Artificial intelligence (AI) is a broad field of computer science that focuses on designing smart machines that simulate the human thinking and behaviour to perform tasks that would require human intelligence. Artificial intelligence aims at teaching machines to understand the human mind to think and behave like humans.
The birth of artificial intelligence has led to the introduction of self-driving cars, digital assistants and other automated robotic systems. These technologies minimize the occurrences of human error and are likely to steadily advance in the coming years, replacing a lot of jobs currently occupied by humans.
The entire concept of artificial intelligence was conceived from the need to create smart technologies that can perform tasks more efficiently with advanced human intelligence.
Organizations across all industries are gradually embracing artificial intelligence and as a result, the current demand for professionals with skills in artificial intelligence surpasses the availability of these professionals. This current gap between the demand for professionals in AI and its supply means that there are limitless career opportunities for graduates to explore in AI research and development.
Skills needed in Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence covers a wide range of functions such as machine learning, data science, and business intelligence.
A professional in artificial intelligence would be required to work closely with the electric engineering and robotics team and is typically involved in roles similar to any of the following, depending on the level of experience and specialty:
• Research and developing appropriate machine learning algorithm.
• Modelling data science prototypes.
• Selection of suitable datasets and data representation techniques for data analysis.
Unlike other industries, artificial intelligence is still very much an emerging field. Graduates looking to start a career in this field must therefore be eager to learn new things and be confident in their decision to build a career in artificial intelligence. While deciding to start a career in artificial intelligence, one must first understand the technical and non-technical skills needed to become a professional.
Some of the technical skills needed in artificial intelligence to design, maintain and repair technology and software programs are:
• Proficiency in programming languages like R, Python, Java, and C++ to understand concepts in data analysis.
• Vast knowledge of Statistics, Linear Algebra and Calculus to understand machine learning algorithm and functions.
• Good control and working knowledge of tools and systems for natural language processing.
A.I requires professionals to interact and work efficiently with others, as such, the following non-technical skills are necessary for these professionals to succeed in AI:
• Communication skills: Having impressive communication skills is very necessary for professionals in artificial intelligence as they would need to explain certain concepts to professionals outside the field in a language that is less technical and easy to understand.
• Creativity and critical thinking: Artificial intelligence requires specialists who can use their findings to come up with creative and insightful solutions to challenges. Professionals in this emerging industry use analytical thought process to design cost-effective and efficient solutions.
• Industry knowledge: Professionals in artificial intelligence need to have in-depth knowledge regarding the field they specialize in to understand new developments or challenges and how AI systems can be introduced in solving these challenges.
How to acquire the skills needed in Artificial Intelligence
Currently, there is an overwhelming demand for professionals skilled with A.I knowledge; therefore, graduates are being encouraged to acquire the skills and qualification to break into any of the careers in A.I.
Typically, an entry role in artificial intelligence requires at least a Bachelor’s degree in mathematics, statistics, computer science, engineering or related field. Roles that involve leadership and supervision, however, would require a postgraduate degree that offers specialization in artificial intelligence.
Individuals already practicing in the IT industry who are interested in pursuing a career in AI can fine-tune their technical skills by learning the current technologies and gaining the required qualification. These technical skills can be acquired without having a Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related fields.
For beginners who want to acquire in-depth practical and theoretical knowledge on the industry’s concept, there is the option of taking online programs from accredited institutions providing AI certifications. These online programs are designed by industry experts to prepare individuals specifically for fields in artificial intelligence by providing job-ready skills and real-world experiences to anyone looking to learn or improve their skills in AI.
Online Courses in Artificial Intelligence
These online programs for learning AI have become very accessible and are very comprehensive with some adopting the curriculum of an equivalent university degree.
Some of the top online courses on artificial intelligence for different levels of professionals are listed below:
Learn with Google AI: This free course led by Google is a collection of tutorial guides and resources designed by experts to provide foundational skills and knowledge in artificial intelligence. Its resources can be modified to suit the interests of both beginners and more experienced learners. This Google-led initiative offers a wide range of courses to develop a broad understanding of the technical and non-technical aspect of AI.
Stanford University Machine Learning (Coursera): Created by Andrew Ng, the world’s most renowned expert in AI and machine learning, this course gives a solid foundation in concepts of mathematics, statistics and computer science that would be adopted in learning the basis of artificial intelligence.
Artificial Intelligence A-Z: Learn How To Build An AI – Udemy: This is a completely hands-on course by Udemy that teaches how to adopt concepts of machine learning, data science and deep learning in creating AI for real-world applications through practical steps.
AI for Everyone – Andrew Ng (Coursera): This course from Andrew Ng is designed for learners who do not need an in-depth technical knowledge of artificial intelligence but want to learn how to leverage tools of AI in their organization. This course also provides a platform for professionals in AI with technical backgrounds to learn the business aspects of AI.
Intro to Artificial Intelligence – Udacity: This AI course from Udacity covers the fundamentals of statistics and logic as well as specific uses of AI, explaining concepts of robotics, computer vision, and natural language processing and how they are applied in AI.
Careers in A.I
Getting skilled in AI guarantees a promising career in the industry as the possible applications of AI continues to increase with companies like Google, Amazon and a host of startup artificial intelligence firms recruiting professionals with an advanced technical background and extensive hands-on experience. Professionals with these skills are likely to land a position in any of these AI roles:
• Machine Learning Engineer: This is one of the most common careers in the AI industry. Machine learning engineers develop algorithms to be used to process and analyze large amounts of real-time data to make machine learning models more accurate. Professionals in this role have strong software skills and can adopt predictive models and leverage natural language processing while working with huge data sets.
• Data Scientist: This role involves collecting, analyzing and interpreting large, complex data by using predictive analysis and algorithm tools to extract useful insights for strategic decision making. Specialists in this field are required to have experience in using Big Data platforms and a strong hand in programming languages
• Research Scientist: Research scientists are typically skilled in multiple artificial intelligence disciplines that allow them to design and analyze data from controlled laboratory-based trials.
• Business Intelligence Developer: Business intelligence is also another field of AI that is in high demand. Business intelligence developers analyze complex data to identify current business trends to design and maintain models that would increase an organization’s profitability and efficiency. These professionals must have experience in data mining, strong technical, problem solving and analytical skills.
You may also like: How to Become an Artificial Intelligence Specialist
