Demystifying artificial intelligence: the human behind the machine, or what does an AI scientist really do?

If you've ever found yourself fascinated by artificial intelligence, you're not alone. Although we know it works, how it truly operates remains a mystery for many. If you're curious about the work of AI scientists and how they create AI, you've come to the right place. We have the answers to your questions.

Let's start by setting the record straight: what exactly is artificial intelligence? For a long time, Hollywood has portrayed AI models as human-like robots that eventually rebel against their creators and threaten to destroy humanity. Needless to say, this is not exactly the reality. In practical terms, AI is all about algorithms. It doesn't even have to take a particular shape, walk on two legs or talk. In simple terms, it's a programming language.

Programming is like a recipe. Your code will execute exactly what you instruct it to, in the correct sequence, and nothing more or less. Artificial intelligence, if it uses the same programming language, will instead seek to identify patterns within the data it is fed. Additionally, AI is constantly learning, which means it is capable of independent evolution, which is impossible with traditional programming.

All right, you got this? Let's continue.

To become an AI scientist, or in other words, an AI programmer, you need to have a strong proficiency in programming languages, as well as a solid understanding of mathematics, linear algebra, and probability. A deep understanding of algorithms, machine learning, and deep learning is also essential. A walk in the park, isn’t it?

We decided to meet with an AI scientist to find out what kind of person it takes to get into this line of work. As it turned out, we talked to a pretty cool, fairly unpretentious guy, and he didn't even have a bionic arm.

He shares that his passion for advanced technology and programming has always been a driving force for him. This led him to pursue a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, followed by a master's degree in robotics. During his academic years, he also undertook internships in computer vision and completed courses specifically focused on artificial intelligence. His love for solving complex problems drew him towards a career as an AI scientist. Because that's what this job is all about: finding solutions to intricate issues.

But it's different from the kind of job where you need to have studied a particular field to qualify. Gabriel's colleague mentions that he had studied computer science but never delved into artificial intelligence until he took a master's degree in electrical engineering. It wasn't until graduate school, when nearly all his courses were on computer vision and AI, that he explored the field. And he got hooked!

As the human behind the machine, the AI scientist has many tasks to perform to make a model work. Initially, the AI scientist works with the customer to establish project goals and gain an understanding of the technical terms specific to the field. Once these foundations have been laid, the scientist acquaints himself with the customer's data. Then, they conduct a thorough literature review to identify potential solutions. At this point, the scientist can choose between implementing and adapting an existing solution to the project's specific needs or developing a customized model, which involves writing the necessary code. Throughout the process, the scientist collaborates closely with the client, with feedback loops in place to enable continual improvement of the solution. To ensure that the solution developed is of high quality and reliability, the AI scientist performs rigorous testing to guarantee the robustness and reproducibility of the results obtained. Here at Vooban, we make sure to develop a user-friendly web or mobile interface along with the AI model to enable users with little or no programming knowledge to use it easily. Additionally, we may need to connect sensors to machines in order to collect more data or train the machine to perform specific actions.

Data science is an intriguing field that involves complex work, including creating models that can significantly impact the world. However, it is not all glamour; the job also requires a lot of tedious work, especially when it comes to preparing and cleaning data. According to a 2021 study on data science, 39% of an AI scientist's time is spent on data preparation, which is more than the time they spend on training and deploying models. While it may seem like a daunting task, it is a crucial step in ensuring that the final product is of high quality. Any learning model can only perform well if it uses accurate and reliable data.

We hope that by now, you've figured out what an AI scientist really does. If not, give us a call, and we'll gladly transfer you to our artificial intelligence department. Did you know that Vooban has the largest team of experts in Quebec? With more than 25 AI scientists, there's bound to be someone who can explain their job to you in detail!