Confident AI: The Essential Skills for Working with Artificial Intelligence

Pardoe (IQ Unknown), chair of the Deep Tech Innovation Centre at the University of Warwick, delivers a scattered exploration of AI’s role in the workplace. The technology will likely transform nearly every industry, he contends, noting that it’s already being used to detect fraud in the finance sector and to make personalized recommendations in online retail. Pardoe ostensibly aims his guidance at young people considering a career in AI, for whom he describes how to position oneself for various roles (“To be a successful data scientist, it is important to have a strong foundation in mathematics, statistics, and computer science”). However, his rundown of how to incorporate AI into business operations appears geared toward executives and managers, recommending that they “adopt a portfolio approach” to introducing the technology by pursuing projects in multiple departments simultaneously to increase the likelihood one will pan out. Additionally, Pardoe’s overview of how AI works will be familiar to anyone with a basic understanding of the technology. This struggles to find a new angle on a much discussed topic. (July)