A century ago, the Industrial Revolution introduced a new age of machinery and power. Today, we are in the midst of another revolution—this one driven by exponential technologies like AI and machine learning. No matter your field or trade, you’ll need to learn new skills to stay relevant in this quickly evolving world.
History is repeating itself
For centuries before the Industrial Revolution, people relied on hand-made tools and machines. However, after a few decades of steam engines, factories, and steel mills emerged, humanity was changed forever.
This time around, the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) is allowing us to replicate the old ways of doing business in new ways. The difference is that today’s machines are exponentially more powerful than those from 100 years ago—and often smarter than their human counterparts.
As such, our current workforce can no longer rely on their traditional skills like pattern-making and machine repair to compete in this new digital economy. What’s more, the pace of technological advancement is only set to increase, meaning the need for new skills will only balloon from here.
The way forward is through education
There’s no doubt that this is an exciting era to be alive. But if you want to stay on the cutting edge of technology and business, it’s important to continually adapt your skillset. Fortunately, there are hundreds of educational institutions around the globe that specialize in exponential technologies like AI and ML — and many of them offer courses online. If you want to stay relevant in today’s economy, it pays to know what’s out there.
In this new world, your skills will be a mix of technical, soft (social and emotional), and human skills that enable you to navigate a rapidly changing environment. It’s about balancing the analytical work of computers with the creative work of humans. As AI systems learn more and more, they will simply make better decisions than we can. That’s why it’s critical to build our critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and human interaction skills as we move forward with AI.
How can you ensure your role is secure?
It’s all about the people. When you are working in a technology-driven field, you need to be constantly learning new skills. If your industry is going to maintain its relevance, then everyone must update their skills. For those working in technical fields, it may be worth considering looking at completing a Masters Electrical and Computer Engineering Degree.
Which technologies are driving this need?
1) The development of electric vehicles
This development is poised to change the world with its sheer size. The electric vehicle (EV) industry is projected to be worth $1.3 trillion by 2030. As of last year, there were 10 million electric vehicles on our roads globally, but there are estimates that this number could grow to as many as 125 million within the next eight years.
With so many EVs coming onto the road, we’ll need people who have those technical skills in electronics and electrical engineering—to build and maintain the infrastructure—as well as software engineers to develop systems that can manage charging and charging stations.
2) The development of Autonomous Vehicles
The technology behind self-driving cars is promising to make our lives much easier in the years ahead. The self-driving vehicle industry is forecasted to reach $7.1 trillion by 2050.
The development of AI and other technologies for autonomous driving (AD) is already enabling more people to work and live independently of traditional modes of transportation like motor coaches, buses, trains, and subways. The potential benefits are enormous: AD could fundamentally change how we commute and travel.
3) Mobile Robotics will deliver parcels
The development of robotics, additive manufacturing, and Intel microprocessors are helping to put together the pieces for a future where robots work with humans to make our lives easier. It’s no longer just in science fiction movies.
Mobile robotics are also being used to transport products to a warehouse and then to transport them to their final destination once they’ve been purchased. Mobile robots can collect data and then transmit it via laser printing, RFID tags, or sensors embedded in roads. These robots can also be incredibly helpful when they’re exploring places like caves or deep waters where humans cannot go.
What skills will you need to stay ahead?
The following soft and hard skills will be more valuable than ever in the coming years:
1) Critical thinking and problem-solving
If you have an analytical mind and can solve problems using a critical thinking approach, you’ll be able to not only collect the data but also make decisions to solve problems. For example, as new technology such as AI is developed to perform tasks like collecting data, it will need help finding the right data in a large amount of information. It’s possible that AI could miss something important if it doesn’t have the right human skills needed to discern between relevant and non-relevant information.
2) Human interaction and team building
In the coming years, it is likely that we will see teams become increasingly interconnected as the number of IoT connections grow exponentially. The ability to build and lead teams will help individuals understand the roles and responsibilities of their team members. In this era, it’s going to be critical for leaders to have strong business acumen and communication skills—because they are needed not only in leadership roles but also in every role in customer service and sales.
3) Business skills
Business skills like human resources management, project management, systems engineering, data analysis, and visualization can all be used in a variety of business sectors: manufacturing, technology, finance,and healthcare, to name just a few. There are many different types of jobs in AI — and all the job roles will require various business skills.
