It seems we’ve finally made it to the point in time that all those people in the 1960s imagined. You know, where they thought robots were going to take over the world?
Well, maybe that’s not quite what’s happening, but it’s no secret that artificial intelligence, or AI as it’s commonly known, seems to suddenly have a very big place in our world. From apps you can get on your phone for a bit of fun, to fully-fledged machine learning that’s changing the world, AI is a vast and ever-changing area of technology.
The question is, how do you get a job working with it?
Well, while several AI companies actually create these technologies, more and more ‘regular’ businesses are starting up their own AI divisions. Many software development companies employ AI developers or machine learning engineers to create models that can better their existing software. Seek has hundreds of AI jobs advertised across a range of industries and companies.
The biggest Australian AI companies
There are lots of companies in Australia that either have AI as their main focus or a significant AI department – here are just a few of them.
BrainChip
BrainChip was the first company to market neuromorphic AI, which uses special hardware to mimic the function of the human brain. The company has offices across the world, but its corporate headquarters is based in Sydney, Australia.
Appen
Appen specialises in providing the data other companies need to power their AI models. While its corporate headquarters is based in New South Wales, many of its jobs are remote, with a focus on global reach.
Canva
Canva is one of the most well-known graphic design platforms, and it’s recently started incorporating AI to help users generate their designs. Canva has offices across the globe, including its headquarters in Sydney.
Palantir
Palantir is an American company that specialises in ‘big data analytics’. The company works mostly with government bodies and big corporations to help them use data in their decision-making. Palantir is headquartered in the US but has Australian staff in Sydney and Canberra.
How to get a job in AI
There are many ways you could enter into an AI career, ranging from joining a company that uses AI in its day-to-day processes to working in AI sales. But, if you really want to get involved in the future of AI, your best option is to enrol in a course of study and learn what it’s all about.
Short courses
There are plenty of short courses available. Some are just a few hours long while others are up to 12 months. These courses cover things like the basics of AI, how it can be used in a business sense and current AI tools, and offer advice from leading AI experts. A short course can be a great way to dip your toe into the world of AI and see if it’s something you want to pursue!
Here are a few options:
- Introduction to Artificial Intelligence – The Institute of Applied Technology NSW
- AI is my CoPilot – AIM Short Courses
- Diploma of Artificial Intelligence – Monarch Institute
- Programming with Python – RMIT
Undergraduate degrees
If you’re ready to commit to learning more about the world of AI and how you can work within it, an undergraduate degree might be the right choice for you. Many of these courses not only look at the fundamentals of AI but also their application in software development and other areas of IT, which will help set you up in your career.
Here are a few undergraduate options:
- Bachelor of Artificial Intelligence – University of Technology Sydney
- Bachelor of Artificial Intelligence – Deakin
- Bachelor of Computer Science, Major in Artificial Intelligence – Swinburne University of Technology
Postgraduate degrees
Maybe you’ve already started or completed an undergraduate degree, but you’re looking at expanding your knowledge and working with AI. These courses allow you to hone your skills and finepoint the areas of AI you’re interested in working in.
Here are a few postgraduate options:
- Graduate Certificate of Artificial Intelligence – Deakin
- Master of Artificial Intelligence – RMIT
- Graduate Certificate in Applied Artificial Intelligence – Charles Sturt University
And don’t forget, to work with AI, you don’t need to study it specifically. Many professionals come into the field through working in software engineering/development. As long as you have an interest in learning more about AI and machine learning, and the ability to code, then you’re on the right track!
