Even the smartest computers can not learn new things without a little help. The latest AI relies on data to become smarter. For example, if an AI computer sees enough photos of the same person, it might learn to identify that person in other photos. That is data science at work!
So, what exactly is data? Put simply, it is information that is collected to help understand something. It coulld be a list of statistics or a pile of photos. It could also be a list of names or the results of a poll. Politicians collect data about voters to help them decide what kinds of issues to focus on in the campaigns. Sports teams record data to help them track their players's performances.
Data also plays a huge part in creating the latest artificial intelligence programs. The most powerful AI systems are able to analyse huge amounts of data. They can find patterns in the data and use their findings to answer questions.
Stores might feed sales numbers into an AI system so it can figure out which products are most likely to sell well in certain locations or at certain times of the year. Doctors might present medical data from their patients to an AI system to help identify warning signs for a certain illness. The possibilities are endless as long as there is enough data for the AI to analyze.
Data scientists are data experts. They know which kinds of information can be used to find out the answers to different types of questions. They can figure out the best way to collect large amounts of data. They are also able to organize and present the data in a way that makes sense and is easy to understand.
Importantly, data scientists also know how to work with data after it has been collected and organized. Sometimes data can be misleading if you do not know what to look for. Data scientists are trained to avoid drawing the wrong conclusions from the information they collect. This helps them ensure that the right kinds of data are used to teach AI systems new things. It also allows them to notice when the AI is doing something the wrong way.
Are you interested in a career in the rapidly growing field of data science? You will probably need a college degree in a subject such as math, computer science, or engineering. Some colleges even offer specialized data sciences degrees. Before heading to college, you will want to study subjects such as statistics and computer programming.
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| A female data dcientist in a lab coat with safety goggles |
Flair: AI
Collection: Career