4) Marketing and sales skills
The ability to analyze data, understand trends, and develop marketing strategies in a fast-paced world will be required for those in the marketing and sales areas. Marketing is poised to become a larger portion of any organization’s budget as more companies take advantage of the many opportunities created by AI and real-time advertising. As the markets for AI solutions grow, more businesses will need to use artificial intelligence to understand the competition and how they can leverage their strengths.
5) Data analysis and visualization skills
Data visualizations are becoming increasingly important as AI applications become more data-dependent. Business leaders who can visualize problems will be valuable for evaluating solutions (and making their case) to management teams.
What types of skills will you build to keep up?
As previously mentioned, for those wishing to develop their career into a technology-based role, a Master’s degree is a good way to build on your bachelor’s degree. You will develop some of the following skills and habits
1) Specialist knowledge
A Master’s degree will give you a deeper understanding of the subject, and it will also build your specialist knowledge. For example, if you had studied biochemistry, a Master’s degree would mean you have an in-depth understanding of how cells function and of the chemical processes that occur within them.
2) Flexibility and a passion for lifelong learning
A Master’s degree will give you the flexibility to change your career path, should you choose to. It will also ensure that you have an interest in lifelong learning and refining your skillsets. It will teach you how to harness technology to solve problems, conduct research, and communicate with people better.
3) Develop a professional network
As a member of the professional community, you will have access to a network of other professionals. You’ll also have access to opportunities like conferences and seminars on relevant technologies, which could help you stay at the forefront of your field.
4) Professional maturity
By embracing a Master’s degree program with open arms, you’ll learn about professional ethics and develop leadership skills that are needed in any industry. A Master’s degree will give you better organizational skills and teach you how to be more detail-oriented. It will also teach you how to work well in teams because teamwork is crucial in the fields related to AI and Big Data.
5) Personal and professional growth
With a Master’s degree, you will learn how to approach a problem more creatively and be able to think outside the box. You will also be able to work out solutions more efficiently than before. Additionally, you’ll learn how to work under pressure, because the job market is booming in the ever-changing field of AI.
6) Be prepared for changes
As artificial intelligence continues to develop, your knowledge of AI and Big Data will be important—no matter what career path you choose. As technology becomes increasingly complex, even experienced workers will have to adapt and develop new skill sets on an ongoing basis.
Your experience of completing a Master’sdegree goes beyond the classroom. You will get the opportunity to
1) Gain work experience
The skills and knowledge you acquire from a Master’s degree will be directly applicable in your workplace. In addition, completing a Master’s degree lets you demonstrate your work ethic and shows employers that you have an interest in pursuing further opportunities at their company. You’ll be able to network with people who might decide to hire you for a higher job role in the future.
2) Develop your career and move up the ladder
A Master’s degree will make you more marketable in the rapidly growing field of AI. It will help you stay ahead of the competition because it will give you an edge over other candidates who don’t have this kind of education.
3) Expand your knowledge in your area of expertise
A Master’s degree will allow you to learn about the latest trends in your industry. It will also help you stay at the forefront of emerging technologies. It will make you more marketable because it shows employers that you’re committed to honing your skillsets and learning new things, which is essential in any type of business.
4) It will help make you smarter
You can complete your Master’sdegree in a wide variety of specializations to maximize your potential for personal and professional growth. For example, a Master’s degree in Software Engineering could give you skills and knowledge that are applicable in many different fields. A Master’s degree in data science will give you unique knowledge and expertise that no other candidates have, which can be valuable in any company.
5) It will help you evolve as an individual
A Master’s degree isn’t just about learning the latest technical skills; it’s also about learning how to think analytically and apply new ideas to solve different problems. You’ll learn the kin of critical thinking skills that won’t come easily to you otherwise.
As seen, AI will impact every single industry, and the number of jobs with an AI component is set to accelerate. As a result, you must keep your skills up to date and develop new skills to keep yourself relevant. Many jobs will indeed become redundant; however, it is also true that the new breakthrough technologies like autonomous driving and mobile robotics will represent new career paths for professionals.
Whether you’re looking for your first or next, job, finding a work-relevant Master’s degree program will provide you with the opportunities to develop your career in the AI field. Most importantly, a Master’s degree will prepare you for life after graduation and prepare you for all the career changes that AI may bring.
With advances in technology like artificial intelligence, companies are having to change how they operate and how they engage and empower their customer base. Companies that can embrace these changes can position themselves as leaders in their industries. As companies look to use AI to solve customer service problems, leadership skills are key.
Are you ready to develop your skills in this area? If so, it might be a good idea to take a Master’s degree course.