Technology

Here’s why more students should focus on artificial intelligence

AI career paths

Young people who are going to be leaving school and starting their tertiary education studies soon might be wondering what career paths they should focus on. And for anyone who is in touch with what is happening in the world and future technology trends, the answer should be obvious. Artificial intelligence. Literally changing the way our world operates, we’re all dealing with aspects of this tech daily and likely don’t even know it.

The harsh reality of youth unemployment

Youth unemployment globally is reaching higher levels than ever and is set to continue increasing this year. Research by the International Labor Organization shows unemployment is set to increase by half a million this year to reach 71 million – the first such increase in three years. Also of concern is the high level of youth who are employed but still live in extreme or moderate poverty. A staggering 40 percent of youth fall into this bracket.

So, what are the best options for young people who are able to better their circumstances through education and employment? The unfortunate reality is that having been educated is no longer a guarantee of employment. Perhaps, the system can be manipulated to ensure young people have a greater likelihood of being employed? And part of that is knowing what industries and technologies are up and coming to get a foot in the door from the ground level.

The path to Silicon Valley lies in artificial intelligence

For many years, the need to study STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) subjects has been emphasized. But now those in these industries are taking things a step further. They’re particularly emphasizing the need for subjects – math engineering, computer science, economics and neuroscience – which will assist students in beginning their career path in machine learning.

Facebook, which uses artificial intelligence to analyze your online behavior to figure out what you like and scrutinize your photos so it knows who to tag, recommends university students work with a professor with experience in these fields. It also suggests students befriend a PhD student who has a little more time on their hands and knowledge to share, and try to find an internship in this industry so they can leave university with some on the job knowledge. In addition, to really put themselves ahead of the pack, students should try to release a piece of open source code before they’ve left campus.

Where do people with these skills work?

Just about every industry needs employees with skills in AI. From agriculture to medicine, AI is no longer one of many future technology trends. It’s happening right now, in those offices and in those laboratories. According to the IEEE, an organization which seeks to advance technology for humanity, thousands of openings in artificial intelligence and machine learning posted on job boards are going unfilled. AI is one of the fastest growing areas for high-tech professionals but one in which there are far too many unqualified engineers.

Research has found that Apple, Google, and IBM are all top employers in this industry. And who wouldn’t want to put one of those company names on their resume? In addition, universities are poached of their AI stars as these corporations fulfill their need for staffers. Tech firms are now investing massive money in ensuring education and research at these universities continue.

Says the Economist: "And tech firms could help to do even more to develop and replace talent, for example by endowing more professorships and offering more grants to researchers. Tech firms have the cash to do so, and the motivation. In Silicon Valley it is talent, not money, that is the scarcest resource."

 

As mentioned, we’re all using artificial intelligence without realizing it. Next time you’re on Facebook and it suggests you tag yourself and your friends in photos, realize you could be part of the next big moment in artificial intelligence. Have a look at our new offering, Clickatell Touch. It’s an example of using chatbots to improve the efficiency of your business’ call center. Touch uses a combination of chatbots, online chats, and machine learning to ensure speedy and effective resolution to your clients’ queries.

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