A Broad Array of Options Available to Develop AI Skills
While coming at us like a freight train, in a lot of ways artificial intelligence isn’t new, it has been built upon the foundational aspects of technology. As University of Pennsylvania engineering professor Chris Callison-Burch shares, “artificial intelligence has a very long history,” while reminding us that “the term itself was coined in the 1950’s.”
Callison-Burch has started up an AI-centric program of study at Penn, but you don’t have to be an Ivy Leaguer to figure out AI and how it can benefit you. In the Reading area Alvernia University has a well-rounded AI program. The course catalogue at Reading Area Community College has some solid technology courses with a strong component of data science and AI. Moving out from us a bit Kutztown University has an AI course of study as well.
As with most with existing computer skills are understandably the early adopters. But we all need to learn about AI, even though most of us involved in busy careers and everything else that accompanies life don’t necessarily have time to seek out college and university programs to do so. Not all of us have the advantage of time, which is in the corner of the groups of students that regularly visit Direct LTx for presentations on infrastructure and tours of our data center.
Fortunately, with an understandable desire to have their AI platforms be adopted by as many people as possible AI providers are rushing to provide free educational programs to potential users.
Google, Microsoft, Anthropic, IBM, and Open AI are just a few of the major companies looking to benefit from AI that offer self-driven learning at no cost to users. As always, YouTube is also a great place to search. It might be best to focus on the platform you or your employer already use, or are most likely to adopt. But if there isn’t a clear choice for you there is NO bad option among those programs, as AI skills are largely transferrable from one platform to the next.
Promotions, job offers, and other new opportunities will favor those who are conversant with artificial intelligence, who are actively learning how to implement it into their careers. Those who worry about AI without taking action to develop their skills and knowledge will be far less likely to have the benefit of those opportunities.
As a state, as a city, and as individuals we have to realize AI is here and react accordingly, particularly if AI would benefit us in navigating our desired career paths and achieving our personal goals.