Technological Innovation is advancing quicker than ever. As technology is evolving, it enables even faster progress, causing an acceleration of the rate of change. While Technology-based careers do not change at the same speed. But there is an advancement, and the IT professional recognizes that their role will not stay the same. An IT professional of the 21st century will constantly be learning and evolving.
What does this mean to you? It simply means staying current with technology trends. Also, to keep your eyes on the future, to know which skills you’ll need to acquire. Also, what types of jobs you want to be qualified for the future. Here are the technology trends you should watch in 2020 and some of the jobs that will be created by these trends. In this article, we will discuss the top five technology trends in 2020. Let’s have a look at them.
1. Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has already gained a lot of success in recent years. It is already in use to improve customer experience and to streamline their business operations. This will proceed in 2020. Additionally, other branches of AI have developed, including Machine Learning. AI signifies computer systems that are built to mimic human intelligence. Primarily, it performs tasks such as recognition of images, speech or patterns, and decision making. Artificial Intelligence can perform these tasks faster and more accurately than humans.
It is quite interesting to know that five out of six Americans use AI services in one form or another every day. The services include navigation apps, streaming services, smartphone personal assistants, ride-sharing apps, home personal assistants, and smart home devices. In addition to end-user use, the application of AI includes scheduling trains, assess business risk, and predict maintenance. Also, it improves energy efficiency, among many other money-saving tasks.
Automation is creating jobs as well as eliminating them, especially in the field of Artificial Intelligence. Researchers predict that jobs in AI will increase to 23 million by 2020. And it will create opportunities in development, programming, testing, support, and maintenance. Artificial Intelligence architect is one such job. Whereas some estimates that it will soon become a rival of data scientists in need of skilled professionals.
2. Machine Learning
We can see Machine Learning as a subdivision of Artificial Intelligence and one of the technology trends in 2020. With Machine Learning, computers are programmed to do something which they are not programmed for. They simply learn by discovering patterns and insights from data. Basically, we have two types of learning – supervised and unsupervised.
Moreover, there are also subsets within the domain of Machine Learning. Including neural networks, natural language processing (NLP), and deep learning. And each of these subsets provides an opportunity for specializing in a career field that is ever-growing.
Machine Learning is deployed in all types of industries, creating a huge demand for skilled professionals. The market is expected to grow to $8.81 billion by 2022. The applications of Machine Learning are data analytics, data mining and pattern recognition.
It powers web search results, real-time ads and network intrusion detection on the consumer end. Machine learning is generating jobs and the jobs rank among the top emerging jobs on LinkedIn. The jobs include engineers, developers, researchers, and data scientists.
3. Robotic Process Automation or RPA
Like AI and Machine Learning, RPA is another technological advancement that is automating jobs. RPA refers to make use of the software to automate business processes. And that includes interpreting applications, processing transactions, dealing with data, and replying to emails. It automates repetitive tasks that people used to perform. You should know that up to 45 percent of the activities you do can be automated including the work of financial managers, doctors, and CEOs.
Although researchers estimate that RPA automation will threaten the livelihood of 230 million or more workers and 9 percent of the global workforce. In addition, RPA is also creating new job opportunities while altering the existing ones. Experts say that less than 5 percent of occupations can be totally automated.
For IT professionals who are seeking the future and trying to understand technology trends in 2020, RPA offers plenty of career opportunities. The jobs including developer, project manager, business analyst, solution architect, and consultant. And these jobs pay really well. The average RPA salary is $73,861, with the top 10 percent earning over $141,000 annually. So, if you are willing to learn and pursue a career in RPA, then RPA course should be your next step.
4. Edge Computing
Cloud Computing has become mainstream, with major players AWS (Amazon Web Services), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud dominating the market. The acceptance of cloud computing is still growing, as more and more businesses are migrating to a cloud. But it’s no longer the emerging technology. As the quantity of data continues to increase, we’ve realized the shortcomings of cloud computing in some situations.
Edge computing is designed to solve some of these problems to bypass the inactivity caused by cloud computing. And getting data to a data center for processing. The Edge computing can exist on the edge, close to where computing should happen. And for this cause, it processes time-sensitive data in remote locations with minimal or no connectivity at the central location.
In such situations, edge computing can act like mini datacenters. Edge computing will increase the use of the Internet of Things (IoT) devices. You should know that by 2022, the global edge computing market would reach $6.72 billion. So, with any growing market, it will create various job opportunities, majorly for software engineers.
5. Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality
Virtual Reality drawn the user in an environment on the other hand Augment Reality (AR) enhances their environment. Although VR has majorly been used for gaming so far and it can be amongst the top technology trends in 2020. Also, a simulation software used to train U.S. Navy, Army and Coast Guard ship captains. The popular Pokemon Go is a live example of Augmented Reality.
Both VR and AR have immense potential in training, entertainment, education, marketing, and even rehabilitation after an injury. It can train doctors to do surgery, offer museum-goers a deeper experience, and even enhance theme parks.
There are leading players in the VR market, like Google, Samsung, and Oculus. But plenty of startups are forming and they will be hiring these professionals. The demand for professionals with VR and AR skillsets will only increase in the future. To start with Virtual Reality, you do not require a lot of specialized knowledge. Just basic programming skills and a forward-thinking mindset can land you a job.
Bottom Lines
Various types of technologies are emerging all around us. But these five technologies offer promising careers now and for the future too. All the above-described technology trends in 2020 are suffering from a shortage of skilled workers. This clearly means this is the right time for you to choose one. Just get training, and get on board in the early stages of the technology.
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