There’s one topic on everyone’s mind from education and careers to government and economics: artificial intelligence (AI). Robots and drones dominate the conversation and our candidates are no exception. Everyone wants to know: how will AI jobs impact the technology industry? What jobs are out there in the AI (and related) fields? What does it take to succeed in these fields?
We could write 10 blogs on AI (and we might) but for now, let’s focus on one of the phrases we’ve been hearing a lot about in the artificial intelligence field: computer vision (CV). After the growth in popularity of AI devices like Apple’s Siri, Amazon’s Echo and Google Home, few are surprised that teaching a computer how to “see” or “read” is next. Let’s dive in with the four things you should know if you’re interested in computer vision careers.
- The Basics: What is computer vision?
So far, we communicate with computers through text and voice. CV will enable a computer to “see” images, graphics and videos. By seeing what’s inside these visual formats, computers can better understand the images and us. Computers are already increasingly intelligent. We can connect them to our TVs, our home security systems and our cars. We trust them with data and our personal information. They recognize our voice and “learn” our habits. With CV, their abilities will increase tenfold.
Think self-driving cars, farm equipment that works autonomously in the field, factories that produce products without supervision or assistance from humans. If machines can “see” and react to what’s around them, they don’t need to be driven or operated by a human.
Beyond driving and production, the field of healthcare will benefit from computer vision. So much of medical data and diagnostics are image-based and machines are already proving to be more accurate than humans in tests of visual accuracy. Soon, even surgeons could be replaced by more accurate, steady robots.
2. Computer vision skills are in-demand.
With so much opportunity and companies competing to be the first and best in the business, there is a lot of demand for AI, computer vision and machine learning tech skills. Companies can’t keep up with hiring demand and often turn to contractors or freelancers for these AI projects.
Professionals who are already working in this field have been doing so for a long time. Many have PhDs and are working at the senior level. However, there are plenty of jobs that don’t require as much education or training prior to working in the field. Many jobs in this field require an MS, knowledge of programming languages and software development experience.
3. Robots may take our jobs…but we must train them first.
One popular topic is the idea that robots will replace human workers and in many cases, it’s true. In the same way that customer service chatbots and ATMs reduced the need for humans to do that work, AI will replace some of the human workforce.
However, before that happens (and even afterwards) humans are needed to build and train these robots. Robots will drive our cars for us and plan our vacations. Robots may even replace lawyers, but not before computer vision and other AI professions train them to do so. Even then, they’ll need monitoring and supervision. Jobs for humans aren’t going away, but they will change dramatically. This is where interpersonal skills, or soft skills, come into play.
4. The rise of robots means interpersonal skills matter more than ever.
Many jobs at risk for automation are jobs that are “automate-able.” If you’re job requires a lot of repetition, it may be at risk. However, if you’re in a field or job that requires human interaction, strategy or leadership, chances are robots will improve your job, but not replace it.
Interested in learning about the types of artificial intelligence jobs, including computer vision at Triple Crown? Let’s connect.