Are you thinking of jumping on an artificial intelligence study + career path? Here’s some excellent advice!
To find out how important maths and data is to a future career in AI, we spoke with Brooke Jamieson, Head of Enable – AI/ML and Data at Blackbook.ai, an Australian company that specialises in artificial intelligence (AI), automation and analytics. They use their AI know-how and cutting-edge tech to solve all kinds of business problems for their clients.
CwS: Hey Brooke! Why is maths so important in AI and automation?
B: Mathematics is all about creatively solving problems using technical frameworks, and working in AI and automation is quite similar! Just like in mathematics, being able to break down a big AI or automation problem into smaller and more manageable chunks means you can build on what you know already, even if you’re the first one to attack a given problem. Obviously there’s lots of mathematics behind the scenes in AI/ML and data science, but the creative problem solving aspect is really important too!
CwS: What’s your top tip for students who want a career in this area?
B: Make the most of the opportunities around you! There are so many resources and programs out there for people wanting to learn to code, or to participate in a hackathon, or attend a workshop. Have a look around for what’s available near you, and don’t be afraid to have a go! There are so many opportunities in emerging tech fields, which can make it a bit tricky to work out what your path will look like. The best thing to help with this is meeting people in your local community who are working on things that interest you!
Brooke’s study and career path
- Bachelor of Science, Extended Major in Mathematics, The University of Queensland
- Graduate Certificate of Data Engineering, Computer Science, The Australian National University
- Data Scientist & Marketing Coordinator, Connected Vision
- Data Analyst & Marketing Coordinator, Videopro Group
- Analytics Lead, PlaceOS
- Head of Enablement – AI/ML and Data, Blackbook.ai
More on AI careers…
- What is artificial intelligence?
- Kicking off a career in artificial intelligence
- Quiz: What’s your artificial intelligence job?
- Automation naton: A guide to AI careers
This article originally appears in Careers with STEM: Maths & Data 2022.
