Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence is well known as AI and an umbrella term for “smart” technologies that are aware of and can learn from their environments. More than just a single independent technology AI is making smart devices smarter, data more valuable and turning autonomous vehicles into reality.
AI enables machines to sense their environments, think, learn and respond on their own, becoming increasingly self-governing and perform tasks that would normally require human intelligence. They do this by recognizing and interpreting digitized text, sound and images, making it possible to answer questions, suggest solutions and diagnose problems or take actions.
Growing adoption of technology across various industries and the need for trained professionals have been making AI a thriving career choice. AI is used in almost every industry, from entertainment to transportation and offers many unique and viable career opportunities.
Courses
When it comes to AI education and training, the Indian education system is still at a nascent stage (from 12th class students’ point of view). Most of the AI courses available in India are aimed at engineering graduates! In other words, majority of AI programs in India belong to PG (postgraduate) academic level! However, there are few institutes offering B Tech. programs in AI.
An AI aspirant can also do his/her UG in relevant programs and pursue specialization in AI at PG level (M. Tech. / M. E.).
Relevant B Tech. Programs
- Tech. – Computer Science
- Tech. – EC Engineering
- Tech. – Electrical Engineering
- Tech. – Electronics Engineering
- Tech. – Robotics and Automation
After completing an AI-specific or AI-relevant UG level program, graduates may apply for PG (M. Tech. / M. E.) admission.
Required Skills
Most careers in artificial intelligence require a sound understanding of mathematics and science-related topics like:
Computer science: data structures, programming, logic and efficiency
Mathematics: statistics, probability, predictions, calculus, algebra, Bayesian algorithms and logic
Science: physics, mechanics, cognitive learning theory, language processing
Eligibility Criteria
The basic eligibility requirement for admissions to any B. Tech. / BSc / BCA programme is:
- Candidates must have passed Class 10+2 exam from a recognised board with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics as core subjects.
- They must also have secured a minimum aggregate mark of 60% in the above subjects combined.
Most of the institutions requires a bachelor’s degree in relevant field of engineering or equivalent with at least 55% marks. The eligibility criteria may vary from institute to institute. Please see below eligibility criteria of some institutions.
IIT: GATE score or with a B-Tech degree/MSc (Math/Applied Math) degree from any IIT.
IISc: BE / B Tech or an equivalent degree and valid GATE score
VIT: B.E / B. Tech Degree in any Branch / MCA or any other equivalent degree. Candidates should have graduated with a full-time degree from any recognized University/Institute with a minimum aggregate of 60% or First class
Amrita School of Engineering: B.E. / B. Tech. (CSE, IT, ECE, EEE, EIE, Information Science), MCA, MSc Computer Science, MSc IT, MSc Software Engineering.
The eligibility criteria may vary from institute to institute.
Entrance Examination
JEE Main is the main entrance examination for BE/BTech admission in important institutes including National Institute of Technology (NIT), Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Government Funded Technical Institutes (GFTI), etc.
JEE Advanced is the entrance for BE/BTech admission in Indian Institute of Technology (IIT).
GATE Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering is the entrance for ME/MTech postgraduate programs
State Level Engineering College admission is based on state level entrance exams, for example:
- APEAMCET Andhra Pradesh
- COMEDK Consortium of Medical, Engineering and Dental Colleges of Karnataka.
- KCET Karnataka Common Entrance Test
- KEAM Kerala Engineering Agriculture and Medicine
- PGCET Karnataka Post Graduate Common Entrance Test
- TNPCEE Tamil Nadu Professional Courses Entrance Examination
For most state level entrance examinations, 50% weightage is for Board Exams.
Private university / college entrance examinations
- BITSAT Birla Institute of Technology & Science
- CUET Christ University Entrance Test
- JET Jain Entrance Test
- KITEE KIIT University
- MET Manipal Entrance Test
- SRMJEEE SRM University
- VITEE Vellore Institute of Technology
Job Profiles
In every area where there are internet-connected sensors, IoT technologists will be in high demand. Here are a few common roles in the IoT field today.
- Algorithm Specialist
- Big Data Architect
- Big Data Engineer
- Business Intelligence Developer
- Computer Scientist / Engineer
- Data Mining Analyst
- Data Scientist
- Machine Learning Researcher
- Video Game Programmer
- Research Scientist
- Research Scientist
- Robotics Programmer
- Software Analyst / Developers
- Surgical Scientist with robotic tools
- Teaching
- Military / Aviation Service
Top Recruiters
There are demands for engineering graduates in several domains including the private and public sector. Several companies recruit engineers in various capacities. Here are some examples of top companies recruiting BE/BTech graduates
- Accenture
- Adobe
- Amazon
- IBM
- Intel
- Lenovo
- Microsoft
- MoTek Technologies
- NVIDIA
- PCO Innovation
- Rakuten Marketing
- Samsung
- Uber
- Wells Fargo
Institutions
Indian Institute of Technology (IITs) are the most prestigious institutes. There are 23 IITs across India, with a total intake of over 11,000 for BTech undergraduate programs in various branches. IITs also offer postgraduate program (MTech) and Bachelor-Master dual degree (BTech + MTech in 5 years) and Doctoral degree (PhD).
Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) are autonomous institutions offering technical education focused on the Information Technology and Communication Studies. IIITs have gained popularity among students are considered among the top colleges only after Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and National Institutes of Technology (NITs). However, there are a total of 25 IIITs in India, five of which are listed as the Institutes of National Importance while the remaining 18 IIITs are set up on the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model
National Institutes of Technology (NITs) is there one in most states. There are 31 NITs with a total intake of over 10,000 for BTech undergraduate programs. Most NITs offer MTech as well as Bachelor-Master dual degrees.
Government Funded Technical Institutes (GFTI). There are 23 GFTIs with a total intake of over 9,000 seats for BTech.
In every state in India, there are Government Engineering Colleges, Aided Engineering Colleges and Self-Financing Engineering Colleges. State Level Engineering Colleges are available in this link.
Before joining a course, please ensure that the course in the given institution is approved by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
Questions & Answers
Q) What is artificial intelligence?
A) AI can be described as an area of computer science that simulates human intelligence in machines. It’s about smart algorithms making decisions based on the available data. Whether it’s Amazon’s Alexa or a self-driving car, the goal is to mimic human intelligence at lightning speed (and with a reduced rate of error).
Q) How will artificial intelligence change the future?
A) The impact of artificial intelligence will be greater and will happen sooner than we can prepare for. It will likely change or disrupt just about everything we experience in our lives and in society as a whole.
This will have a positive impact in many ways, creating opportunities for those who are early to adopt new tools and follow trends as changes happen, but it will also be stressful, disappointing and confusing for people who ignore or aren’t fully prepared for the changes that AI will bring.
Q) What Does an AI Engineer Do?
A) An AI engineer builds AI models using machine learning algorithms and deep learning neural networks to draw business insights, which can be used to make business decisions that affect the entire organization.
Q) What are some examples of AI in use?
A) Below are some examples of AI applications:
- Chatbots
- Facial recognition
- Image tagging
- Natural language processing
- Sales prediction
- Self-driving cars
- Sentiment analysis
Q) What Are Neural Networks, and How Do They Relate to AI?
A) Neural networks are a class of machine learning algorithms. The neuron part of neural is the computational component, and the network part is how the neurons are connected. Neural networks pass data among themselves, gathering more and more meaning as the data moves along. Because the networks are interconnected, more complex data can be processed more efficiently.