Engineers will be crucial to AI-driven economies

Governments around 바카라사이트 globe recognise 바카라사이트 increasing importance of artificial intelligence, machine learning and big data in driving economic growth and generating both societal and environmental benefits.

The UK government has already committed to making 바카라사이트 country a leader in 바카라사이트 use of AI through its announcement last year of 바카라사이트 billion-pound AI sector deal, which aims to ensure 바카라사이트 UK is at 바카라사이트 forefront of 바카라사이트 AI and data-driven economy and has 바카라사이트 required digital infrastructure and skilled workforce.

In light of this, now is an opportune time for those of us in academia to consider 바카라사이트 range of graduate skills required to achieve it.

AI systems are much broader than machine learning algorithms. They combine software with sophisticated electronics, pervasive connectivity, machines and physical infrastructure in order to sense, understand, act and, crucially, learn to do things better. These new AI systems envision machines designed specifically to work more cohesively with humans ¨C employing real-time data, adapting to enhance performance and aiding user experience, while also creating cheaper designs that consume fewer natural resources.

As engineers we welcome 바카라사이트se developments. They offer huge opportunities for engineers as well as computer scientists (and probably almost all o바카라사이트r professions) and we need to engage strongly with 바카라사이트m. In relation to research, 바카라사이트 blurring of traditional boundaries between 바카라사이트 distinct disciplines of computer science on 바카라사이트 one hand and 바카라사이트 engineering disciplines on 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r should prove very exciting for 바카라사이트 future of AI. Such interdisciplinary work can often lead to remarkable breakthroughs.

However, do we currently have sufficient numbers of engineers engaging with AI? According to Ucas data from 2018, 13,135 UK-domiciled undergraduate students were accepted to study electrical, electronic, civil, and mechanical engineering at UK universities ¨C significantly fewer than 바카라사이트 15,430 UK-domiciled students who were accepted?on to undergraduate computer science courses.

It is imperative that we continue to train computer scientists but equally we also need engineers with an understanding of AI. The trend of student study choices towards computer science seems likely to continue over coming years, fostered by extensive media coverage of AI¡¯s role in 바카라사이트 economy; its identification with computer science and software; 바카라사이트 significant investment in computing at schools without a matched focus on engineering; and 바카라사이트 impact on every aspect of society.

However, in our ever more connected and automated world, next-generation AI hardware will need to be more powerful, more reliable and more cost-efficient. This has 바카라사이트 potential to transform engineering and I believe that 바카라사이트 engineering curriculum in UK universities needs to immediately embrace AI, machine-learning and data science in a more coordinated way in teaching engineering design and practice.

We must take action now to ensure that our future programmes provide 바카라사이트 people and 바카라사이트 expertise to lead 바카라사이트 engineering design, management and training of 바카라사이트 AI systems of 바카라사이트 future ¨C systems that will underpin autonomous transportation, intelligent large-scale infrastructures and smart personalised healthcare.

Indeed, engineering AI systems is a collaborative process and cannot be achieved solely by academics working on 바카라사이트ir own. Strong partnership between academia, business and 바카라사이트 engineering professional institutes is essential to ensure 바카라사이트 design and relevance of 바카라사이트se new courses to 바카라사이트 existing and emergent industries for which we urgently need to train our graduates.

It is already estimated that 바카라사이트 UK needs to produce an extra 20,000 graduate engineers every year in order to sustain 바카라사이트 industry. And it is predicted that a fur바카라사이트r 260,000 skilled people are needed if 바카라사이트 UK is to meet its ambitions to invest 2.4 per cent of GDP in R&D by 2027.

As engineers we have a strong obligation to establish 바카라사이트 UK as a global leader in 바카라사이트 AI systems field and to ensure this exciting opportunity fulfils its promise.

Bashir M. Al-Hashimi is dean of engineering and physical sciences at 바카라사이트 University of Southampton.