With organizations actively adopting AI technologies for operational gains, we have seen a significant rise in consultancy services. This has led to incredible growth in the demand for knowledgeable and expert AI consultants. These professionals help organizations design, execute, and monitor AI systems for better productivity and efficiency.
According to the latest survey by McKinsey, 78% of respondents agreed to using AI in their organizations in at least one business function. It is up from 72% in the last year.
The role of AI consultants in this rapid increase of AI adoption is huge. They assist organizations in developing innovative ways to do things and gain a competitive advantage.
So, let’s dive deeper and understand what the exciting and rewarding career of these skilled AI professionals looks like and see how you can become one.
AI Consultants – What do they do ?
AI consultants are quite experienced and knowledgeable professionals. This AI job requires a deep understanding of technical AI skills as well as business knowledge.
They guide organizations to effectively adopt, implement, and use AI technologies to solve various kinds of business problems and gain a competitive advantage. They identify business areas where AI can have huge impacts and define AI solutions along with implementation strategies. They also look after development and deployment of AI solutions as well.
Their key roles and responsibilities include:
- Strategic Advisory
They understand their client’s objectives and identify opportunities where AI can prove to be highly effective. Then, develop AI strategy that aligns with their business goals.
- Designing Solution and Architecture
AI consultants evaluate the existing systems and recommend appropriate AI and machine learning tools, platforms, or frameworks. They design scalable and efficient AI system architectures and develop prototypes to validate their recommendations before full-scale deployment.
- Implementation
Once the prototype is effective, they look after the deployment of AI systems and ensure they are seamlessly integrated with existing systems.
- Training and Support
Not just AI solutions, they have to work closely with leadership and executive to educate their employees and use AI tools and solutions properly. They need to provide ongoing support and maintenance as well.
- Compliance and Ethics
AI consultants see if there are any bias in algorithms to mitigate it properly. They ensure robust data and model privacy, and security posture is in place. They are the key professionals responsible for promoting responsible AI use and ensure adherence to AI ethics principles.
How to Become an AI Consultant?
You need a blend of technical and interpersonal skills, educational qualifications, business acumen, certifications, and more to become an AI consultant. Here is a detailed overview.
Technical Skills:
- Programming – Being a technical AI professional, you should be proficient in programming languages such as Python, R, Java, etc.
- Machine Learning – Knowledge of various machine learning algorithms, such as supervised and unsupervised learning, and different frameworks like TensorFlow, PyTorch, etc., is a must.
- Data Science – Familiarity with basic data science concepts like data handling, data manipulation, data visualization, and others.
- AI Tools – You must also have a basic knowledge of AI development tools and environments such as IBM Watson or Google AI.
Soft Skills
Along with the above-mentioned technical AI skills, AI consultants should also possess a variety of soft skills such as problem-solving, communication skills, project management, etc.
Qualifications
Here’s a preferred educational qualification for AI consultants:
- Bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science, AI, data science, mathematics, or a related field
- 3+ years of experience in the field of ASL or AI advancements
Certifications
If you have necessary educational qualifications and appropriate skills which are backed by relevant AI consultant certification, then you can achieve new heights in your AI career.
Some of the most popular AI certifications for consultants are:
Certified AI Consultant (CAIC™) by USAII®
Focus – AI essentials for business leaders, ML for transforming operations and strategy, advanced analytics for business, responsible AI, and more.
Best for – AI professionals with over 2 years of experience who want to advance to the AI consultant job role
- Artificial Intelligence: Business Strategies and Applications (Berkeley ExecED)
Focus: Strategic AI implementation for business leaders and consultants.
Ideal For: Consultants looking to align AI with business goals.
- IBM AI Enterprise Workflow Certification
Focus: AI lifecycle including business problem framing, data engineering, modeling, and deployment.
Ideal For: Consultants in enterprise environments.
AI Consultant Job Outlook
So, the important question: What does this AI job have to offer in terms of career growth?
Well, the job of AI consultants is growing at a rapid pace because companies across industries are actively adopting AI for their growth.
The annual average salary range of AI consultants can vary from $100,000 to $150,000 (source: Glassdoor).
This is indeed a popular role, and you must earn an appropriate AI certification or enroll in a suitable AI consultant course to master the required skills and knowledge and advance to this position.
Conclusion
The role of an AI consultant is very important in helping their organization navigate through the AI implementation journey. They are responsible for designing and implementing effective AI solutions across various business operations. Therefore, they need a variety of skills and knowledge to succeed in this career path. With proper educational qualifications, the right technical and soft skills, and backed by relevant AI certifications, you can definitely ace this career path.
