To work in Artificial Intelligence field
A student asked: “As a second-year computer student, I like to learn more about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and work in this field after graduation. What do I need to prepare for a career in AI? Please advise.”
Answer: “Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a relatively new field with a lot of potential and promises but it is still evolving and nobody knows what will happen next. However, there are several things that you can do to prepare for it now and no matter how the field changes, you will be readied.
First, you need to develop strong programming skills, especially in Python and Java. Second, you need to improve your mathematics skills, especially statistics. Third, take at least three or four courses in Machine learning, a subset of the AI field. If your school does not teach these courses, you may want to learn in the Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) such as edX or Coursera. I think machine learning is the most important area that will have a direct impact on all AI works in the future.
As a computer student, you learn about Data structures, Algorithms, and programming languages, but to succeed in AI, you need to have a strong knowledge and skills in machine learning. You need to go beyond the theories and concepts to develop a deep understanding of machine learning as well as the possibilities and limitations of what it can or cannot. Today, with the availability of fast computers, frameworks such as Tensorflow or Pytorch, as well as publicly available data, anyone who wants to develop machine learning skills can practice it relatively easier than a few years ago. Since machine learning is a high demand skill, this is the best time to learn and develop your skills to prepare for the AI works when you graduate.
