Top Career Paths Utilising AI: A Guide for Aspiring Professionals

AI is transforming industries across the globe. The world as we once knew it has evolved, and now, machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) have embedded themselves deeply into almost every career field.

While some careers are considered “AI careers,” where AI is the central focus, others utilise AI as a tool to enhance and optimise processes.

In this article, we will explore the top AI careers—roles that primarily focus on developing and working with AI technology—and careers that use AI to assist in everyday tasks.

But before exploring these careers, let us first understand artificial intelligence and why it is becoming increasingly critical in the job market.

What is artificial intelligence (AI), and why is it becoming important in the job market?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the process of making machines or computers think like humans.

These machines use machine learning to “learn” how humans behave, talk, and make decisions and mimic these behaviours.

Unlike humans, these machines can process a lot of data in seconds, making them much faster at providing an output.

For example, in the job market industry, AI can sift through an entire database of job applications and find candidates who best fit the job description.

Many careers primarily focus on using and developing AI and are seen as “AI careers,” while others only use AI to aid in faster results. Let us have a look at these. 

Top 5 AI Careers 

There are many different AI careers that you can consider pursuing if you are fascinated by technology, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. Below is a list of the most popular careers to consider. 

1. Data Scientist

As the name suggests, data scientists primarily work with data. These professionals collect, analyse, and use data to help companies make better decisions. 

To be a good data scientist, you must have specific data analytics and programming skills and learn to use different tools. Here are some of these tools and skills: 

• Programming languages, such as Python, R, and SQL.
• Data analysis tools include Pandas and NumPy, Tableau, and Power BI.
• Machine learning is understanding algorithms and techniques to build predictive models.
• Statistics and mathematics are crucial for interpreting data and validating results.

The future looks bright if you consider stepping into the data scientist role. According to recent data, employment for data scientists is expected to grow by 36% from 2023 to 2033.

2. Robotics Engineer

Robotics engineers design and build robotic systems integrating AI and machine learning.

These engineers can work in many industries, including healthcare, where they can create bots that perform surgeries and the automobile industry, where they can build bots that assemble cars.

A career in robotics engineering is rich with opportunities to innovate and make a substantial impact. Robotics engineers are not just building machines. They are architects of a future driven by intelligence and technology—making it an excellent career choice.

3. AI Researcher

AI researchers study, develop, and implement artificial intelligence (AI). Their goal is to create more intelligent algorithms and reshape how AI integrates into our daily lives. Here are some of their duties:

• Machine learning algorithms: Developing new and efficient algorithms that allow computers to learn from data.

• Natural language processing (NLP): Teaching machines to understand and communicate in human languages.

• Computer vision: Enabling computers to interpret and comprehend visual information, just like human eyes.

• Robotics: Building machines that can carry out automatic tasks with precision.

• Ethical AI: Ensuring AI operates fairly, inclusively, and unbiasedly.

4. Software Engineer

Software engineers design and develop computer systems and programs. AI is taking on an increasing role in the software engineering industry.

AI and machine learning automate routine tasks and enhance the quality of software solutions. Instead of manually sifting through extensive lines of code, software engineers can use AI to identify bugs or improve code efficiency.

Some of the skills software engineers need include the following:

• Programming languages: Proficiency in languages like Python, Java, and C++.

• Machine learning basics: Understand the fundamentals of machine learning. This involves getting familiar with algorithms, data analysis, and libraries such as TensorFlow or PyTorch.

• Data analytics: Engineers should be skilled in analysing datasets, extracting meaningful patterns, and applying these insights to enhance software performance.

• Problem-solving and critical thinking: AI tools are only helpers. This means engineers should possess sharp problem-solving skills to handle more complex issues that AI cannot resolve properly.

5. Business Intelligence Developer

Business intelligence developers are responsible for generating and maintaining company interfaces, including databases, dashboards, and data warehouses that help companies collect and process large amounts of data.

These databases store different types of data depending on the company. These include data such as:

• Customer data
• Sales metrics
• Operational performance
• Campaign outcomes

These developers need to ensure that the data remains up-to-date and secure (with the help of cybersecurity) so that company decision-makers can use the data to make essential decisions that can impact the company long-term.

Other Careers That Use AI

While the careers mentioned above are highly focused on AI, so much so that they are considered “AI careers,” there are also other careers that simply use AI to make processes faster. 

These include careers such as accounting, where AI can be used to automate data entry and detect any anomalies so they can be fixed quickly.

Also, in marketing, AI can be used to help analyse campaign data and customer behaviour so the company can adjust its strategy to improve effectiveness.

FAQ

Which field uses AI the most?

The information technology (IT) field uses AI the most, particularly in areas such as:

• Data Science
• Machine learning
• Software development
• Cybersecurity

What jobs cannot be replaced by AI?

While AI can be used in almost all industries to help automate certain tasks, several jobs are much less likely to be replaced by AI because they require human creativity and emotional intelligence.

These include creative careers such as writers, artists, and musicians and healthcare professionals such as doctors and surgeons. Similarly, teachers and educators cannot be replaced by AI, and neither can executives and business leaders.

Study an AI Course With REGENT

REGENT offers many different online short courses to help you build your AI skills, including cybersecurity, the Internet of Things, data analysis, and many more.

Suppose you are looking to enter a career that only uses AI to assist. In that case, you can also consider looking at other more advanced courses, such as a Higher Certificate in Accounting or Marketing Management.