Artificial Intelligence Jobs

The AI skills to add to your resume to stay competitive

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The Artificially Intelligent Operating System for Desktop Productivity is my attempt to provide the essential skills necessary for generative AI. As a reader of my mailing list, you get free access to this course.

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If you keep on this path, you’ll be 10x more productive, but that’s very aspirational.

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As Generative AI revolutionizes the workplace, professionals across industries are racing to adapt. But what skills do you need to excel in this new AI-augmented landscape? Whether you're looking to enhance your productivity or future-proof your career, I will walk you through the key competencies that will set you apart in the age of Generative AI.

Technical Skills: The Foundation

Imagine having a creative partner who never sleeps, can process vast amounts of information in seconds, and can help you generate ideas, content, and solutions at an unprecedented scale. That's the promise of Generative AI. However, to truly harness this power, you need more than just access to these tools – you need the technical skills to wield them effectively.

Technical proficiency isn't just about coding or data analysis in this new landscape. It's about understanding the language of AI, knowing how to guide these sophisticated systems, and being able to interpret and refine their outputs. These skills bridge human creativity and AI capability, allowing you to transform vague ideas into tangible results.

As we dive into the key technical competencies, remember that you're not just learning to use tools. You're learning how to amplify your abilities. Whether you're a marketer looking to create compelling content, a designer aiming to push creative boundaries, or a manager seeking to optimize processes, these skills will be your secret weapon in the AI-augmented workplace.

The New Job Landscape

To understand how to thrive in this new era, we must first explore how AI transforms the job market. Let's break down the evolving landscape into three distinct categories:

1. AI-Specific Jobs

AI-specific jobs are involved in creating, developing, and maintaining artificial intelligence systems. These positions are at the cutting edge of AI technology and require specialized knowledge in machine learning, neural networks, and data science. Here are the jobs that you may want to

AI Trainer/Developer: Refine AI models and create new applications.

Prompt Engineer: Crafting effective instructions for AI systems like OpenAI’s GPT models. This will go hand-in-hand with Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG).

Machine Learning Engineer: Designing and implementing AI algorithms.

2. AI-Influenced Jobs

AI-influenced jobs are traditional roles that are being significantly transformed by integrating AI technologies. While not centered around AI development, these positions require professionals to adapt to and effectively use AI tools daily.

Software Developers: Incorporating AI into applications (e.g., using Github Copilot to deliver greater amounts of code)

Marketers: Leveraging AI for personalization (e.g., using AdCreative.ai for AI-generated ad copy).

Customer Service: Working alongside AI chatbots (e.g., Dante AI to automate onsite customer service).

3. AI-Augmented Jobs

AI-augmented jobs represent existing professions enhanced by AI tools, allowing professionals to amplify their capabilities and increase productivity. Most of us will fall into this category. In these roles, AI is a powerful assistant, handling routine tasks and providing insights that enable humans to focus on higher-level thinking and creativity.

Writers: Using Grammarly for proofreading and ChatGPT for idea generation.

Designers: Employing DALL-E or Midjourney for concept art creation.

Project Managers: Utilizing AI for resource allocation (e.g., Forecast.app or Notion for collaborative project plans).

Lawyers: Augment your workflows using domain-specific models trained by and for professional service providers. (e.g., Harvey)

Healthcare Professionals: Leveraging AI for diagnostic assistance.

As we can see, AI is creating new jobs and reshaping existing ones. This transformation brings us to a crucial question: What skills do you need to succeed in this AI-driven world?

Essential Skills for the AI Era

To navigate this new landscape effectively, you'll need a combination of technical prowess and uniquely human capabilities. Let's explore these essential skills, starting with the technical foundations:

Technical Skills

1. Data Literacy

• Master data collection, cleaning, and interpretation.
• Learn tools like Tableau for data visualization.

?? Pro Tip

Learn the language of data from the free courses at the Data Literacy Project. Access a range of instructor-led and self-paced courses to develop your fundamental understanding of data in everyday life and within your organization.

2. AI Delegation (Prompt Engineering):

• Craft effective prompts for AI tools like GPT-4 and DALL-E.
• Understand AI capabilities and limitations.

?? Pro Tip

Taking this Vanderbilt University Prompt Engineering class for ChatGPT can teach you how to create prompts better. You can also start considering using an agent-based delegation platform like Taskade.

3. Machine Learning Basics:

• Grasp key concepts like supervised learning and neural networks.
• Familiarize yourself with platforms like TensorFlow or PyTorch.

?? Pro Tip: This might be overkill, but IBM has a good course for anyone who wants to know how the foundation of AI works: Machine Learning for Everyone.

4. Programming Proficiency:

• Focus on Python for data science and AI applications.
• Learn SQL for database interactions.

?? Pro Tip: Start with Python courses on platforms like Codecademy or DataCamp.

While technical skills provide the foundation, they're only half the equation. Our distinctly human skills will set us apart in a world where AI can crunch numbers and generate content. Let's explore these crucial soft skills:

Soft Skills

It will be long before Generative AI tools meet the same soft skills that many of us possess.

1. Analytical Judgment: Critically evaluate AI outputs and make informed decisions.
2. Adaptability: Stay flexible as AI tools and workflows evolve rapidly.
3. Emotional Intelligence: Balance AI efficiency with human empathy in your work.
4. Curiosity: Continuously explore new AI capabilities and applications.
5. Ethical Awareness: Identify and address AI biases and ethical concerns.
6. Communication: Effectively explain AI-generated insights to diverse audiences.
7. Critical Thinking: Know when to rely on AI and when human judgment is crucial.

Mastering this combination of technical and soft skills will position you for success in the AI era. But how do you put this knowledge into action?

Conclusion

The Generative AI revolution isn't about replacing human skills but augmenting them. You'll thrive in the AI-enhanced workplace by combining technical know-how with uniquely human capabilities. Remember, the goal is to collaborate with AI, not compete against it.

Start small, focus on continuous learning, and experiment with AI tools in your field. Whether using Grammarly to polish your writing, ChatGPT to analyze data, or Midjourney to spark design ideas, embrace these AI collaborators as powerful extensions of your abilities.