Become an AI Engineer? Why not!

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become an increasingly important tool for organizations in the current digital era. The need for AI-specialist engineers has grown as Malaysia works toward Industry 4.0, the nation’s 2030 goal of accelerating digital transformation. Professionals with the ability to analyse data and create machine learning algorithms have countless prospects. In fact, artificial intelligence (AI) engineering is one of the most profitable professions in the industry. Become an AI Engineer? Why not! So, what are the steps to become an AI engineer? 

1. Get a strong foundation in computer science:

To become an AI engineer, you need to have a solid understanding of computer science fundamentals such as programming languages (Python, Java, C++), data structures, algorithms, and computer architecture.

2. Learn machine learning and deep learning:

Machine learning and deep learning are the core technologies of AI. You should learn the basics of machine learning algorithms, such as linear regression, logistic regression, decision trees, and random forests. Then, you can move on to deep learning techniques, such as convolutional neural networks (CNNs), recurrent neural networks (RNNs), and long short-term memory (LSTM) networks.

3. Gain experience with AI frameworks:

Popular AI frameworks include TensorFlow, Keras, PyTorch, and Caffe. You should learn how to use these frameworks to build and train AI models.

4. Familiarize yourself with cloud computing:

Cloud computing platforms like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and Microsoft Azure provide the infrastructure to run AI models at scale. You should learn how to use these platforms to deploy and manage AI models.

5. Develop problem-solving skills:

As an AI engineer, you will be working on complex problems that require critical thinking and problem-solving skills. You should practice solving AI-related problems to improve your skills.

Example of AI-related problems;

Technical problems: These are problems related to the development and implementation of AI technologies. Some examples of technical problems in AI include:

• Data preparation: Preparing and cleaning data for training AI models. This involves tasks such as data cleaning, feature engineering, and data normalization.

• Model selection: Choosing the right AI model for a specific problem. This involves understanding the strengths and weaknesses of different AI models and selecting the one that best fits the problem at hand.

• Model training: Training AI models using large datasets. This involves tasks such as hyperparameter tuning, model optimization, and model evaluation.

• Model deployment: Deploying AI models in production environments. This involves tasks such as model packaging, model monitoring, and model maintenance.

6. Collaborate with other AI engineers:

Collaboration is essential in the AI industry. You should join AI communities, attend AI conferences, and participate in AI hackathons to network with other AI engineers and learn from their experiences.

7. Stay up to date with the latest AI trends:

The AI industry is constantly evolving, and you should stay up to date with the latest trends and technologies. You can do this by reading AI blogs, attending AI webinars, and following AI experts on social media.

“You have to talk about ‘The Terminator’ if you’re talking about artificial intelligence. I actually think that that’s way off. I don’t think that an artificially intelligent system that has superhuman intelligence will be violent. I do think that it will disrupt our culture.”

– Gray Scott

8. Build a portfolio:

Building a portfolio of AI projects is a great way to showcase your skills to potential employers. You can choose projects based on your interests and the technologies you want to learn.

9. Get certified:

Many organizations offer AI certifications, such as Google Cloud AI Engineer Professional Certificate and Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Engineer Associate. These certifications can help you stand out in the job market and demonstrate your skills to potential employers.

10. Apply for AI jobs:

Once you have gained the necessary skills and experience, you can start applying for AI jobs. You can search for AI jobs on job boards like Glassdoor, indeed, and LinkedIn. You can also reach out to AI companies directly and apply for open positions.

What does AI Engineers do?

AI engineers create systems and applications by combining machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence approaches. To implement, manage, and modify these systems in response to industry developments, businesses require AI engineers. They support businesses in making better business decisions, increasing productivity, reducing expenses, and raising profits. To create and manage AI systems, AI engineers are knowledgeable about the instruments and methods taken from data science, software engineering, and programming. One may argue that end-to-end programmers are experts in AI engineering. They can effectively collect data, create, and test machine learning models, and construct algorithms that can carry out intricate tasks

As an AI engineer, your career path can vary depending on your skills, experience, and the company you work for. Here’s a general overview of the typical career path for an AI engineer:

1. Junior AI Engineer:

This is the entry-level position for an AI engineer. As a junior AI engineer, you will be responsible for implementing AI models, working on smaller projects, and learning from senior AI engineers.

2. Mid-level AI Engineer:

As you gain more experience, you will move into a mid-level AI engineer role. In this position, you will be responsible for managing smaller AI projects, collaborating with other AI engineers, and mentoring junior AI engineers.

3. Senior AI Engineer:

As a senior AI engineer, you will be responsible for managing larger AI projects, working with cross-functional teams, and providing technical leadership to junior and mid-level AI engineers.

4. AI Architect:

An AI architect is responsible for designing and implementing the overall AI architecture for a company or organization. This role requires a deep understanding of AI technologies, cloud computing platforms, and data infrastructure.

5. AI Manager:

As an AI manager, you will be responsible for managing a team of AI engineers, defining AI strategy, and collaborating with other departments in the company.

6. AI Director:

As an AI director, you will be responsible for overseeing the AI department, defining AI strategy, and working with senior leadership to align AI initiatives with business goals.

7. AI Vice President:

As an AI vice president, you will be responsible for leading the AI department, collaborating with other departments in the company, and driving AI innovation. The AI industry is still in its early stages, and the career path for AI engineers is still evolving. As AI becomes more integrated into various industries, new roles and job titles will emerge, providing opportunities for AI engineers to grow and advance in their careers.

There has never been a better moment to learn how to become an AI engineer if you want to work in this innovative field. Because of their widespread use and anticipated constant growth, artificial intelligence (AI) engineers are among the most sought-after professions. They are essential to the operations of many different sectors.