“We are at the beginning of a golden age of AI. Recent advancements have already led to an invention that previously lived in the realm of science fiction – and we have only scratched the surface of what’s possible”
Jeff Bezos, Amazon CEO
We already know that Artificial Intelligence is an emerging technical trend today. A new IDC research report says that the contribution of digital workers like software robots is going to increase by 50% by 2022.
A Gartner report says that Artificial Intelligence or AI is going to create 2.3 million jobs in 2020 and will eliminate 1.8 million jobs. In recent years, the demand for professionals skilled in AI has doubled. It also states that the business value created by AI is going to shoot up to USD 3.9 trillion by 2022.
So, what do these captivating figures tell you? These make you realize how emerging AI techniques are. AI is going to affect us in many ways, most of which we are not even aware of. Our smartphone, which has become an essential part of our life, gives many examples of artificial intelligence. You can ask it to make a call for you, send a message or even remind you of the birthdays of your loved ones. All these are examples of AI implications in our daily life.
You would surely wish to learn such an interesting technique. Let us learn more about Artificial Intelligence for beginners.
What is Artificial Intelligence?
The techniques that make machines mimic human behavior are referred to as Artificial Intelligence. There are some tasks that a machine can do on its own, as in, speech recognition, decision making, visual perception, etc. they no longer need human intervention.
So we can say that a machine is programmed in such a way that makes it simulate human intelligence.
Since Artificial Intelligence is continuing to invade different verticals, it makes clear that the future in AI is going to grow higher.
Who is an Artificial Intelligence Engineer?
An Artificial Intelligence Engineer works for the advancement of technologies by working with machine learning algorithms, neural networks, and other tools. Most of the top industries use Artificial Intelligence in order to make their business reach new heights. Industries like finance, healthcare, food supplies, retail, management, transportation, and many other industries are hiring AI professionals to make their business reach new heights.
An AI engineer creates, tests, and implements AI models and manages AI infrastructure. As an AI engineer, you need to go through traditional software models as well as Machine Learning models.
AI has so many fascinating features, you would like to dive into how to make a career in AI. Let us go through the process.
How to become an AI Engineer?
Educational Prerequisites.
Let us first look at the prerequisites to become an AI engineer. Some basic requirements may include:
- A bachelor’s degree in any of the fields like Computer Science, IT, Data Science, Finance, Statistics, Mathematics, or Economics.
- A Master’s Degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, Cognitive Science, Data Science, etc.
- Certifications in Data Science, Machine Learning, etc.
Apart from the basic educational prerequisites, there are some technical and non-technical skills you need to master in order to start a career in AI.
Technical / Non-Technical Skills Required.
The technical skills required are:
- Programming Languages
You need to be proficient in some of the programming languages to become a successful AI engineer. The programming languages include Python, Java, C++, Lisp, Prolog, etc. You can start with any language according to the learning curve that would help you start a career in AI.
Learning Python is necessary because of its versatility, clear syntax, simplicity, and a huge library. Though learning Python is a must, it is not enough.
You are required to learn Java, R, and C++ so as to learn and create more algorithms.
- Natural Language Processing or NLP
Natural Language Processing refers to the process of integrating computer science, information engineering, linguistics, and AI into one system and programming that system in such a way that it can analyze large datasets. This makes it clear that you need to work extensively on NLP that includes language, audio, and video processing by utilizing a variety of NLP libraries and tools available.
- Statistics/Calculus/Algebra
For any algorithm, statistics form the backbone. It is crucial to have a thorough knowledge of statistics, calculus, algebra, and probability to boost your AI program because your AI program depends on the type of algorithm you write.
- Algorithms and Applied Mathematics
It is clear that AI requires you to work on algorithms, either you build one or you work on an existing one. So, to hold your grip on algorithms, the knowledge of Applied Mathematics is a must. The areas that require the knowledge of Applied Mathematics are Quadratic Programming, Gradient Descent, Lagrange, etc.
- Neural networks
A neural network is a system that may include hardware or software and works like a human brain. The concept of artificial neural networks is based on the functionality of the human brain. Being applicable in many areas like commercial and business, you will need to solve problems like facial recognition, handwriting recognition, etc.
Now let us move towards the non-technical skills you need to master to become an AI engineer.
- Analytical Skills
You need to fine-tune your analytical skills, as an AI engineer, because you have to master in working with numbers and data. You may also come across the situations when you need to question the data analytics team regarding the feasibility of the data and brainstorm the stakeholders.
- Communication Skills
As an AI engineer, you need to have effective communication and collaboration skills so that you can explain the concepts of AI and ML to the concerned people with the least idea about AI. Also, you are answerable to the stakeholders about the critical problem-solving approach. So efficient communication skills are a must-have for an AI expert.
- Rapid Prototyping
There can be numerous ideas you need to choose from, which may include selection of the right model, NLP libraries, etc. You must be able to use various techniques in order to create realistic scale models rapidly.
- Industry Knowledge
The most common and successful AI projects require you to work on the front and solve vulnerable points. So, regardless of the type of industry you are working in, it is crucial for you to be aware of the customers, market and how the core business functions. To leverage your technical skills, you need to possess business acumen so as to translate your technical ideas into a successful business model.
Salary prospects of an AI Engineer
An average annual salary of an AI Engineer at an entry-level in the US is $71,600 and that in India is INR 1,400,000. For experienced professionals, it may go up to USD 248,625. In India, senior-level AI Engineer earns up to INR 5,000,000 per year.
Conclusion
With such an innovative field, that brushes up your knowledge and skills on a regular basis, AI surely can be the career of your dreams. Moreover, the salary prospects of an AI expert are so good that anyone would wish to make a career in this field. The fact is that AI is here to stay with no hope of fading away because we are getting more and more equipped with AI around us.
To start with, the online training providers are there to help you with an entrance to the field of AI. All you need is to choose the best training provider and rest assured that they will take care of making your preparation relaxing and accommodating.
Read also: IIT Hyderabad Starts B.Tech Course in Artificial Intelligence(Opens in a new browser tab)
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