Artificial intelligence has shaped and continues to transform businesses and economics. In fact, it is the future society is heading towards.
This has made AI experts, specialists, and practitioners in-demand. The applications to several sectors like automobile, cybersecurity, and manufacturing have been immense.
This pushed organizations to develop and create more cutting-edge applications and solutions that optimize business operations and reduce errors.
SEMrush forecasted that the demand in the global market for AI will be around $190.61 billion in 2025. This has increased the demand for AI programmers in the market.
At the same time, many developers are shifting towards AI programming to build a stable and in-demand career in the technology industry.
However, not all are qualified to become an AI programmer.
To better understand the required skill sets of an AI programmer, this article will shed light on the technical and soft skills needed to become a rockstar AI practitioner.
Defining AI programmers
AI programmers are part of the software developer family. Similar to its counterparts, it develops and creates codes for non playable characters to behave and act realistically or like human beings in applications and games.
The use of this specialized code is essential in generating algorithms that help players and users experience convenience or achieve a particular goal.
AI programmers: Technical skills
This is perhaps the most important aspect of an AI programmer since AI is a specialized job needing deep knowledge of technical jargons and concepts.
Below are the essential knowledge every developer must possess:
Machine learning
Machine Learning is a subfield of AI. Its focus is developing algorithms that can improve and learn itself by being exposed to various data and experiences.
The decisions and predictions made by MLs are based on the particular data sample that the algorithms are based from.
ML is integral to AI as it serves as the rudimentary knowledge and foundation to make intelligent and improving machines.
In other words, ML is the process by which machines acquire intelligence through exposure to real-time situations and issues.
There are various applications that ML uses which includes speech recognition, medicine and email filtering. With its capacity to process huge statistical data, they can produce highly insightful and accurate business decisions.
Search engines are a good example of what ML looks like.
Mathematical knowledge
The bulk of an AI programmer’s job is to work on various algorithms. This makes analytical and problem solving skills essential to their work.
Mathematical skills like statistics, graphing, probability and linear algebra are rudimentary skills that can be used to solve problems and make the necessary algorithmic decisions.
Programming language acumen
Developers work around various languages. These are technical and complex languages that need to be understood and put together to come up with a logical code.
These languages can range from the most basic to the complicated ones. Some of the common programming languages include Java, Python, and C++.
Aside from these codes, it will be beneficial for AI programmers to get experience with computer architecture, optimization algorithms, and data structures.
With this it will increase the marketability of AI aspirants. At the same time, it is essential for AI programmers to know more than just one programming language. It will make them more versatile and sought after by large companies.
AI programmers: Soft skills
AI programmers should not just be technically skilled. As a matter of fact, soft skills weigh more than the technical. First, it ensures that projects are accomplished on time through collaboration.
Second, with a dynamic and harmonious team, everything is possible to accomplish. To ensure that AI programmers have the desired soft skills companies need, below are some of the must-haves:
Disciplined and professional
Handling AI tasks and development is not easy. It is built on trust and confidence that all members of the team can meet and honor the deadlines given to them.
With most AI programmers working on remote setup, time management becomes essential too.
All staff members need to be professional and dedicated enough to handle the tasks they have with the highest degree of quality.
Communication is important
While programmers have a language of their own. This does not mean that they should not be able to communicate well with a team.
All successful projects are built on the collaboration of everyone. This can only be achieved if everyone is willing to constantly clarify, verify and talk things through.
Developers do not need to be eloquent speakers. They just need to be active in expressing issues, concerns, and successes of the codes or programs they are working on.
This way, the team can assess where they are at and what are the workarounds they need to solve any issues.
Proactive employees
AI development is built on innovative and fresh ideas. The only way for these to be generated is if they actively participate in meetings and share buy-ins.
But most importantly, proactive entails the openness of these AI programmers to be trained and accept criticisms of their work. Having this kind of mindset will allow for a more harmonious working relationship.
