As part of our blog series, we are examining the technology trends which are predicted to shake up the IT and electronic engineering sectors in 2020. This is to ensure that our clients are aware of how the latest developments will impact their business and how they can attract the best talent to stay ahead of their competitors. We also want our candidates to have access to the most cutting edge opportunities within the most innovative organisations.

Initially we analysed data by Wikibrand’s Digital Periscope study, which ranked the 30 emerging technologies which will impact the marketplace and provide the biggest business opportunities over the 10 year period from 2018 to 2028.

Analysis of more recent research by Mobile App Daily’s contributors allowed us to accurately identify 15 technology trends which will specifically impact businesses in 2020.

AI featured highly on both lists and we agree that this is the technology which is most likely to dominate in 2020 and beyond.

It is undeniable that the world of work is becoming increasingly automated with the proliferation of AI, robotics and other smart forms of automation. Companies and their workers will need to be prepared for changes to job roles and adapt to the developments and innovations this brings.

At Oho, we do not believe that AI will simply eliminate the need for people but change the types of roles available. By adapting and learning new skills, people can put themselves in a position to capitalise on a host of highly skilled, technical positions.

AI is already automating manual and repetitive tasks and soon it will be sophisticated enough to enhance human decision making. According to analysis by PwC of over 200,000 jobs in 29 countries, it will add more to global GDP by 2030 than the current output of China and India combined. That growth will be more than enough to create new and diverse jobs but, crucially, it will also change how duties and responsibilities are currently being executed.

While some workers will need to be upskilled to meet the changing demands of their roles, key people will need to be retained and new people hired to fill the roles that AI will generate. Our clients need to understand how to fully prepare and equip themselves for change. 

An interesting example of this is how AI technology is impacting the world of HR. Analysis by Gartner predicts that by 2022, more than 40 per cent of large organisations will be piloting solutions enabled by AI. The areas in which AI can be of most help include tackling large volumes of repetitive, time-consuming tasks that are not yet automated and therefore still done manually. It can also sort through massive amounts of unstructured data and data sources which would take enormous HR capacity to analyse and derive insights from.

For those organisations which have the right skills to adopt AI, automation is by no means a threat but a massive economic opportunity that promises plenty of reward. This includes a contribution of $15 trillion to global GDP by 2030. While this extra wealth will generate demand for many jobs, this needs to be balanced with those concerns about existing jobs being displaced.

However, the PwC research shows that, in the early 2020s, there will be a relatively low displacement of existing jobs, perhaps only around the three per cent mark. Job displacement could increase though in the late 2020s as the associated technologies mature and are adopted across the wider economy.

What is clear to us is that AI represents a potentially breathtaking opportunity which needs to be embraced now to capitalise on all that it has to offer in the coming years. We might be entering the age of the machine, but getting the human element right is essential. In a world of digitalisation, having the ability to balance diversity and creativity while engaging your workforce is the way to successfully evolve in an AI landscape. At Oho, we know exactly how to attract, retain and motivate the talent you need to meet the needs of your business in the age of AI.

If a career in AI appeals to you, here are some of the jobs you should you start looking for and which we can help you find in abundance:

Machine Learning Engineer

Machine learning engineers are highly sought after and are mostly responsible for building and managing platforms for machine learning projects. The role of a machine learning engineer is at the heart of AI projects and is suitable for those who hail from a background in applied research and data science. However, it is also necessary to be an AI programmer and demonstrate a thorough understanding of multiple programming languages.

To be considered, applicants must demonstrate an in-depth working knowledge of  the following modern programming languages:

• Java
• Python
• Scala

Data Scientist

Data scientists are charged with collecting, analysing and interpreting large, complex datasets by leveraging both machine learning and predictive analytics. They also play a vital role in developing algorithms that enable the collection and cleaning of data analysis. 

Candidates who wish to get started in data science need to be comfortable with big data platforms and the following tools:

• Hive
• Hadoop
• MapReduce
• Pig
• Spark

They should also be highly experienced in statistical computing languages and programming languages:

• Perl
• Python
• Scala
• SQL

Big Data Engineer

Big data engineers play a vital role in developing an ecosystem that enables business systems to communicate with each other and collate data. Most organisations prefer professionals who have completed a Ph.D. in mathematics, computer science or a related field.

Big data engineers are typically tasked with planning, designing and developing the big data environment on the Hoop and Spark systems.

 

Stay tuned to the Oho Group blog for the rest of our insights into 2020’s key technology trend predictions.