An article I wrote last May examined the rising role of Artificial Intelligence in how we live, work, and engage with the world.

This technology has become more common in our daily lives over the last few years. Consider AI-powered voice assistants and navigation apps like Waze to name just a couple. AI is everywhere and looks to be permanent.

Employers in today’s job market are putting a high value on positions requiring AI expertise. What does this mean for career paths? If you Google “emerging AI jobs and careers” you’ll see that right now it’s an open door of exciting opportunities in so many ways. What I found to be especially amazing is how AI is fueling innovation by generating new job categories that never existed before.

It reminds me of the Old West Frontier but on a technological plane. The Old West frontier was a time of new expansion, opportunity, and less than ethical behaviors. So too, the new frontier of AI technology today represents a developing landscape filled with innovation, ethical dilemmas, and transformative potential. Like old west pioneers, modern technologists are pushing boundaries, navigating unregulated territories while shaping the future of industries, society, and human interaction with intelligent systems.

America’s expansion to the west was so exciting that the familiar phrase “Go West, young man, go West” became a call to action.

With the expansion of AI, we could say we’re now experiencing the New West Frontier, also with a call to action.

As AI becomes more advanced, the job market is seeing the emergence of roles requiring a deeper understanding of AI tools and their proper use, and more innovative applications. Because we’re still at the beginning of learning, a wide-open door of opportunity exists to define an AI role of your choosing. But to seize the opportunity, one needs to gain an understanding of AI and its best uses to benefit most.

With so many AI roles being created, it’s like some are being made up out of the blue. However, most of these roles overlap because their required skills interconnect. What is developing is the growth of certain specialist roles within the AI spaces. Some of the core concepts in AI are machine learning, which involves training algorithms on large datasets; and deep learning, a subset of machine learning in which algorithms use neural networks to process complex data inputs and extract meaningful insights.

Within these two categories, the following opportunities are developing:

Machine learning engineer: Creates algorithms and predictive models to extract and analyze data from vast structured and unstructured data sets.

Computer Vision Engineer: Focuses on developing and implementing algorithms, systems, and technologies that enable computers to interpret and understand visual information from digital images or videos.

Robotics Engineer (AI Focus): Vital role in building automated systems that power industries like manufacturing and logistics.

Deep Learning Specialist: Designs and deploys deep learning models that use various algorithms and frameworks.

Many new roles are emerging and as its use grows, AI will require professionals with all-new skill sets to manage it. They will enhance the need for the creative work produced by millions of skilled professionals already in the workforce.

AI will be in your work future, either in on-the-job use or the development, depending on which side of the aisle you choose. Whatever the choice, it’s exciting technology to be a part of. In the old west, migration created the need for jobs such as the cowboy, lawman, blacksmith, and railroad laborers, to name a few.

This is also true for the new west frontier of AI. Demand exists and needs to be filled. But to fill the need requires being prepared. Take the time now to learn the basics of how AI works and if a particular area sounds intriguing, dig deeper and learn more about it.

There are any number of online resources available to begin learning or to increase in skills. Here are several free resources you may find useful:

Coursera: Coursera is hosting a Machine Learning Specialization course collaboration between DeepLearning.AI and Stanford Online: https://www.coursera.org/specializations/machine-learning

Generative AI for Everyone: A course from Codecademy that teaches the basics of generative AI and how to use AI chatbots to create content: https://www.codecademy.com/catalog/subject/artificial-intelligence

AI Explorers: A course from Create-Learn.us that teaches how to use ChatGPT, understand its strengths and weaknesses, and develop critical thinking skills: https://www.create-learn.us/ai-for-kids/ai-explorers

This new frontier is wide open, and more than the old West, it’s a global movement. You can be a part of it by positioning yourself to be a part of it. The call to action is now.

So, Go West, young one, go west and do something wonderful!