MIDDAY EXPLAINS: Surge in demand for AI ethics, machine learning and data analysis, must-have AI skills revealed

From reshaping technology to altering industries, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is set to impact the world more profoundly than any previous innovation. Not just in tech but automation in finance, healthcare, retail, gaming and almost every other domain is driving ahead AI's growing intervention in our surroundings.

Yet, concerns about automation have long overshadowed the future of work. While AI will enhance certain jobs, it is arguable that this may lead to job displacement for others. According to a recent report by Goldman Sachs, around 300 million full-time jobs globally could be vulnerable to automation by AI This includes various sectors where repetitive and data-driven tasks are more common.

But proponents of AI believe otherwise. Professor Fei-Fei Li, co-director of the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence remarks that "Artificial intelligence is not a substitute for human intelligence; it is a tool to amplify human creativity and ingenuity."

As AI continues to open new doors, upGrad's Mayank Kumar points out the future potential: According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), AI will generate 12 million new jobs by 2025 - an opportunity we cannot miss." This shift necessitates a change in how young professionals are trained, particularly in India, where a large number of youth are at the cusp of joining the workforce.

To identify the most sought-after AI skills in the current Indian job market, Midday.com roped in experts from various sectors including health, education, gaming, filmmaking and finance. Here are the key takeaways from the interactions:

Top AI skills in the healthcare ecosystem
In the contemporary landscape, where data availability is abundant, Harshit Jain, MD, Founder & Global CEO, Doceree shares that the skill of data extraction and analysis emerges as a paramount AI proficiency gaining popularity within healthcare. Through smart analysis of healthcare provider (HCP) data, AI can identify patterns in HCP behaviour, and enable pharmaceutical manufacturers to empower HCPs with knowledge or information relevant to their clinical workflow, thereby optimising patient outcomes.

Additionally, AI when used to study patient-level data in a compliant manner, offers invaluable insights into individual health histories/trajectories. This can help with personalised interventions and preventative measures.

When asked about developing a knack for AI, Jain remarked that equipping with AI skills requires practice. In his opinion, hands-on experience with real-world datasets and industry-standard tools is invaluable for translating theory into practicality However, for beginners to understand the nitty-gritty of technology, it is ideal to go for courses that are a comprehensive blend of theoretical knowledge and practical applications.

"A few online courses that I feel can offer such a blend include, AI in Healthcare Specialization Course by Stanford University; Artificial Intelligence in Pharma and Biotech by MIT or AI for Healthcare by University of Manchester. Key components of such courses include understanding AI fundamentals, machine learning algorithms and deep learning techniques relevant to healthcare data analysis. Having said that, an emphasis on ethical considerations, privacy concerns and regulatory compliance is crucial due to the sensitive nature of medical data," he added.

(L-R) Harshit Jain, MD, Founder & Global CEO, Doceree and Mayank Kumar, Co-founder & MD, upGrad

Top AI skills in business administration
Recently, upGrad has introduced a Doctorate of Business Administration in Digital Leadership with Golden Gate University, San Francisco. In less than a month, over 1,500 individuals with over 10-12 years of work experience have enrolled in the program, while overall enrollments in the GenAI program crossed 100 in just April 2024.

Other top AI skills in business involve data analysis, proficiency in machine learning to automate processes and understanding natural language processing (NLP) to enhance customer interactions and streamline communication. An industry-first pedagogy to strengthen AI leadership in India, is in the making, informs Mayank Kumar, co-founder & MD of upGrad.

Today, ed-tech companies offer AI courses for professionals looking to upskill at all stages - from freshers to seasoned experts. While free courses, certifications and boot camps are a quick way to skill up, many long-format courses in partnership with top universities have also enabled professionals to build on their expertise and become thought leaders in GenAI.

"There's always chatter about new technologies disrupting education, but instead of just disrupting, we should focus on leveraging these technologies to enhance our skilling and lifelong learning," outlines the Mumbai-based ed-tech expert.

