Wednesday 20 January 2016

An intelligent choice - Organisational Efficiency

 With increasing emphasis on robotics, Artificial Intelligence offers immense growth potential
Nishit Sood

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a branch of Computer Science that enables machines and robots to perform tasks such as speech and visual recognition, translation of languages and virtual decision making on behalf of human beings. Today, the use of artificial intelligence is not restricted to gaming and data management, its ambit has encompassed a variety of applications in almost every industry, be it automobile, health, education or hospitality. People are desperately awaiting the driverless cars of Google and Apple based on autonomous vehicle technology whereas robots had already made their entry into the health and medicine sector. 
 

Scope of Artificial Intelligence in the businesses of tomorrow
US, Japan, UK and France are the countries which are spending billions of dollars on the research and development of AI goods and services. Though it is a relatively new concept in India, both the government and research institutes are working aggressively to adopt this revolutionary technology in the defence, investigation, banking and education sectors. Innefu Labs, a Delhi based IT and Information Security firm, has developed a multi-factor authentication device for the security of government agencies and corporate. The face and speech recognition system developed by Innefu is shielding the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) from various security threats. 

Sparkling career prospects for AI Professionals
Various studies have confirmed that between 2015 and 2017, the global estimated growth of robot installations is expected to increase by 12% annually on a CAGR basis. The artificial intelligence industry is growing rapidly and the demand for AI engineers, architects, developers and data scientists is soaring high day after day. In fact, these are the AI engineers who are the architects of the future and the pilots of tomorrow's energy, space, defense, pharmaceuticals, automotive, textile, health and medicine, hospitality, entertainment and other prominent industries. 

Where to study Artificial Intelligence in India
In India, there are many reputed institutions which provide courses in Artificial Intelligence. Some of the prominent engineering colleges are listed below.
  • IITs in Delhi, Mumbai, Kanpur, Chennai and Kharagpur
  • Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
  • National Institute of Technology, New Delhi
  • University of Technology & Management, Kolkata
  • University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad
  • Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Hyderabad
The road ahead
Alike Google, there are dozens of firms in the mobility and IT sector, which are keen to enter into the AI/robotics engineering sector and are ready to unleash a plethora of business and employment opportunities across the globe because AI is the next big change after Internet and mobile technology. Therefore, engineers with specialisation in AI have ample job opportunities across the world. In India too, the future of AI professionals is rather bright and nimble because the government, policy makers and business leaders are keen to promote indigenous brands and technology under the 'Make In India' and 'Digital India' campaign initiated by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

— The author is CEO & MD, Yoma Multinational Solutions LLP