AI in demand but 2,500 jobs remained vacant in 2019, says report

Bengaluru: The rising demand for artificial intelligence (AI), the technology that mimics the human brain, is a no brainer. However, although the number of AI professionals in India has doubled, 2,500 related positions remain vacant indicating that the number of jobs getting created in AI has outpaced the talent available in the sector, according to a study by Great Learning, India's leading ed-tech company. The number of AI professionals in the country has almost doubled from 40,000 in 2018 to 72,000 by end of 2019 and more than 3,000 companies claim to work on AI projects of some or the other kind in 2019, a growth of 200% over 2018, the report stated. Part of the job vacancy could be due to employers seeking for a combination of skills. "While tech-based skillsets such as data analytics, machine learning, and AI continued to be in great demand throughout 2019, recruiters also sought softer skillsets such as emotional intelligence, critical thinking and leadership skills. The growing convergence between technology and business processes continued to redefine job roles," said Zairus Master, CEO, Shine.com.