI. The artificial intelligence jobs will only increase with each passing day, as our world opens up to newer possibilities.

How To Get Ready for Artificial Intelligence Сareers?

According to Obed Louissaint, IBM’s VP of HR, qualifications aside, one must have two things to be successful in Artificial Intelligence careers- curiosity, and passion. He states:

“We are at the cusp of something that is going to be with us for the next several decades. It requires a curiosity of thinking about how technology is going to really augment human intelligence and help solve the world’s toughest problems through machine learning. Passion is also very important.”

Online courses are your greatest friends

The Internet is swarming with online MOOCs (Massive Online Open Courses) and Artificial Intelligence Courses that can be an excellent guide for AI training.  You can also check out sites such as Udacity, Coursera, and Edx to get access to some of the best courses in AI. These platforms have courses that cover every basic concept of AI – introduction to AI, automatic driving, machine learning (ML), and Neuronal Networks.

Apart from online courses, tools such as  TensorFlow – Google’s open-source AI library and  Microsoft’s Cognitive Toolkit are also very helpful in walking you through the basics of AI.

Networking is the way to go in order to get artificial intelligence careers

Attending AI conferences is an excellent way to meet talented individuals and expand your network. These events are not only incredible sources of learning, but they also help you make invaluable connections.

AI conferences allow you to stay updated about the field, which is evolving so rapidly. Jana Eggers, CEO of Nara Logics maintains:

“My advice to those interested in working in AI is to network, attend events, and follow industry news closely—become part of the industry conversation. It is the best way for you to assess your fit with a company, as well as to learn of professional opportunities.”

You can also choose to get involved with organizations like DataKind that encourage P2P learning and thereby allow you to sharpen your data and ML skills.

Learn, learn, and learn!

As is true of any discipline, reading and learning about new stuff is always welcome in the AI arena. Stressing the importance of reading, artificial intelligence professor at the University of New South Wales, Toby Walsh says:

“The real trick is to read. Read a lot. Not just your own area but all the related areas. And a few things even more distant.”

The more you read, the more expansive your knowledge gets. Keep yourself updated about the latest progress made in the field of AI such as AI-powered innovations, how AI is continually changing industries around the world, and what are the implications of AI and ML for our future.

Have an insatiable thirst for knowledge. That’s how you’ll go up the ladder!

What Are Artificial Intelligence  Opportunities?

Although AI demands a standard skill set and knowledge on software engineering background (coding, mathematics, computational thinking), IEEE maintains that many turns to this intelligence field from other disciplines, such as Biology. So, essentially, agility and flexibility is the key to mastering AI.

Artificial Intelligence Careers: AI or ML Researcher

Usually, an AI or ML researcher needs to hold an advanced degree, that is, either a Masters degree or a Ph.D. in a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) field. Their work is to research and discover new ways to improve ML and AI algorithms, after which they need to test the practical applications of those theories.

Artificial Intelligence Careers: AI Software Developer

This position is ideal for individuals who possess a graduate and undergraduate degree in related fields (computer science and software engineering). Since they have a solid foundation of mathematics, they can understand the algorithms of AI and robotics and design infrastructures that can apply ML to particular data sets.

Artificial Intelligence Careers: Data Analysts

With such a massive amount of data at our disposal today, it has become crucial to analyze this data to reveal the beneficial patterns in them. This is where data analysts come in. A data analyst’s job is to elicit valuable information from large chunks of data, filter that information, and finally analyze the data using structural analysis. By doing so, a data analyst renders the once incomprehensible data into formats that companies can understand and utilize efficiently.

Artificial Intelligence Careers: Data Scientists

A data scientist is an upgraded version of a data analyst. Essentially they are data analysts who also possess high-level technical skills to solve complex problems. Data scientists combine the best of both worlds – business and IT. While the strongest skill set of data scientists is analytics, they need to be able to use this skill in combination with statistical and ML tools to uncover the true potential of Big Data.

AI is still an emerging field. Future developments in AI will bring with them a pool of career options for the millennials who’re not afraid to tread in untamed waters.