‘AI training crucial for youth’

Experts call for widespread AI adoption to unlock opportunities

KARACHI:

Artificial Intelligence (AI) training is emerging as a lucrative avenue for fresh graduates, content writers, and tech enthusiasts to augment their income, outpacing traditional computer-related work, according to insights from AI strategists and consultants.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, experts argue that beyond the freelance and software programming sectors, AI can benefit businesses across various industries. Implementing and marketing AI within a business, they note, can enhance sales outcomes compared to traditional methods, underscoring the growing importance of AI in modern business strategies.

“For now, normalising the AI culture is essential. Afterward, even if we can’t adopt AI, we can build AI for international consumers. There is a high demand for effective datasets. Pakistani data engineers can work on collecting data and creating datasets to sell to various types of companies, which I believe is the lowest scale of benefiting from AI. Additionally, freelancers and companies must start exploring open-source AI models to further work and deliver to international organisations,” said eminent AI Strategist and Consultant Khawaja Fahad Shakeel.

He explained that AI or Machine Learning (ML) doesn’t rely on traditional hosting systems but instead requires Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) to process algorithms alongside data. Currently, no organisations in Pakistan are investing in GPUs, leaving the market open to international companies. This heightened demand has led to profitable opportunities for companies selling GPU power for AI. Additionally, the scarcity of trainers contributes to the high cost, as AI/ML/Data engineering services are priced four to 10 times higher than conventional services. Consequently, AI experts struggle to find adequate time for training at lower rates.

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“The same approach used for freelancing and conventional programming can effectively normalise AI/ML training in the country. Various initiatives, such as the e-Rozgar programme, Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority etc, can introduce AI programming initially and then advance to machine/deep learning. However, awareness of the significance of AI/ML is crucial,” he said.

Dr Mukhtiar Memon, a trainer at the Information Technology Department of Sindh Agriculture University (SAU), highlighted that AI processes vast amounts of data from diverse organisational domains and geographical locations, often in complex formats. He said that managing such extensive and intricate data requires substantial storage, network, and computation resources, typically provided by high-performance computers, contributing to the expense of AI. Memon illustrated this by explaining how AI-powered chatbots rely on multiple ML models to generate accurate responses and predictions. He underscored that these ML models are not only computationally intensive but also require specific applications or libraries for data training and user-friendly responses, demonstrating responsible AI practices aimed at fostering trust and scaling AI with confidence.

“Equipping youth with state-of-the-art AI skills not only expands opportunities in the global job market but also fosters entrepreneurship,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 14^th, 2024.

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