AI jobs – what are the top artificial intelligence jobs right now?

If you want a career that offers promising long-term prospects, AI is the niche you’re looking for. We break down the current demand for particular artificial intelligence specialists and the qualifications it takes to get a good job.

Artificial intelligence quickly became an integral part of our professional and personal lives. Today, a big part of IT vacancies are somehow linked to different branches of AI. Are you wondering which direction you should take in order to find your first well-paid job as an IT specialist? Or maybe you are looking for tips that will help you upgrade your career in the IT world? Artificial intelligence may be a good specialization to pick. 

In our article, we analyze the most popular artificial intelligence jobs at the moment and those which may become profitable in the near future. Our ranking is based on observations from various job boards and statistics but also the recent AI trends across sectors. Check which careers in AI are worth your attention!

#1 data scientist

With the AI boom, the demand for data scientists has skyrocketed. In the last ten years, the number of such vacancies grew a few hundred percent, and in the last few years, they have become even more scarce on the job market despite an increasing number of people choosing this career path. 

Without a data scientist, it would not be possible to implement any artificial intelligence-based system or feature. It is the data scientist who builds the models in the integrated development environment so that they can further be adapted for a specific purpose. Their responsibilities include the cleaning and preparation of the datasets so that they can help solve specific problems.

When you hear “data scientist”, you likely think “Python”, and that’s a good clue. Python is the most in-demand programming language at the moment, and it results from the rising demand for data scientists. Looking at some reports, it is visible that Python is the most demanded data scientist skill, the following being SQL and R.

#2 AI engineer

A data scientist’s role is critical for any artificial intelligence project, but it doesn’t mean you can successfully implement an AI solution with only data scientists on board. AI engineering is another specialist the AI projects can’t do without. They work with the models built by data scientists, creating a deployable version of the model and integrating it with the products or solutions. 

The data scientists provide the foundation to work with, but it’s up to AI engineers for artificial intelligence to actually serve its purpose. It’s them who build APIs that will connect the models to the service. AI engineers’ role in the project may concentrate on safety, model inference, or product development, depending on the specifics of the project and its size. 

#3 data architect

Even though the roles of data scientist and data architect intersect, these are two different positions. Both have an essential role in the project, but in the case of a data architect, the focus is on actual data rather than on its processing for the purpose of model construction. It is their role to define the data structures within the company or the system it develops and make sure the data flow is smooth and facilitated. They also contribute to the construction of security systems, making sure that data is processed and stored safely, without violating the security norms.

Other promising AI jobs

AI engineers, data scientists, data architects, etc., have core competencies that allow them to work on various projects that involve artificial intelligence. But AI is a broad umbrella term that involves various technologies, from computer vision to NLP (Natural Language Processing). The more experience and expertise you have in a specific field, the more likely you will land a profitable job in a growth-stimulating project. Maybe you will become a biometric systems specialist or a developer of generative algorithms that focus on image creation? Or, become a Conversation designer who trains chatbots to respond more naturally and elaborately to the inquiries? There are various artificial intelligence careers you can pick!