Artificial Intelligence is entering both work and entertainment, as increasingly experts agree that some jobs will be automated, and some industries will never look the same. Below, we outline 4 potential degrees and career programs that will be relevant even as technology progresses.
Data Science
Data science degrees have become increasingly popular among people with strong backgrounds in Maths, programming, and even natural sciences like physics or neuroscience. The reason is that data science is relevant to most areas of our lives, including several key industries.
Data science jobs are in high demand across industries and have lucrative salary potential. In the US, average data scientist jobs can reach $123,000 and above. For digital nomads, an added benefit of these jobs is that most of them can be done remotely.
Data science jobs always require a strong analytical mindset and attention to detail, and the jobs are highly competitive. As the job descriptions develop as quickly as the new technologies do, the job also requires continuous training.
Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity experts are responsible for a variety of tasks, including protecting the IT infrastructure, devices, and even whole networks. For those with a law background, cybersecurity law could be an interesting career to transition to – experts in this field deal with non-technical aspects of cybersecurity, and several companies need both lawyers and more technical experts.
There is currently a critical need for experts in cybersecurity due to the increased risk of cyber threats both across the private and public sectors. These jobs also provide strong job security, as there are not enough experts in the field and the demand outweighs the supply. Especially secure are government jobs since once hired, governments prefer to keep the cybersecurity experts in the public sector. Some other opportunities of employment include healthcare, business, and management consulting sectors.
It has to be said that the nature of these jobs is stressful and people who want to enter this field should be prepared for a degree of stress. The work hours can also be demanding, as you will probably have to work overtime or during irregular hours.
AI and Machine Learning
Just like jobs in data science, machine learning jobs are highly relevant as AI develops and the need for experts will grow rather than shrink, so the job prospects are quite secure. Like with cybersecurity, in this industry demand outweighs the supply of experts. Salaries are high, and people can often progress quickly to more senior positions quicker than in other industries.
People with this degree can find employment in a variety of industries, including healthcare and gambling, with the latter being a surprising one to many. However, there are numerous online casino in Australia platforms that operate fully digitally, with innovative offerings, such as crypto slots, digital poker, and live dealer games. Considering their digitalization backgrounds, these platforms will likely experience the AI effect first, hence people with degrees in AI and Machine Learning will be in demand on a national scale.
AI allows users to observe their behavioral data – how they play and which casino games they are more successful at. Users can then use machine learning algorithms to analyze their data and choose which online gambling opportunities to pursue and which not. Companies also might want to be aware of these behavioral patterns, and this is where the relevant education comes in handy.
AI can also be used to compare different online gambling options so the users can make more informed decisions – as modern language-learning models work better than traditional Google search, and can often be more insightful. A key application of AI for gambling in countries like Australia is that it can also analyze tax information, as some gambling-derived revenue is taxed differently than regular income. Companies that are able to assist their users with tax information will be ahead of others, and hence they will be incentivized to hire an AI specialist.
Like with the previous two jobs, this job and hence the degree requirements are highly technical and require a good command of Math at least at a Calculus level, as well as knowledge of Python and other programming languages.
There is some concern about the ethics of machine learning jobs due to the irregularity of AI safety guidelines and virtually non-existent frameworks of regulation, with the EU being an exception.
Renewable Energy Engineering
Renewable energy engineers build solutions for greener and more efficient energy use, with a focus on solutions that harm the environment the least. Degree programs in this field require both a high level of technical knowledge and some creativity. A background in biology can help as well, as many energy solutions take inspiration from naturally occurring phenomena.
This degree would be good for people who care about the environment and ethical components of their careers, and those passionate about contributing to energy preservation. You can find employment in both the public and private sectors, with private sector jobs hiring quicker and for higher salaries.
That being said, these jobs can often require relocation to different regions and involve hard working conditions. Currently, the Middle East is one of the leaders in terms of hiring experts in this industry, and relocation to the region comes with a high salary but difficult weather conditions.