Preparing for a Career in AI

By Joy Victor
May 23, 2024 | 7:01 AM

Earlier this year, we shared the news we’d begin hosting meetups, panels, code jams, social events, and workshops to further build and invest in our community. Our first event was a panel discussing 'Preparing for a Career in Artificial Intelligence (AI)' with a cross-functional group of leaders in the AI space–from Engineering, to Developer Advocacy to Product.

The panel featured a diverse group of leaders in the AI space, with our very own Beth Laing, moderating.

Jerome Hardaway: A software engineer at Microsoft and the Executive Director of Vets Who Code, a project helping veterans learn software engineering using AI.
Cecelia Martinez: Lead developer advocate at OutSystems, an AI-driven low-code platform, and an active member of Atlanta’s tech community, especially supporting the LGBTQ+ community.
Jairobe McPherson: A cloud engineer at Google with a focus on AI and Machine Learning (ML) solutions for government clients.
Neel Shivdasani: Product lead for the AI division at Automattic, the company behind WordPress and Tumblr, and he organizes AI-focused meetups in Atlanta.

AI Career Journeys

The panelists shared how they got into AI. Jerome Hardaway noted that his entry into AI was a result of a natural progression from his data and Python work into AI, while Cecelia Martinez described herself as a late adopter who only accepted AI as tools became more accessible. Jairobe McPherson and Neel Shivdasani got into AI due to the organic integration of AI into their existing tech careers.

Different Roles in AI

The panel mentioned a plethora of AI roles, both new and soon-to-popular in coming years. They include; AI ethicists, AI engineers, Cost Efficiency Managers, MLOps professionals, AI Evangelists, UX Researchers, and Technical Consultants. They also highlighted that specialty roles might also exist in the future, such as software marketers, designers, or copywriters who specialize in AI.

Breaking into AI

For those without a tech background, Cecelia recommended using AI to learn AI concepts, while Jerome advised starting with prompt engineering on ChatGPT Plus as a low-hanging fruit. Jairobe said to focus on solving problems rather than just the technology, and Neel encouraged utilizing domain expertise to apply AI solutions.