What is Artificial Intelligence? Is it the right choice?

The term may sound highly technical and intimidating, but Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become an integral part of our everyday lives. It has pervaded our routine to such an extent that life without AI in the future not only seems difficult and uncomfortable but almost impossible.

From navigation, biometric detection on cell phones, autosuggestions, Google search to customised suggestions for online shopping, Netflix, etc., we are probably not even aware of how much we rely for our daily needs on AI-supported programs. The world is moving towards the Fourth Industrial Revolution involving digital and smart automation which is largely powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI).

What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a branch of computer science which involves enabling computers or machines to solve problems like humans. Machines are designed to replicate human intelligence processes and behaviours, thereby enabling machines to perform tasks which typically require human intelligence. AI does not require to be pre-programmed to perform a task, rather it creates and uses its “own intelligence” with the help of algorithms.

Types of Artificial Intelligence

On the basis of capability and functionality, AI can be broadly divided into 2 types: Type A and Type B. Type A is based on capabilities whereas Type B is based on functionality.

Type A: Based on Capabilities

Based on capabilities Type A is further divided into 3 categories:

1. Narrow AI ­ - Narrow AI has the ability to perform only a specific task with precision and accuracy according to its intelligence. Performing tasks beyond its specific area would lead to its failure which is why it is also known as Weak AI.

Some examples of Narrow AI are: Apple’s Siri, Google Assistant, speech recognition, image recognition, automated suggestions on online shopping applications, chats, customised social media newsfeeds, self-driving cars, etc.

2. General AI – General AI, also known as strong AI, has the ability to perform any given task with human intelligence and accuracy. It aims at creating an intelligent system which can think on its own, just like a human. It is being researched and currently, no system of general AI has been demonstrated yet.

3. Super AI - Super intelligent artificial intelligence is based on the premise that machines could one day exceed human intelligence and perform all tasks which a human can perform with complete efficiency.

Hence, we are still in the first stage of AI and there is a lot to be accomplished in this field. It is an emerging field with a wide range of options and opportunities in the future.

Type 2 Artificial Intelligence: Based on Functionality

1. Limited Memory – This type of AI allows machines to store previous data and use that data to make future decisions or predictions. The most popular example of this type of intelligence is self-driving cars.

2. Reactive Machines – This type of AI does not rely on storage of data for future decisions or actions but on current situations to determine its action. Some examples of this type are chess-playing supercomputers, OTT platform recommendations, spam filters on emails etc.

3. Theory of Mind - This type of AI is an effort to develop machines which would have human qualities such as feelings, emotions, ideologies, beliefs and be able to socially understand and interact with other human beings. This type does not exist as yet but is being worked upon.

4. Self-awareness - This type of AI is still a hypothetical concept and hasn’t been developed. If developed, we would have machines which would be cleverer than humans and have their own consciousness and self-awareness.

Top Universities/Institutes to Pursue Artificial Intelligence

While there are many Universities and institutes which offer courses in Artificial Intelligence in India, Shoolini University garners special attention and a special mention among them.

Shoolini University, located in Solan, Himachal Pradesh has a dedicated school for Artificial Intelligence School – Yogananda School of AI, Computer and Data Science.

Among the Top 200 Universities in the world (THE Impact Rankings), the university’s engineering programs have been awarded a Diamond rating by QS-I Gauge, a prestigious worldwide university ranking agency.

Courses Offered:

1. BTech CSE Artificial Intelligence

This is a 4-year degree course where the students will study specific subjects related to AI such as Design Thinking, Machine learning, natural language processing, etc. During the course, the students get an opportunity to enrol for certification with Amazon Web Services Academy. The Academy helps them in getting placed in major industry roles in the field of AI.

2. BTech CSe Big Data Analytics

This is a 4-year degree course where students learn about current and emerging Big Data-related techniques and theories, including statistics, data mining, data storage, and data visualisation.

3. BTech CSE Artificial Intelligence Research

This research-based program aims at enabling students to build intelligent machines. Shoolini is No. 1 university in research (Citation Index) in India and No. 6 in Asia (QS Asian Rankings).

Rankings

Shoolini University is a distinguished and illustrious university for pursuing a professional degree in Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics. This is reflected in the rankings that it has received from many prestigious national and international ranking agencies.

THE Impact Ranking: Top 200 University globally

SCIMAGO: 17^th in India for Research

QS Ranking: Diamond Rating (Engineering), 1^st in India (Citation)

NIRF Rank: School of Engineering: 103

Intellectual Property Rights (Govt of India): 3rd in Patent Filing

Located in the beautiful Kasauli hills, this premier institution of learning provides a perfect campus for young students who get to study in the lap of nature. The faculty and infrastructure are also among the best in the world. Along with this, the university provides great exposure to students in the form of industry visits, collaborations with other universities and industries, etc.

Placements

Shoolini University can boast of excellent placements of its students in leading companies with lucrative pay packages. The Placement Cell at the university guides and helps the students with their placements in companies which visit the campus for recruitment on a regular basis. Students have been placed in top companies, such as Cognizant, Automation Engineer, Hughes Systique Corporation Pvt. Ltd., Software Developer, Tunicalabs Media Pvt. Ltd., among others.

The various sectors which employ Artificial Intelligence experts are Healthcare, Sports and fitness, Education, Online shopping,, Research etc. Hence, the scope of AI is vast and requires tapping.

Career Opportunities in Artificial Intelligence

Jobs in the sector of Artificial Intelligence provide professional growth along with excellent pay packages. The following are some of the lucrative careers which can be pursued after studying Artificial Intelligence.

1. Data Scientist - Collects data and analyses it for various purposes related to the organisation.

2. AI Specialist – Specialises in Artificial Intelligence and develops programs to simulate human intelligence and behaviour.

3. Machine learning engineer - The task of a machine learning engineer is to develop software to operate AI tools.

4. Robotics Engineer - They deal with Designing and maintaining Robots.

5. NLP Engineer – Natural Language Processing Engineers specialise in languages, both written and spoken. Some of the areas which use this technology are voice assistance, speech recognition, document processing, etc.

Artificial Intelligence and Data Science are the future of technology. With great breakthroughs and innovations in this field, it has revolutionised the job market. AI will lead the world to a new era of economic growth and job opportunities. If you are interested in making a difference in this ever-expanding field of science, then Artificial Intelligence is the right

Note: The views expressed in this article are that of Shoolini University and do not reflect/represent those of Shiksha