Technology involving computers has never stopped evolving and now it is time for artificial intelligence to step in. Machines are currently capable of reading their surrounding environment and learning to react accordingly. The underlying aspect is nothing but a series of coding and this is currently the hottest market to work in. As BCA graduates, you will have the required head start and the paychecks can reach any limit depending on your skills. AI is the future of computing and if you want to work in a booming field, this is your answer.
You can already see artificial intelligence at work every time you perform a search on Google. Even your smartphones and wearables come with some amount of AI included. Google Maps, online shopping, voice assistants – anything and everything involve AI. The corporate world is heavily investing in this technology and the demand for professionals is at an all-time high. Experts predict that artificial intelligence is indeed the face of tomorrow’s job world and they state it with very good reason.
AI will constitute tomorrow’s workforce
And you do not want to be on the wrong side of this story. However, if you intend to join one of the best colleges and pursue your undergraduate degree in computer applications, you will be on the right side. Machines are faster in what they do and if you integrate AI, they will now be smatter. Manufacturing jobs that involve repetitive tasks can easily be performed by bots. AI can keep the machines in sync, check for anomalies in the products in real time and send feedback for improvements almost immediately. This very process takes a prolonged time with a human workforce and companies are looking to cut down on that.
Plus, a robotic workforce is a one-time investment. China is already pushing for this technical upgrade and their T-shirt manufacturing company, Tianyuan Garments have already signed a deal to have robots sewing their garments. As BCA graduates can contribute to building such technologies and never worry about losing their jobs to machines.
AI will run the cities in future
The Indian government has already sanctioned the construction of over 100 smart cities and more are about to come. Such cities will be capable of performing with minimum human interaction but will heavily depend on the programming skills of people. Street lights will turn on and off automatically and traffic will be controlled by a central station. Banks will perform autonomously and even cars can go driverless. All these will require BCA graduates at the backend and it’s your chance to present your skills.
Barcelona in Spain is already a smart city. The lights in their parks are entirely automated and their garbage disposal system does not involve a single human being. Other developed countries are also on track to automate their cities and the demand is only going to rise. Technical advancement is inevitable and you can fit into the system with your degree.
Every industry will involve AI
Hospitals may allow robots to perform minor surgeries. Restaurants may replace their cooks with intelligent bots. Even drugs can be administered to a patient automatically where the machine can measure the vitals and push in the appropriate medicines. A time may come when stores will remove their front-end personals and substitute them with voice assistants. We are moving towards such an age rapidly and it seems everything will be run by programs.
The best college will hand you both the technical skills and knowledge to step into this world. Statistics have shown that currently there are over 32,000 vacant positions just in the US and the global number can be more. Almost every country is investing in AI and businesses are looking forward to making a mark. You can choose to work in almost any sector with your degree as long as you can contribute towards building an intelligent machine.
The right career for you
Although it may seem that artificial intelligence has advanced a lot, it is still in its infant stage. Big companies like Google, Facebook, Microsoft and Apple invest heavily in their AI department. Google has tested automated cars already while Facebook is coming up with automatic chat machines. None of it is perfect and the work is on. And if you want to look beyond such massive developments, you can always opt for small uses of AI. There are startups who target simpler projects and you can become a part.
This is the future and is going to be a major industry. With increasing demand, a seven-figure salary may not be impossible at all and you can be a part of something big. Start right, prepare well and land a job in AI.
(The writer is Senior Director, IMS Noida, Adjunct Professor-Harvard University(T.H.Chan School of Public Healthcare) Harvard University, HKS Alumna. Views expressed here are personal.)