Posts published on November 6, 2017

How AI Experience Can Strengthen Your Resume

BY COSSETTE JARRETT

 Many discussions about the future of artificial intelligence (AI) stem from conversations surrounding the “digital divide.” With almost one-fifth of the country without access to broadband internet, we still see an advantage for people with easy access as they tend to succeed academically and professionally. That is, they make good grades, complete postsecondary studies, and earn a higher pay grade. People without that access differ, often struggling to complete college and find a competitive job.

But internet access may eventually become one of many types of digital divides. Another looms: artificial intelligence. Companies like Google and Amazon are already preparing themselves for the boom in AI technology, and companies that aren’t prepared could be left behind. As that shift happens, it could also create a divide for employees — between those with AI experience and those without it. Having AI experience on your resumé could keep you at the forefront when searching for a job.

College students should prepare for this possible reality by learning about artificial intelligence today. Doing so helps you think through career plans, build an attractive job profile, and land your dream job.

What Is Artificial Intelligence?

Artificial intelligence strives to make computers think and act like humans, except better. The human brain can comprehend and consciously react to only a fraction of the data thrown at it. A computer, by contrast, apprehends and responds instinctively to all the data fed to it. It learns, too, stemming fatal flaws and repeated mistakes.

You should also know that AI serves as an umbrella term. From it flows things like machine learning, neural networks, and reinforcement learning. Digital Trends offers a good resource on the different types of artificial intelligence, not to mention a tongue-in-cheek Silicon Valley analogy.

Finally, also remember that people place AI in distinct categories or speak of specific applications, such as the aforementioned machine learning. To grow your understanding of what AI is and can do, check out the following three resources:

 

  1. Government Technology: What Is Artificial Intelligence?
  2. Harvard Business Review: Deep Learning’s Next Frontier
  3. Udacity: Intro to Artificial Intelligence

Are Companies Investing in AI?

In a word, yes, companies are investing in AI. Grand View Research recently published its findings concerning the global AI market. It anticipates the market will grow to nearly $36 billion by 2025, far, far beyond its current market size of a little over $400 million. Primary drivers of this growth include advancements in both dynamic artificial intelligence solutions and the commercial prospects of AI deployment.

Other research firms offer corollary evidence. Accenture, for example, pronounces, “Artificial intelligence is the future of growth.” The firm explains AI could change “the nature of work and create a new relationship between man and machine,” enabling unforeseen levels of workplace productivity and efficiency.

At Forbes, one author writes of several verticals investing in AI, ranging from automotive and health care to agriculture and financial services. For further reading — and a check on all the hype — visit these three sources:

 

  1. McKinsey: How Artificial Intelligence Can Deliver Real Value to Companies
  2. Gartner: AI Technologies Will Be in Almost Every New Software Product by 2020
  3. The Guardian: Artificial Intelligence Commission Needed to Predict Impact

Which Companies Are Already Using Artificial Intelligence?

You probably guessed “Silicon Valley,” and you’re right. Silicon Valley is no stranger to the realm of artificial intelligence. San Jose, in particular, is a boomtown; Ethan Baron, reporter for The Mercury News, says the city offers “cheaper office rent and older tech workers — to a rapidly expanding cohort of companies focused on artificial intelligence.” (San Jose’s mayor simplifies the situation to “San Francisco has the gamers, we have the grownups.”)

Even Defense Secretary James Mattis envies Silicon Valley. During a West Coast tour, he confessed to WIRED his concern that the Pentagon lags behind the tech industry in embracing and integrating artificial intelligence. His statement is apropos, considering several tech giants — Amazon, Google, and Facebook among them — call Silicon Valley home and boast strong artificial intelligence initiatives.

But Silicon Valley isn’t the only place to find enviable positions in computer science and artificial intelligence. Nonprofits around the world use the technology to make an impact in the lives of their beneficiaries. And Frank Chen, a Silicon Valley venture capitalist at Andreessen Horowitz, encourages “everyone developing any kind of technology-based tool to know that AI has something to offer them.”

Cosette is a tech journalist and editor. You can find her work on sites like VentureBeat, TechCrunch, The Next Web, and Mashable. 

New Apps for College Students Help College Success

BY ANTON LUCANUS

In an age of instant information, computers and computer technology are inextricably woven into our daily lives. Computer scientist Ralph Johnson said, “Software is not limited by physics, like buildings are. It is limited by imagination, by design, by organization. In short, it is limited by properties of people, not by properties of the world.”

With information technology and the rise of popularity of the mobile phone, and, later, the birth of the smart phone in 2007, “applications,” better known as “Apps” came into being. Apps are the software allowed to run on smartphones. The number of apps in the world, their quality and purpose are an irreversible and rising trend. In fact, tech writer David Pogue says smart phones should be known as app phones emphasizing the importance of apps in smartphones.

During the 28 years following English scientist Tim Berners-Lee’s introduction of the World Wide Web, the world of information technology has passed several milestones. According to the Global Digital Report 2017, more than half the world now uses a smartphone and almost two-thirds of all people in the world own a mobile phone. Studies also show that 99.8% of college students have either mobile phones or smartphones. Most students primarily use their phones to text and run apps. They rarely make phone calls.

As different needs arise in endless succession, companies in many countries are engaged in app development today. Among the communities who zealously pursue apps are college students who have realized the vast potential in developing apps that make life more comfortable and less challenging. In fact, Apple recently launched a new app development curriculum for students desiring to pursue careers in the rapidly surging app economy. In the US, six community colleges that include a total of 500,000 students, hope to introduce this new cutting-edge curriculum on app development designed by Apple engineers and educators.

On the other hand, there are also apps available to make college life less challenging for college students in the US.

Here are five such apps –

  • Exam Vocabulary Builder – this is an app focused on improving and enhancing English language vocabulary of college freshmen, graduates entrance exam takers, those engaged in professional advancement and for students seeking language proficiency. It is a tremendous help to students whose first language is not English. The app uses “spaced repetition” for greater retention. Apart from search and organize features, it includes Study, Flashcard and Quiz to nudge the students forward.
  • Coursera – mobile app helps students to study a selection of courses to supplement their college studies. This app also introduces students to subjects before they begin a new semester. This boosts the students’ chances of getting excellent grades, getting on the Dean’s Honor List, and winning awards and scholarships.
  • Flashcards+ – This app was created by the 19-year old whiz kid tech entrepreneur Connor Zwick, during his senior year of high school. It includes pronunciation assistance for 22 languages, millions of flashcard decks from the Quizlet app, deck shuffling etc.
  • Dragon Dictation – helps students digitally type up anything when they talk into the app. What the Dragon Dictation app types up, can be pasted onto other apps, send as an email message or save for later.
  • Google Drive – helps students take notes, draw diagrams, create spreadsheets, build presentations and keep them all in the cloud and access them from a mobile app.

Some might say that the brain is the only study tool a student needs. However, as the Minion quote goes, “My brain is like the Bermuda Triangle. Information goes in, and then it’s never found again.”

Apps developed especially for students will ensure this does not happen.

 

Byline – Anton Lucanus is the Director of Neliti. During his college years, he maintained a perfect GPA, was published in a top cancer journal, and received many of his country’s most prestigious undergraduate scholarships. Anton writes for The College Puzzle as a means to share the lessons learnt throughout his degree and to guide current students to achieve personal and educational fulfilment during college life.