Top AI skills in technology
Harnessing AI's potential, there is a surge in demand for professionals skilled in machine learning and AI ethics, informs Siddharth Shahani, executive president, Atlas Skilltech University, Mumbai. "It's not just about coding algorithms; it's about understanding AI's profound impact on society."

For those entering this field, he advises starting with the fundamentals. A growing number of universities are offering tech-enabled education like developing chatbots, image classifiers or predictive models and participating in hackathons. This blend of theory and practice equips graduates to drive innovation in any sector.

"Many of the university's students have gone on to roles at leading tech companies like Google, IBM and TCS, demonstrating the value of a comprehensive, industry-aligned education in today's AI-driven world," adds Shahani.

(L-R), Siddharth Shahani, Executive President, Atlas Skilltech University and Venkat Malik, co-founder and CEO, Tidal7

Top AI skills in gaming
As gaming becomes more immersive, intelligent, intuitive and responsive mimicking humans, the need for AI skills and capabilities is bound to grow substantially, outlines Venkat Malik, co-founder and CEO of a Mumbai-based digital marketing agency - Tidal7.

He informs that "Machine Learning, Deep Learning, NLP, Simulation & Modelling are all specific skills that are likely to be useful in the gaming industry as games become more realistic, human-like, agile and responsive." When asked about specific courses to acquire these skills, he directed us to Coursera and Udemy. "There are beginner's guides and specialised courses which offer introductory and advanced courses which can help in game design and development."

In various aspects of game development, such as character behaviour, procedural generation and adaptive difficulty systems, AI programming and decision-making algorithms are emerging as useful skills when building these models. Courses also equip professionals with skills used in the creation of game worlds, terrains, textures, etc, customising the level of difficulty to the player's skill level and defining their characters.

The game development platforms or engines that are worth experimenting with include Unity, and Unreal Engine for building AI-led games, adds Malik.

Also Read: AI simplifies decision-making in real estate operations, here's how

Top industrial AI skills
Adding on to the integration of AI in industrial growth, Deepak Verma, the COO of Images Bazaar informs that manufacturing industries are increasingly employing AI-powered tools and systems to save costs and enhance patient outcomes. Robotics and computer vision amongst other skills mentioned above are the most in-demand AI capabilities at the moment, he adds.

An excellent option for novices to learn these in-demand AI skills is to start with online classes and resources. Before moving on to more complex areas, he advises starting with introductory courses that give a strong foundation in AI ideas. Additionally, when you start your AI adventure, looking through beginner-friendly AI networks and forums or attending meetups relevant to AI can offer helpful networking possibilities and support.

Additionally, participating in real-world projects and practical experiences is essential to developing and demonstrating competency in AI abilities including deep learning and data science. Sentiment analysis, image identification and recommendation systems are a few useful project ideas. Working on these projects will provide you with invaluable practical experience using AI techniques to solve real-world issues, explains Verma.

When asked about the relevance of degrees in AI, he says "In the AI job market, degrees, self-taught abilities and certifications become crucial. Achieving a balance between these techniques entails employing online courses, workshops and real-world projects; along with self-taught skills. The goal is to develop a broad skill set that can satisfy the needs of the artificial intelligence sector."

(L-R), Deepak Verma, the COO of Images Bazaar and Anubhav Srivastava, head of AI at Stupa Sports Analytics

Top AI skills in sports management
Reportedly, AI has enabled sports companies to enhance performance analytics and player training. "The focus is on transforming raw data into actionable intelligence, enabling informed decision-making for players, coaches and sports organisations," shares Anubhav Srivastava, head of AI at Stupa Sports Analytics.

The integration of AI in sports demands a specific skill set, particularly for roles centred on data analytics, predictive modelling and real-time performance tracking. "The most sought-after AI skills in the sports industry include data analysis and statistics, machine learning and deep learning, computer vision, programming, and real-time data processing," informs Srivastava.

For those aspiring to entre the field of AI in sports, a combination of educational background, certifications and practical experiences is essential. A bachelor's degree in computer science, data science, artificial intelligence or a related field provides a strong foundation.

