If you thought a career move to Artificial Intelligence was smart before the pandemic hit, you were right. But it’s an even smarter career choice now.
Many experts believe that AI is key to tackling the COVID crisis. Hospitals are increasingly relying on AI to diagnose patients and track disease outbreaks and movements. The government needs AI for contact tracing and resource deployment. Private companies are using AI for everything from to monitoring the new working-from-home environment to supply chains.
AI job opportunities are expected to grow by 16 percent this year alone.
It gets better. The tech industry has finally begun to recognize that women represent an untapped and abundant resource. And AI is the place where women are being welcomed into the family of tech professionals.
Indeed, a new IBM report revealed that 85% of AI professionals think the industry has become more diverse — i.e., it includes more women — in recent years. And that diversity, they say, has had a positive impact on the technology.
Lisa Bouari, executive director at OutThought AI Assistants and a recipient of IBM’s Women Leaders in AI awards, said more needs to be done to encourage women into the industry and keep them there. But she’s hopeful that the surge in demand for AI currently can help drive the industry forward.
Certainly the COVD pandemic is doing its part to create numerous AI career opportunities for both men and women.