Careers in Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence has been integrated into our daily lives although we may be unaware of it. A number of manual processes have been automated to make them faster and more effective. For example, digital assistants such as Siri on smartphones, chatbots on Facebook and other websites, product recommendations on e-commerce sites and spam-recognising email systems are all forms of artificial intelligence! 

Who are the people behind these intelligent processes and how did they get those positions? 

What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)?

AI is defined as a branch of computer science that creates intelligent machines to carry out human functions. These machines are programmed to have human skills such as knowledge, reasoning, problem-solving, perception, learning, planning and the ability to manipulate and move objects. 

Two important elements within AI are data science and machine learning. The former is needed as a large amount of data is needed for machines to function like humans. On the other hand, machine learning focuses on the development of programs that allow machines to access and interpret data independently.

Academic Pathway

In Malaysia, AI is usually embedded in computer science-related courses at undergraduate level. For example, a Bachelor in Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence. Individuals interested in having a career in AI can pursue an undergraduate degree in Information Systems, Software Engineering, Information Technology, Data Science and Information Systems, among others. 

A typical Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence programme will cover topics such as computer vision, expert systems, heuristic optimisation, the history and philosophy of artificial intelligence, intelligent agents, machine learning and neural networks.

As AI is an emerging and fast-changing field, individuals can sign up for professional training in AI via courses online or at learning centres. Professional qualifications in AI in addition to a computer science background are highly valuable and will attract many employers. 

Job Roles in Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Job opportunities in AI are plenty as the demand for AI skills are at an all-time high. More and more companies are transforming digitally to create exciting products  and cater to new markets. There are AI positions in industries such as technology & telecommunications, business services, financial services, engineering, manufacturing, automotive and e-commerce.  

Some of the popular jobs in AI are Machine Learning Engineer, Business Intelligence Developer, AI Researcher, Data Scientist and Data Analyst. A machine learning engineer is skilled in modern programming languages whereas business intelligence developers design and maintain complex data in cloud-based platforms. Those in charge of collecting and analysing massive amounts of data are the data scientists and analysts. Other positions in AI include Virtual Reality Engineer, Cybersecurity Engineer and Blockchain Engineer.

The Skills You Need

A strong background in various levels of mathematics (algebra, calculus, logic and algorithms, probability and statistics) and physics are important when it comes to AI. These skills are the foundation when it comes to learning more specialised areas such as machine learning, natural language processing, neural networks, analytics and cloud computing. In addition, individuals who want a career in AI need to be creative, analytical, and complex decision-making problem solvers. 

The increasing prevalence of AI will cause many jobs we know today to become obsolete. However, many new jobs will be created because of AI and the demand for it will continue to grow in the years to come. If you are interested in AI, now is the best time to pursue it!