The impact of artificial intelligence on ICT jobs

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) has had a transformative effect on many sectors, particularly the ICT industry. As AI technology continues to develop at an exponential rate, ICT professionals are having to adapt and evolve with the pace of change. While there is some justifiable concern around AI making certain ICT jobs obsolete, there is also plenty of cause for optimism. The rise in AI has the potential to create new career paths for ICT professionals, presenting an opportunity for the ICT industry to take advantage of its benefits. 

For exceptional tech talent looking to gain a competitive advantage in an increasingly digitised age, becoming an expert in AI is a great way of staying ahead of the curve. The widespread adoption of AI is a trend that shows no sign of dissipating, and by developing sought-after AI skills, candidates will be preparing themselves for a rewarding ICT career, filled with exciting opportunities. 

In this guide, we’ll explore the rise of AI in the ICT industry, how ICT jobs are evolving to keep up with the pace of change, and how ICT professionals can adapt their skills to future-proof their careers. 

The rise of AI in the ICT industry

The growth in popularity of artificial intelligence has been met with both hope and unease from ICT industry professionals. Although AI-powered technology presents companies with the chance to boost productivity and optimise work processes, some may view it as a threat to job security. Businesses have already started to implement AI tools into their workflows, aiming to improve sales and cut down on staff costs. With research showing that 375 million jobs worldwide will be at risk by 2030 due to automation, concern around AI’s impact on the human side of employment is understandable. 

Irrespective of the misgivings many have regarding the mass adoption of artificial intelligence tools, it is clear that AI will continue to play a fundamental role in the ICT sector for many years to come. With generative AI tools capable of automating routine tasks, providing real-time data insights, and improving customer experiences, there is an obvious financial incentive for companies to continue investing in AI. However, what does this mean for ICT professionals? 

While some predict job displacement, there is evidence to suggest that there is cause for optimism, especially for candidates who take the time to gain valuable AI skills. According to research carried out by McKinsey, the rise in the use of AI could help to create between 20 to 50 million new ICT jobs globally. Although the future of the ICT job market is a somewhat complex picture, there is plenty of reason for professionals in the ICT & Digital Technology sector to be hopeful about their career prospects.

How ICT jobs are evolving in the AI era

The ICT industry has already undergone significant transformations due to the emergence of AI tools, leading to many ICT jobs being redefined. As the AI revolution continues, IT professionals must embrace digital change and pay close attention to the trends that show how artificial intelligence is automating tasks and augmenting human capabilities. For instance, owing to AI-powered tools that can troubleshoot problems more efficiently, the ICT industry has seen a general shift away from manual tasks and toward analytical work. 

There are many examples of ICT roles that have been redefined by AI automation, one of which is network security analysis. Tasked with protecting computer networks from cyber attacks, network security analysts are using AI algorithms to identify potential cyber threats, block malicious traffic, and monitor devices on the network. AI has also had a considerable impact on software development, automating time-consuming tasks like code reviews, testing, and debugging. 

Not only is AI reshaping long-established ICT roles, but it is also creating brand-new job opportunities. Though there is a general assumption that AI could remove the need for people in certain areas of ICT, a study from Upwork revealed that AI job posts increased more than 1,000% in the second quarter of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022, a key statistic that indicates growing momentum in the AI job market. 

There is already a variety of relatively new AI-related roles perfect for ICT professionals who have gained specialist AI knowledge, including: 

AI Chatbot Developer

Generative AI chatbots have become the go-to workplace tools for professionals across all workplace industries. Specifically designed to communicate with humans via text or audio, AI chatbots are particularly effective for customer service departments looking to free up working hours spent on handling support calls. AI Chatbot Developers are tasked with designing, developing, and maintaining chatbots using state-of-the-art machine learning tools. This role is suitable for experienced software developers looking to put their skills to use in the world of AI. 

Deep Learning Engineer

Deep learning refers to the process of teaching computers how to process data in a similar way to the human brain via AI. This has become increasingly popular in recent years, and companies like Google have implemented it to improve their products and services. Deep Learning Engineers are responsible for designing and implementing learning algorithms taken from neural network topologies. They play an active role in every stage of the deep learning development cycle, performing tasks like data gathering, feature engineering, and testing. 

