Modern artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning may not be the same technology you see in the latest sci-fi movies, but they’re still profoundly changing our lives. They’re responsible for the recommendations you get on shopping sites, streaming services, personal digital assistants, self-driving cars, and more.
If you’re considering a job in machine learning, you’ll be in demand. Since AI is a revolutionary technology used in almost every industry, there are also many exciting and high-paying directions you can take in your career.
What is AI and machine learning?
AI is the ability of computer systems to mimic human mental functions, such as problem solving and learning. Computer systems use logic and mathematics to mimic the way people learn new information and make decisions.
Machine learning (ML) is a subset of AI that uses mathematical models of data to train computers to learn and act based on past experience. Over time, machine learning models adapt to new data on which they are trained, making better decisions and predictions.
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Careers in AI and ML
The first thing to note is that careers in AI pay well, and machine learning engineers are in high demand. But there are more jobs than people needed to fill them. According to Glassdoor, the average salary for a machine learning engineer is $125,763, with a range of $91,000 to $189,000.
As a machine learning engineer, you can choose to work in any industry or field you can think of and help drive their digital transformation. We are only at the beginning of AI. There is still much to discover.
Augmented reality and virtual reality
Machine learning and AI are an integral part of VR (virtual reality) and AR (augmented reality). Both technologies use AI to recognize and track a user’s hand movements as they interact with a virtual or augmented world.
natural language processing
Natural language processing (NLP) is the ability of computer systems to understand human language, both spoken and written. We use machine learning and AI to do this, enabling technologies like Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant, and chatbots.
transportation
In the future, many of the vehicles we use to get around will be self-driving. Machine learning for self-driving cars is complex and requires many things to be considered, such as detecting road signs, objects on the road, traffic laws, etc.
health care
In the healthcare field, machine learning and AI can detect patterns in medical records and patient data related to health conditions and diagnose diseases faster. Machine learning is also being used to discover new drugs.
finance
In finance, AI and machine learning are used to detect fraudulent transactions. AI is also used in algorithmic trading, where global markets are analyzed and trading decisions are made by computers.
Start
There are many careers in AI and machine learning, but getting into this field requires a little preparation. A computer science degree is helpful, but a strong portfolio and programming experience will increase your chances of landing a machine learning job.
Luckily, there are plenty of ways to showcase your programming experience, build your portfolio, and deepen your understanding of machine learning and AI, from free machine learning courses like those offered by Google to machine learning contests like those found on Kaggle. The demand for machine learning professionals will only continue to grow, so there’s never been a better time to get started.
