How to Become an Artificial Intelligence Engineer?

Artificial Intelligence, in recent years, has become the buzzword in the tech world. It is one of the leading in-demand sectors filled with exciting and innovative career opportunities, with Artificial Intelligence Engineer (AI Engineer) being one of them.

With AI becoming a part of pretty much everything that you do, AI Engineers are in high demand.

Emergence of technologies like Generative AI, Natural Language Processing (NLP), and tools like ChatGPT, businesses are embracing the numerous benefits and applications of AI. These have made the role of AI Engineers one of the most lucrative jobs in the world today.

In this article, we explain what is an AI Engineer, their roles and responsibilities, and how you can become one.

What is an AI Engieering?

AI Engineers use AI and machine learning to develop applications and systems to improve efficiency, reduce costs, increase productivity & profits, and help make better decisions.

They develop tools, systems, and processes that help the practical implementation of AI in the real world. These machines run different algorithms to solve problems and learn to mimic humans. AI relies heavily on data to get trained on and develop the relevant algorithms.

This way the machines or systems can behave like humans and perform activities like humans.

Now let’s understand what the AI Engineers do.

‍Read More: Machine Learning Engineer Salary in the USA

What does an AI Engineer do?

The role of AI Engineers is crucial for companies that rely on artificial intelligence. They not only identify problems that can be resolved through AI, but they are also responsible for developing, producing, and implementing different AI systems.

They develop tools, systems, and processes through which AI can be applied to the real world. Netflix and Spotify are some of the prime examples of AI Engineering where systems study the behavior of the users and based on this information suggest movies and songs.

Now let’s look at some of the key responsibilities of an Artificial Intelligence Engineer.

Responsibilities of an AI Engineer

The main responsibility of an Artificial Intelligence Engineer is to turn ideas and AI innovations into solutions that can be applied in the real world.

They develop AI systems to address business challenges and problems. Their roles and responsibilities differ according to industry and organization, but often include but are not limited to the following:

• Identifying business needs that AI solutions can fulfill by collaborating with different stakeholders
• Carrying out market research to assess the available datasets, frameworks, tools & algorithms
• Perform statistical analysis and interpret results to guide on how to optimize business processes
• Develop and remove bugs from AI apps and models
• Train, evaluate, deploy, and monitor AI models
• Automate infrastructure to be used by data science teams

Are you considering shifting towards AI, but are worried about having to start from the beginning? You are not alone.

Watch this video to look at the real stories of professionals who’ve successfully transitioned from different backgrounds to AI.

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6 Steps to Become an Artificial Intelligence Engineer

To become a master AI Engineer, you should follow the below steps:

1. Get the relevant education
2. Gain experience
3. Develop technical and soft skills
4. Build your portfolio
5. Network
6. Apply for AI Engineer roles

Step 1: Get the relevant education

These days colleges and universities offer several undergraduate degrees to help you start your AI journey. Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Software, or Math can help you kickstart your career. If you already have an undergraduate degree, you can opt for a master’s degree to expand your knowledge and learn new skills.

Step 2: Gain experience

The next step to land a job in this domain is to gain experience. This step is essential if you are transitioning from a different field into AI.

While a strong foundation in maths, computer science, and statistics is crucial, hands-on experience will help you find your dream role and become an AI Engineer.

Step 3: Develop technical and soft skills

You should display a wide range of technical and soft skills to perform better and carry out your tasks.

You should be proficient in technical skills like programming and natural language processing. Additionally, soft skills like communication, presentation, etc. will help you interact better.

Step 4: Build your portfolio

One thing that can make you stand out from the sea of applicants like you is a portfolio. As an AI Engineer, you should have a portfolio of your work displaying your skills and knowledge.

Step 5: Network

Another essential step in starting your career as an AI Engineer is networking. The connections you build on platforms like LinkedIn will help you get into this field.

Your professional network can greatly help you because you can receive valuable insights and advice. You can connect with industry experts, colleagues, and mentors and learn from their experiences.

Step 6: Apply for AI Engineer roles

Once you’ve completed the above steps, start applying for AI Engineering roles.

Skills Required to Become an AI Engineer

Due to the interdisciplinary nature of this field, you’ll need to be fluent in several skills that can be divided into technical and soft skills. Let’s look at them below:

Technical Skills

• Programming: Coding is at the center of converting AI designs into functioning apps. While Python and R are the most popular programming languages, C, Java, JavaScript, SQL, etc. are other coding languages that you should be familiar with.
• Data Science: Data is the new oil powering several AI algorithms. You should be skilled in using different techniques and concepts that you can learn from a Data Science Course.
• ML and AI Algorithms: ML is the most popular branch of Artificial Intelligence. As an AI Engineer, you will work on improving ML models and turning them into products. Additionally, you must be well-versed in different AI concepts.

Soft Skills

• Problem-solving: As an AI Engineer, you will have to solve multiple real-world problems.
  
  Moreover, developing and implementing AI algorithms is a complicated process that requires not only understanding the systems but also solving different problems.
  
  
• Communication: AI Engineers have to collaborate across several departments and understand the needs of different individuals like data analysts, engineers, and business leaders.
  Therefore, they must be adept at communicating at different levels within the organization and with external stakeholders.
  
  
• Adaptability: Such professionals face problems and complex scenarios all the time, and therefore must adapt to different situations and find the best possible solution.

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Now, let’s take a look at the average salary of an AI Engineer in the US:

The salary of AI Engineers in the US depends on several factors such as years of experience, skills, and several more. Below are the salaries of AI Engineers in the US based on experience:

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AI Engineer: FAQ

Do I need a degree to become an AI Engineer?

No, it is not necessary to have a degree to become an AI Engineer. Nowadays, people are obtaining professional certifications to learn the relevant and necessary skills and prepare for interviews. However, a bachelor’s degree is still recommended for entry-level jobs.

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Are AI Engineers well paid?

Yes, AI Engineers are very well-paid typically because they are in high demand due to their specialized skills and vast experience in AI and ML.

However, the salaries can vary according to location, experience, and the industry they work in, but generally, they enjoy higher compensation.

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What is the average salary of an AI Engineer in the US?

The average salary of an AI Engineer in the US ranges between $114,000 – 200,000. However, the salary depends on various factors such as experience, location, industry, skills, educational background, and more.

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