Yes, artificial intelligence creates jobs. Photo by Andy Kelly on Unsplash

AI is creating jobs faster than new workers can be trained

Now that Toronto has become a hotbed for artificial intelligence development, the competition to hire people with training and experience in AI development is fierce.

Every day here on the front line of tech staffing in Toronto, our recruiters race to find people to fill AI related jobs.

In fact, Canada has a chance to monopolize the artificial intelligence industry, which will create many high-paying jobs with spillover effects for the middle class.

Continuous learning is the key. Not only for individuals, but also for companies that want to survive and thrive in the age of AI.

Job opportunities on the leading edge of artificial intelligence

Helping companies make sense of Big Data and to use data to be more productive. Data Science, data analysis and data visualization roles.
IoT jobs: Making homes, farms and factories more efficient. Building, repairing, developing, maintaining and supporting Alexa, Siri, wearables.
Machine learning, deep learning, natural language research. Helping companies develop, understand and use machine learning algorithms.
Robotics: designing, training, repairing, installation
Software developers, mobile developers, user interface/user experience designers
Security: Cyber-security, data security, privacy specialists
Health care: diagnostics, data analysis, using data lake to create predictive analytics.
Education: Gamification, updating curriculum, retraining teachers, creating and delivering online training.
Retraining people displaced by automation and AI, government retraining programs, corporate training, online learning

Coding AI

Development roles in artificial intelligence require higher-order critical, creative and innovative thinking.

People with high emotional intelligence, who love to collaborate (especially on Github), have a big advantage.

Coding AI: Programming languages used to build AI software

Programming languages used to develop A.I.

Humans and robots working together

Artificial intelligence, automation and the IoT is here to serve us — and it’s creating new jobs.

Amazon proves that robots and automation do not always displace employees. By doubling the number of robots in their warehouses, Amazon provides a better customer experience with faster order fulfillment.

Thanks to this virtuous cycle — more robots > happy customers > growing demand > more jobs for people — Amazon has increased their human workforce by 30-50% year over year.

Amazon shows steady growth in its employment of human workers

Amazon’s human worker headcount continues to grow in spite of rapid increase in robots

Source: Do more! What Amazon teaches us about AI and the jobless future

Automation creates demand for handmade things

The more we’re served by AI agents and surrounded by perfectly uniform products, the more we’ll crave the human touch. This creates earning opportunities for creatives.

Handwriting, sketches, hand drawn interfaces
Hand woven rugs, handmade jewelery, hand painted objects and clothes
Advisers, guides and councilors with the human perspective to help people adjust to a rapidly changing world
Human receptionists will be remarkable
Face to face meetings and nature walks
Improvisation, live comedy
Live concerts and performances
Gardening and landscaping

You can probably think of many more high-touch good and services that will keep us grounded in spite of AI everywhere.

“Human beings are relentless in their capacity to invent new ways to serve others, so we will always have new work.” Source: Robots and automation may not take your desk job after all

Retraining and adapting for the next wave of AI and automation

Machine learning, as well as the allied field of data science, is developing in a way that looks unlike most other professional career paths that preceded it. It represents both one of the most promising employment opportunities of the next few years and a model for how people entering the workforce today adapt to changes in employment demands in future. How Machine Learning Creates New Professions

Reinventing yourself for new opportunities in AI takes retraining that will stretch our brains to the max. We’ll become smarter so we can stay on top of AI.

While our current education system can’t keep up with the explosion of demand for people with AI expertise, educators are working hard to update the curriculum to prepare our children are ready for the new economy.

Elementary, high-school and university programs have to develop the skills that empower students to be leaders in the coming AI tsunami – critical thinking, teamwork, coding, algorithmic understanding and math. John Kelleher and Laura McGee, The Globe and Mail, June 23, 2017

Likewise, there’s an explosion of affordable online learning options for people who want to upgrade and qualify for these lucrative new roles.

AI is forcing us to evolve. It’s inevitable and it’s for the higher good.

Join me in using AI to improve our skills, our companies and our communities

Boy surfing on a smart phone - riding the waves of change

You can make a successful career out of riding the waves of change.

Hopefully I’ve given you plenty of reasons to stay optimistic about the rapidly changing world of employment in the age of AI.

Artificial intelligence is washing over everything. Go with the flow and join the AI revolution that’s happening right here in Toronto and around the world.

May you thrive and be more successful than ever in the age of artificial intelligence!

This article was originally published by Tim Collins for Stafflink Solutions Blog.

Tim Collins is the founder and owner of Stafflink, a technology staffing company in Toronto, Canada.

2 Comments

Tim Collins on June 27, 2017 at 4:29 pm

Thanks for your comment Jim…These AI jobs are high paying jobs which lead to many other roles such as landscaping, renovations and service industry to accommodate these high paid roles. And maybe they will all need Bruzer sweaters
Jim Gardner on June 27, 2017 at 3:15 pm

Very insightful Tim! There is a silver lining to this new AI world we are accelerating into… I will be sharing the document with my kids – hoping their path will include some of the listed opportunities above.

Most importantly, I wonder if these robots will need sweaters?