Artificial intelligence is becoming a key factor in the growth of our digital technologies. It’s the next big leap that is promising to push our civilization into a whole new age of evolution. In fact, many compare the invention of the first truly independent AI to the invention of fire.
If you’re interested in becoming a part of this incredibly important journey, we’ve prepared a few tips on where to start and how to get your foot in the door of this growing industry.
Cover Your Basics
Getting started in any industry is tough. You’re entering a whole new world of terminology and knowledge that you have to internalize. The best way to deal with this potentially overwhelming amount of information is to start with the basics. The same applies to the field of artificial intelligence.
First thing first, you’ll need to master a programming language. You can pretty much get into AI with the knowledge of C++, Python, Ruby on Rails, and JavaScript. Pick the one you feel the most comfortable with and then master it.
A good understanding of a programming language won’t make you a good AI engineer. It will merely buy you a seat at the table. But, that’s more than enough to get started with this journey. The next step is to figure out what kind of AI you want to work with.
Understanding Different Types of AI
Intelligence is a term that has many different meanings. Even in human psychology, we recognize different types of intelligence. The same applies to AI. There are different types of AI that range in complexity.
● Machine Learning
The most basic form of AI, if there is such a thing, is machine learning. AI engineers from https://apro-software.com/ argue that with machine learning, you’re writing a piece of software that is capable of recognizing patterns and learning from them. Depending on the complexity of a machine learning AI, you create a piece of software that is capable of making reliable predictions based solely on the data sets you feed it and its own experience.
● Artificial Neural Networks
Next, we have neural networks. This type of AI was based on the same principles that our own brain uses to learn and store data. Neural networks are used to form much more complex AI systems that very much resemble human brains in terms of how neurons interact with each other.
The uses for artificial neural networks are growing by the day. Companies such as NVIDIA are making great progress with ANNs that can literally create new faces of people that never existed. ANNs are becoming an incredible tool in medicine where they are used for fighting cancers.
● Deep Learning
Neural networks and deep learning are interconnected in many ways, however, deep learning represents the most advanced form of artificial intelligence. This is the type of AI you see in the movies — a fully autonomous system that is capable of high-level operations and creativity. Deep learning is the step towards Superintelligence, which is the holy grail of AI research.
From Weak AI to Strong AI
A good first step into becoming an AI dev is to set your goal. Figure out which direction you want to go, and they start working on weak AI. Weak AI is your basic bots capable of performing simple tasks. You see this type of software everywhere, from chatbots to more versatile gaming bots.
Once you’ve mastered the weak AI, it’s time to start working on Strong AI. Strong AI is an artificial intelligence that is on the same level as humans in terms of its abilities. Strong AI is used in all kinds of industries ranging from the automotive industry to medicine.
The key is to keep taking a bigger bite every time you feel hungry. Working on more difficult projects will help you become a better developer and expose you to problems that will further your understanding of artificial intelligence.
Find a Field That Interests You
Working as an AI dev will require a lot of effort if you plan on becoming good at what you do. Niching down is always recommended. However, to niche down, you really need to find an area of expertise and a field of AI that truly calls you.
Because of that, it’s important that you work on everything and anything AI-related you can get your hands on as a beginner. Network with other devs, follow the industry news and stay on top of the latest achievements in the field of deep learning. All of this will help you pave your way to becoming an experienced AI dev.