Many people have heard about emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), big data, or data analytics. However, a few of them actually understand how they are impacting our daily lives. The most common example you can relate to is using a smartphone. Here are some of the things you must have observed:

• Getting the ads for products you searched for some time ago  
• The recommended product list showing the items that you are likely to buy in shopping apps like Amazon and Flipkart
• Unlocking your phone with a Face ID or thumb impression
• Gmail automatically moving suspicious mails into the Spam folder

Well, in all these tasks, AI is what works behind.

If you are wondering how the AI market is growing worldwide, you should know about a Grand View Research report. This report highlights that the global artificial intelligence market size is estimated to reach USD 390.9 billion by 2025, with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 46.2 percent from 2019 to 2025. Google, IBM Watson, Intel Corporation, Baidu Inc., Zera Medical Vision are some of the key players in the AI market.

Also Read: Top seven trends in AI you must know about

As the world is moving towards advancements like 5G technology, adoption of cloud-based services, intelligent virtual assistants, and increased adoption of image recognition, AI would further penetrate into different industrial sectors. But what does this mean for you? Well, it indicates a growing demand for professionals skilled in AI, typically known as Artificial Intelligence Engineers or AI Engineers. Companies all over the world are investing in AI projects and seek skilled AI engineers, preferably those who get certified through AI certification courses.   

Read on to know who exactly is an AI engineer and how to become one.

What is an AI Engineer?

An AI Engineer is an individual who is responsible for building AI models through machine learning algorithms and deep learning neural networks so that companies can draw meaningful insights and make informed decisions. Their major tasks include converting machine learning models into APIs, helping stakeholders know what results can be gained from AI models, designing data ingestion infrastructure, performing statistical analysis, and more.

If you are concerned about the demand and salary prospects in the field of AI, you would be glad to know that there is a huge demand for professionals skilled in AI across the world. Job portal Indeed reported that the employer demand for AI-related roles has more than doubled over the past three years. The total demand for AI and Big Data Analytics talent stood at 510,000 in 2018 in India alone and is expected to reach 800,000 in 2021. Moreover, the demand-supply gap would reach around 140,000 by that time.

So, now is the time to gain AI skills and benefit from the huge AI talent gap that exists today. The number of companies taking AI initiatives in India increased from 1000 to 3000 in 2019, as per an article published on Livemint. The average annual salary of professionals with AI skills is estimated to be Rs. 1,000,000 as per the data from Payscale. Even the entry-level professionals in this field have higher salaries.      

You can become an AI engineer if you have the following hard skills:

• Proficiency in Python, Java, or C++ is beneficial
• Applied mathematics, statistics, and probability
• Data analysis
• Graphical modeling
• Big data technologies like Hadoop, Cassandra
• Knowledge of algorithms like linear regression, logistic regression, support vector machine
• Distributed computing
• Time-frequency analysis   

How to Become an AI Engineer?

One needs to have a blend of technical and non-technical skills to become an AI Engineer. Artificial Intelligence is a broad field, and it is recommended to take up a training course to get comprehensive knowledge of all the AI concepts. An online AI certification course offered by a reputable training provider is all you need to get started. Such courses are often designed by subject matter experts and cover the theoretical as well as practical aspects of AI. Based on how a candidate wishes to learn, he can choose a self-paced or instructor-led learning mode.  

As there are many players in the online education sector, it can be difficult for you to choose the one that best suits your needs. It is always better to research about the trainer, course curriculum, testimonials, and project works offered. Also, when you explore the syllabus, here are some of the topics that should be covered:

• Basics of AI, its purpose, applications, and future scope
• Python programming
• How to write python scripts
• Supervised and unsupervised learning, Regression, Clustering, dimensionality reduction
• How to use TensorFlow for implementing various algorithms and executing projects
• Machine learning models
• Artificial Neural Networks like Convolutional networks and Recurrent neural networks
• Using packages like NumPy or SciPy to perform mathematical and technical computing
• Heuristic and mathematical aspects of machine learning

Now if you are feeling drawn to a career as an AI engineer, take up a course and stay abreast of the industry-relevant knowledge. AI is growing with every passing day and so should you!