How to become an AI operator
AI operators oversee artificial intelligence tools, managing them to align their use with business goals. Explore this emerging role and connect with opportunities to build relevant skills.
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What does an AI operator do?
Artificial intelligence (AI) operators are specialists who configure, deploy, manage, and monitor AI technologies. They play a key role in ensuring that AI systems function reliably and in alignment with their intended purpose.
Key skills AI operators need
AI operators use a combination of hard and soft skills. Core hard skills include:
- Prompt engineering
- Data analysis
- Industry-specific use-case insights
Important soft skills for the role include creativity, sound ethical judgment, communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving.
AI operator vs. AI implementer
| Category | AI operator | AI implementer |
|---|---|---|
| Responsibilities | Monitors the post-deployment performance of AI systems | Designs, develops, and oversees the technical deployment of AI systems |
| Specialization | Specializes in monitoring and managing AI-powered operations and providing necessary support | Specializes in training AI systems and integrating them into business functions |
| Primary focus | Focuses on strategy and management tasks | Focuses on technical and coding tasks |
| System involvement | Ensures the usability of custom AI systems | Chooses the algorithms used in custom AI applications |
| Technical role | Guides and troubleshoots AI-powered systems | Engineers and builds AI-powered solutions |
Steps to become an AI operator
By following the four-step roadmap below, you can gain the knowledge and skills necessary to become an AI operator:
Step 1: Learn about AI
Start by learning about AI and its business applications. As a beginner, you can:
- Explore fundamental concepts, such as the difference between artificial intelligence and machine learning.
- Analyze practical AI use cases.
- Learn about ethical AI use and the risks associated with AI technologies.
As your knowledge builds, move into intermediate concepts such as:
- AI algorithms
- AI model training and evaluation practices
- Cleaning, scaling, and encoding training data
At the advanced level, you can learn how to code AI tools and experiment with building and refining your own AI models.
Step 1: Learn about AI
Start by learning about AI and its business applications. As a beginner, you can:
- Explore fundamental concepts, such as the difference between artificial intelligence and machine learning.
- Analyze practical AI use cases.
- Learn about ethical AI use and the risks associated with AI technologies.
As your knowledge builds, move into intermediate concepts such as:
- AI algorithms
- AI model training and evaluation practices
- Cleaning, scaling, and encoding training data
At the advanced level, you can learn how to code AI tools and experiment with building and refining your own AI models.
What jobs can you get as an AI operator
Some businesses use the AI operator job title, but others assign AI operator duties to professionals in differently named roles. The following table highlights some common examples, with data insights from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS):
| Job title | Median annual salary (May 2024) | Projected job growth (2024-34) |
|---|---|---|
| Data scientist | $112,590 | +34% |
| Project management specialist | $100,750 | +6% |
| Training and development manager | $127,090 | +6% |
Get started on edX
You can get started today on edX:
- Learn AI with courses and certificates.
- Explore your interest in data science.
- Enroll in a project management master's program.