The demand for professionals skilled in artificial intelligence (AI) is on the rise in Canada. Companies across various industries are seeking candidates who can develop AI-based products and utilize AI to drive efficiencies. According to Jenny Yang, a senior advisor at the MaRS innovation hub in Toronto, the ability to use AI is highly sought after by employers. This includes companies looking to use AI technologies themselves and those seeking to hire data scientists to build AI products.
Job postings indicate that several prominent companies have been actively recruiting candidates with AI and machine learning skills. For example, Porter Airlines sought an AI engineer in Toronto to solve complex problems, while Johnson & Johnson wanted a senior data scientist to stay at the forefront of AI advancements. Additionally, Yelp, Keurig Dr Pepper Canada, and other companies have been looking for professionals with expertise in generative AI, a form of machine learning that can generate text, images, and other content.
While the demand for AI skills is already significant, many believe that its impact on hiring is far from reaching its peak. A study by employment search website Indeed found that generative AI was mentioned in 17% of job postings for machine learning engineers and 5% of data scientist jobs. This suggests that the prevalence of AI skills in job postings is likely to continue growing.
Alik Sokolov, co-founder and CEO of Montreal-based AI company Responsibli, notes that the mix of skills sought by employers in the AI field has been evolving. While data scientists with AI expertise are in high demand, more traditional software engineers are also being expected to build AI products using readily available tools. This shift in expectations means that a wider range of professionals can now contribute to AI development.
As the demand for AI talent grows, some experts predict changes in organizational structures. Rob Toews, a partner at AI-focused venture capital firm Radical Ventures, suggests that chief AI officers may become part of the C-Suite at large enterprises. Additionally, there may be an increase in the presence of prompters, professionals trained to elicit effective responses from AI systems through instructions. However, others argue that prompter jobs may be short-lived, as integrating prompting into work tasks can be taught to professionals from various backgrounds.
Furthermore, while Canada has long been recognized as an AI leader, some top data scientists are being drawn to the United States due to better compensation and more opportunities. The brain drain of AI talent has become a concern, as larger companies in Canada struggle to compete with the higher salaries offered by big tech companies like Amazon.
In conclusion, the demand for AI skills in the Canadian job market is growing rapidly. Companies are seeking professionals who can develop AI-based products and utilize AI technologies to improve efficiency. The need for AI expertise extends beyond data scientists to include software engineers and developers. As competition for AI talent intensifies, some experts predict changes in organizational structures and the rise of new roles such as chief AI officers. However, the challenge for Canadian companies lies in retaining top AI talent in the face of lucrative opportunities abroad.
The source of the article is from the blog radardovalemg.com