Top AI skills in broadcast and filmmaking
When it comes to the moving image, Gen AI is transforming the filmmaking and broadcast industries in a variety of ways. It brought with it efficiency in colour correction, animation, environmental effects and more labour-intensive tasks which took days to render, informs Abir Aich, executive vice president, Arena Animation, MAAC & The Virtual Production Academy by Aptech.

These technologies not only boost creativity, increase efficiency and streamline content creation production processes, but they are also being used to automate and improve various aspects of production, such as scriptwriting, creative visualisation, storyboarding and concept design, thereby driving innovation and efficiency in these creative fields, he adds.

For example, Disney's "The Lion King" (2019) used advanced AI techniques for creating photorealistic animal characters and environments, blending live action with CGI seamlessly. Then you have Warner Bros.' "Gemini Man" (2019) where AI was utilised to de-age actor Will Smith, creating a younger version of his character through deep learning and CGI. The other example is how by leveraging AI, Netflix can predict what shows or movies a user might enjoy based on their viewing history, enhancing the personalised viewing experience.

When asked about AI-integrated courses for film producers, Aich shares that it is critical to specialise in Gen AI applications for media, such as Midjourney, Runway ML, Stable Diffusion, Adobe Firefly and so on, and apply them at various stages of the creative visualisation process. Practical experience gained through industry events/projects, internships and other opportunities is critical.

Recommended courses include Andrew Ng's "Deep Learning Specialisation" and IBM's "Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI)" on edX. Specialised programs include CG Spectrum's "Real-Time 3D and Virtual Production", MAAC's specialised programs like Gen AI-powered AD3D Edge Plus and ADVFX Plus, Virtual Production Specialist from The Virtual Production Academy and community resources like Kaggle and GitHub also offer valuable learning opportunities.

AI tools for aspiring filmmakers:

1. Using AI-based platforms like ChatGPT or Jasper AI which involves filling out prompts to guide the generation of scripts.
2. Various nifty AI-enabled video editing tools to edit videos which have faster workflows and produce a short film demonstrating its capabilities.
3. Implement machine learning models for repetitive tasks like rotoscoping or CGI integration to increase efficiency in the workflow.
4. Use of AI-based motion capture tools like Rokoko and Move AI for character animation and produce a short, animated film to display the results.
5. Utilisation of AI systems for live broadcast enhancements, like automatic camera tracking and real-time subtitles, and conduct a live demo.
6. Create a speech-to-text system for subtitles and translations, and produce a multilingual video with AI-generated subtitles.

Lastly, he notes that AI experts with filmmakers and broadcasters make for a very interesting collaboration. To integrate AI successfully, filmmakers should identify the scope of usage, invest in training, leverage existing tools, start with pilot projects and collaborate with AI enablers.

(L-R) Abir Aich, Executive Vice President, Arena Animation, MAAC and Sarvagya Mishra, Co-founder & Director of Superbot

Why agencies are priortising employees adept in AI
Sarvagya Mishra, co-founder & director of the AI-powered voice agent startup - Superbot, shares that sectors spanning manufacturing and logistics to finance and communications are leveraging AI to catalyse efficiency, drive innovation and propel growth.

The capacity to cleanse, explore and extract insights from vast datasets is paramount. A robust mathematical foundation, fluency in programming languages such as Python, and hands-on experience in constructing, testing and optimising AI models are primary requisites. Fortunately, numerous pathways exist to cultivate these skills as elucidated by Mishra.

Academic institutions are rapidly expanding AI and data science degree programs to meet the soaring demand. One can pursue master's curricula or specialised short-term courses and boot camps. Moreover, immersing oneself in projects and AI coding challenges is invaluable for practical application.

The exigency is palpable - a striking 60 per cent of public IT professionals identify the AI skills gap as their paramount impediment, according to one study. With AI poised to yield hundreds of millions of hours in savings and billions in cost reductions for the public sector annually, agencies will prioritise hiring and training employees adept in these cutting-edge capabilities.

Irrespective of the chosen path, continuous upskilling and practical application will be critical to maintaining industrial AI skills commensurate with this rapidly evolving domain. Those who master these in-demand skills will be optimally positioned for long-term career growth.