HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Artificial intelligence is rapidly evolving and there are concerns about how it will affect employment.
Action 13 contacted the Texas Workforce Commission and said some existing jobs may change as workers spend less time on tasks that can be automated and more time on tasks that cannot be automated. .
The agency is already hiring for new AI-related positions, including prompt engineers, AI researchers, machine learning engineers, natural language processing engineers, and AI ethicists.
That is consistent with what Dr. Hong Lin said he noticed.
Lin directs the Artificial Intelligence master's program at the University of Houston-Downtown. He is also a professor of computer science and engineering technology.
“AI engineers are probably the most widely used,” Lin told ABC13. “AI is so widely used in many fields that jobs with various titles may actually be AI roles. There is a possibility that
For example, in the business field, a role might be called “Business Intelligence Engineer.” There may also be a position in healthcare called a “biomedical information analyst.”
Lin also predicts that the workforce will change, but it could be gradual.
“Some jobs may disappear as they are replaced by machines, but new jobs may emerge,” Lin explained.
TWC said some areas will be less disrupted.
“Jobs that require creativity, relationship building, high dexterity and problem-solving will be the most difficult, if not impossible, to automate,” TWC said in a statement. “These include nurses, teachers (especially vocational education), care assistants, plumbers, electricians, mechanics, etc.”
Jobs that do not meet these standards may evolve, the agency added.
That's why Kara Branch encourages people to get ready to upskill.
“Let's learn what AI is, what it does, how it collects information, and how it can help us in our lives,” Branch said of AI. “Build your portfolio and show them what you’ve done with AI, so they can look at your work and decide whether to hire you for their company. ”
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Blanche is a chemical engineer who worked on all things AI at a Fortune 100 company. She currently runs Black Girls Do Engineer, her STEM program for girls ages 6 to 21. She not only teaches you how to use her AI, but also reminds you that it is still humans who power it.
Her nonprofit is also focused on the future, with the goal of exposing students to specific career paths, hands-on learning, and enrichment programs that prepare them for college and employment.
In addition, BGDE will spend a month learning AI, and some of its activities include imaging and creating an artificial intelligence gallery.
“You're building this, you're programming robots, you're doing all this work, but who's doing it? And they have to think about it. It's me! So… There are people behind it,” she said. she said.
But another key element, Branch explained, is ensuring a diverse workforce among the people behind the AI technology, especially in training bots to counter bias.
“I work with a lot of Black women in STEM fields, so I asked the question once. I'm asking for data on that, and I'm not getting any. That's the problem,” she said. . “I feel like in order to be able to get that data, we need to use algorithms that can understand that that's the data that people want and need.”
“We need to train more people of color, give them exposure, give them the awareness that these careers exist, and be able to put them into someone else's company or into our own company. “There is,” she continued.
Human resources are needed in various places. Key areas where demand for AI skills has increased over the past four years include communication, problem solving, operations, research, and software engineering. As of March, Texas ranked fourth in the nation for job openings where AI is a component of the role.
TWC said there is no data yet reflecting major changes in AI jobs in Houston, and it may take time to see trends.
Read more: 'People don't realize the innovation happening here' AI plays a role in Houston's oil and gas industry
However, the reality is that AI is not going away.
And if you're not ready to commit to learning about technology and how it works, there are free resources available.
LinkedIn, Microsoft, and Intel all offer free online courses. Google and MIT offer free courses for educators.
“This is a great tool, and that's what people don't understand. When you talk about AI, they get kind of scared,” said graduate student Ame Stevenson. “But AI is first and foremost a tool. Think specifically in the medical field. How long does it take for a doctor or group of doctors to determine that what they're seeing on a scan is a breast? ”The more data we can bring in and instantly analyze, the faster we can get to that anomaly, the better for us. ”
Here are some ways to improve your AI skills for the future job market. The roles that experts predict will be the most difficult to replace.
Stevenson, a NASA contractor, went back to school to earn a master's degree in artificial intelligence at UHD.
“We're really in the early stages of this application, so it's a little difficult to predict,” Stevenson said. “I feel the most important thing is education. Don't be afraid. Always keep your eyes open. Change is always present. You have to keep pushing yourself.”
Read more: Houston Community College to offer first four-year bachelor's degree program starting this fall
UHD launched a two-year AI program in 2022. The first students must graduate this semester.
“The goal of our program is to train people to be well prepared for career development in AI,” Lin said. “So we're trying to build a foundation for them to develop their AI skills.”
“In almost every industry, you can find problems that AI can solve,” he added.
Houston Community College and Lone Star College also offer programs in artificial intelligence.
More about AI: How AI-enabled handheld ultrasound can save lives for mothers and babies
Artificial intelligence is helping pregnant women and their care teams through AI-enabled ultrasound called Butterfly.
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