Your Career in AI: Navigating the Next Frontier

There has been so much focus on the doom and gloom of AI that it almost overshadows AI’s boom. People who study existential threats, such as Nick Bostrom, a physicist at Oxford, talk about the longer-term threat of general superintelligence as AI evolves. Others talk about the more immediate threats of bad actors using AI to cause harm. And of course there is a big spotlight on how AI is taking over jobs.

What we aren’t talking about enough is the fact that AI is creating many new jobs. It’s a super hot field right now, and AI will tackle some problems that truly transform the world for the better, from climate science and medical treatments to clean energy and new super materials. New jobs will be created around all of these AI-driven advancements.

So for the naysayers out there telling us to run from AI, or who don’t go into programming because they fear AI will render it dead, we disagree. Sure, AI is going to disrupt both jobs and industries, but so did the internet (remember Napster versus the music industry?). The reality is that the field of artificial intelligence is booming, transforming industries and creating exciting new opportunities. This is why we are staying at the forefront of this boom, not just by placing candidates but by partnering with some of the most advanced AI startups out there and building the teams that will literally power our future.

AI isn’t just about algorithms and data; it's about the potential to reshape how we live and work. Our expertise extends beyond the popular realms like ChatGPT to other cutting-edge applications such as AI in materials science, geospatial analytics, application accelerators, and more. Scalrr has developed deep experience in placing AI talent into the next generation of AI startups. While AI is disrupting many jobs now, it’s also creating many new jobs. We categorize these jobs into two buckets: the people developing AI and the people leveraging it to produce new products and services.

Breaking into the field of AI isn’t simple but it is absolutely achievable if you take it one step at a time. It starts with understanding the basic concepts of AI, what it is, its history, and the fields associated with it. Then it’s learning programming (Python is a good place to start). AI is also a field where being able to grasp statistics and mathematics will be very important; if you have a natural aptitude for mathematics, you’re already a step ahead. Next, you start getting into the fun stuff, building your knowledge in machine learning and deep learning models. After that, it’s about breaking in at the ground level, taking on projects, continuously learning, and sharpening your skills.

The AI field is evolving fast, so it’s not a career where you learn a skill and sit back on cruise control for the next 20 years. It’s a field where you will need to stay on your toes, constantly updating your knowledge on the advancements. 

If you are just getting started in the field, here is a list of top schools to learn AI. At Scalrr, we generally work with skilled AI engineers, mostly mid to senior level up to engineering leadership, placing them in advanced AI-focused startups. As you build your career in AI, knowing the top minds in the industry and keeping a strong pulse on the industry is a smart strategy. Here is a great resource for AI leaders and here is a resource for staying connected to AI advancements.

While the ride towards an AI future won’t always be smooth, with plenty of challenges to overcome, we will see technological leaps that will be almost unimaginable at the speed of advancement. Generations alive today are most likely going to see a cure for cancer in their lifetime, the ability to harness limitless clean energy, and many things we can’t even imagine yet. Building this will take skilled AI engineers. 

The World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report illuminates the dual nature of AI's impact: By 2025, while 85 million jobs may be displaced by automation, an impressive 97 million new roles are projected to emerge, reflecting a shift in the division of labor between humans, machines and algorithms. 

As your recruitment partner, Scalrr doesn’t just connect you with job opportunities in AI; we ensure you are equipped to thrive in them. We understand the nuances of the AI industry and provide insights into various sectors and roles that could be the perfect match for your skills and ambitions.

Join us at Scalrr to be part of the AI wave that is setting the course for future technologies. Let us help you find not just a job, but a career path that propels you to the forefront of innovation.