Data Annotator

Data Annotator is another cutting-edge ICT role born out of the rise of AI. Working with various types of data, such as images, video, and text, data annotators are tasked with categorising data points used to train AI algorithms and machine learning models. As well as in-depth knowledge of AI principles, the ideal candidates for this job need to possess an understanding of natural language processing and data analytics. As the usage of AI and machine learning intensifies, the demand for Data Annotators is set to grow over the coming years. 

How tech talent can adapt to an AI-driven job market

Whether you are an experienced ICT professional, or a recent graduate looking to enter the ICT industry, you must gain an in-depth understanding of AI. The future of the ICT sector will be shaped by AI technology, so to ensure that you remain competitive in your career, you must be able to demonstrate your AI and machine learning expertise to potential employers. Here are our top tips: 

Earn online AI certifications 

An effective method for future-proofing your ICT career is to embrace continuous learning. Being adaptable with a willingness to learn new skills is the attitude you need to adopt when aiming to prove yourself as a valuable asset to companies that are utilising AI and machine learning technologies. There are many upskilling and reskilling opportunities for IT professionals who wish to enhance their specialist AI knowledge, such as online courses, boot camps, and tutorials. 

You can demonstrate your AI expertise to employers by taking online AI certifications and adding the credentials to your CV. You'll find a raft of professional AI courses on Google, Coursera, and DeepLearning.AI. The IBM Applied AI Professional Certificate is especially suitable for IT specialists looking to elevate their job prospects in the AI industry. With the aim of giving participants a better grasp of AI, its applications, and concepts like machine learning and neural networks, this professional-level qualification is open to people at all stages of their careers. 

The course teaches participants about all manner of intriguing and useful topics, such as creating AI chatbots, applying computer vision techniques using Python, and building AI-powered solutions using IBM Watson AI services. If you wish to learn about AI at your own pace, the online learning platform DataCamp is a great place to start. Their mission is to upskill ICT professionals by educating them about AI fundamentals via hands-on learning experiences.

Stay up-to-date with AI developments 

Artificial intelligence is a constantly evolving field, and keeping up-to-date with the latest developments is an important way ICT professionals can stay ahead of the curve. Upskilling and reskilling are crucial when it comes to expanding your AI knowledge, but it is also important to monitor AI trends and innovations by listening to AI-related podcasts or reading relevant publications like the AI Journal and MIT Technology Review. 

By following the most prevalent trends, you can determine which skills you think would be most valuable for career progression. For instance, a trend that has emerged over the last few years is the increased usage of AI in cyber security, with 44% of organisations reporting success rates of over 80% for their AI-powered cyber security capabilities. 

Given that AI is likely to remain an integral part of cyber security infrastructure going forward, taking a course like the University of Oxford’s Department of Continuing Education’s Artificial Intelligence for Cyber Security may improve your job prospects. 

Experiment and innovate with AI technology 

Another top tip for keeping up-to-date with all things artificial intelligence is to experiment with AI tools and even incorporate them into your current work. This is an effective way to keep your skills relevant and enrich your understanding of AI, and by consistently using AI to aid your work where applicable, you’ll be preparing yourself for the ICT jobs of the future. 

For example, if you are a Software Developer looking to automate repetitive tasks and identify bugs quicker, you could use a code generation tool like CodeWhizz or Github Copilot to create user interfaces, data models, and boilerplate code. Leveraging AI-powered tools to automate the more laborious elements of your working day can be extremely beneficial to ICT industry professionals, allowing them to spend more time focusing on more complex tasks that rely on human creativity. 

If you are interested in how your peers are utilising the powers of AI to optimise their work, you could collaborate with other like-minded IT specialists on hands-on projects such as building AI models and applications. You’ll be able to meet other ICT professionals with a keen interest in AI via platforms like GitHub, LinkedIn, and Kaggle.  

Conclusion

The rapid advancement of AI technology has transformed the ICT industry, posing challenges and opportunities for professionals in the field. While concerns about job displacement are valid, there is a bright side to this AI revolution. It opens doors to new and exciting career paths, making it an ideal time for ICT professionals to embrace AI and future-proof their careers.

The evolution of ICT jobs in the AI era is evident, with traditional roles being reshaped and new roles emerging to meet the demands of this transformative technology. From AI Chatbot Developers to Data Annotators, there is a diverse array of opportunities for those willing to specialise in AI-related positions.

In a world where AI is becoming an integral part of technology and business, ICT professionals who embrace AI can look forward to a future filled with exciting possibilities and career growth. By seizing the opportunity to become AI experts, they can navigate the evolving landscape of the ICT industry with confidence and optimism.

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