Artificial intelligence

Top 5 Artificial Intelligence Courses And Certifications That Will Boost Your Career And Business in 2025

by
Top 5 Artificial Intelligence Courses And Certifications That Will Boost Your Career And Business in 2025 (1)

With the rise in Artificial Intelligence across the landscape of the world and the disruption it brings to almost every aspect of human life, no one wants to miss out on the trend. But a trend? I don’t think so Artificial Intelligence is now beyond just another trend, as trends fade away after a certain- short or extended period of time. But AI, just like the internet was introduced and blew up in the early 1900s and has been a part of human existence till tomorrow, so also artificial intelligence is gradually becoming a significant part of our existence as humans in this civilization which is here to stay. Its significance is extremely powerful as it is on track to be the key technology that enables business transformation and gives companies a competitive edge. AI can help businesses be more productive by automating their processes, which includes using robotics and autonomous vehicles. It can also help by supporting their existing workforces with AI technologies such as assisted and augmented intelligence. Most organizations are working to implement AI in their business processes and products. Organizations are using AI in various business applications, including finance, marketing, healthcare, smart home devices, retail, fraud detection and security surveillance. With this bird’s eye view of the significance of Artificial Intelligence, it is very expedient that as a career professional and or a business individual or an entrepreneur who wants to continually stay on the crux of their journey, you should have a definite, whether basic or in depth knowledge of this whole new world. But why’s a certification in AI important? It is important for various reasons including: Taking a course and getting certified in AI can set an individual on a trajectory of a successful and adventurous career. There are constant changes in the field of AI, and it can be a challenge to keep up with that pace of change. A certification would inform anyone you are familiar with the latest developments in the field A certification in AI can set you apart from the competition and reveal to employers that you have the skills they want and need AI demands advanced education. A National University examination of 15,000 job postings on Indeed.com found that nearly 80% of AI job openings require candidates to have a master’s degree, while 60% demanded at least a bachelor’s degree. Another 18% required a PhD, while only 8% would consider a high school diploma.   So here are the Top 5 AI Courses and Certifications IBM Applied AI Professional Certificate by Coursera This is a beginner-level AI certification course that will help students know how to do the following including: Understand the basics of artificial intelligence; its applications and use cases; and key AI technologies, such as machine learning, deep learning and neural networks. Build AI-powered tools using IBM Watson AI services, APIs and Python with minimal coding. Create virtual assistants and AI chatbots without programming and deploy them on websites. Apply computer vision techniques using Python, OpenCV and Watson. Develop custom image classification models and deploy them in the cloud. Requirements: While the series is open to everyone with both technical and nontechnical backgrounds, the final two courses require some knowledge of Python to build and deploy AI applications. For students with no programming background, an introductory Python course is included. You can check it out here Deep Learning Specialization by Andrew Ng via Coursera This detailed series of five intermediate to advanced courses, covers neural networks and deep learning as well as their applications. Learners will be able to: Build and train deep neural networks. Identify key architecture parameters. Implement vectorized neural networks and deep learning to various applications. Build a convolutional neural network. Apply it to detection and recognition tasks. Use neural style transfer to generate art. Apply algorithms to image and video data. Students will also build and train recurrent neural networks, work with natural language processing (NLP) and word embeddings, and use HuggingFace tokenizers and transformer models to perform named entity recognition and question answering. Requirements: Intermediate Python skills; basic programming; understanding of loops, data structures; and a basic understanding of linear algebra and machine learning (ML). To get started, click here Google Cloud’s Introduction to Generative AI Learning Path This certificate inclusive course by Google covers what generative AI and large language models are for beginners. It is oriented around specific Google applications, which is only good if you are a Google shop. Tools used include Google Tools and Vertex AI. It includes a section on responsible AI, encouraging the learner to keep ethical practices around the generative AI in mind. To start, check here Master the Fundamentals of AI and Machine Learning via LinkedIn Learning This bundle, open to everyone regardless of experience, includes 10 short courses presented by industry experts. They aim to help anyone master the fundamentals and future of AI and ML (machine learning) and make more educated decisions and contributions in their organizations. Students will learn how leading companies are using AI and machine learning to alter how they do business as well as gain insight into addressing future ideas regarding issues of accountability, security and clarity in AI. They will also earn a certificate of completion from LinkedIn Learning after completing the following 10 courses: AI Accountability Essential Training. Artificial Intelligence Foundations: Machine Learning. Artificial Intelligence Foundations: Thinking Machines. Artificial Intelligence Foundations: Neural Networks. Cognitive Technologies: The Real Opportunities for Business. AI Algorithms for Gaming. AI The LinkedIn Way: A Conversation with Deepak Agarwal. Artificial Intelligence for Project Managers. Learning XAI: Explainable Artificial Intelligence. Artificial Intelligence for Cybersecurity. Register here Artificial Intelligence A-Z 2024: Build 7 AI + LLM & ChatGPT via Udemy This course via Udemy is a comprehensive online course designed to teach both the fundamentals as well as advanced concepts of AI, machine learning and deep learning. The key topics covered include State-of-the-art AI models Q-learning and deep Q-learning Proximal policy optimization (PPO) Large language models, transformers, NLP techniques for chatbots … Read more

10 And More Powerful Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools to Help You Fast Track Your Career

by
10 Powerful Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools to Help You Fast Track Your Career

In my previous article on AI (Artificial Intelligence): the past, the now and the future- you can read it here. I did mention how the world of artificial intelligence (AI) is affecting and would affect the way things are done. Today, however, I would be pressing further on the topic as I share 10 and more powerful AI tools that can empower and help you improve your career or business. Whether you are a creative, an entrepreneur or one just trying to explore, these tools come very handy for you. So, let’s dive in. We forget that other artificial intelligences are busy ingeniously working in the background on an increasing number of diverse disciplines while ChatGPT spread across the media like wildfire. And in my bid to bring a number of them to your knowledge and bring you up to speed, I went in search of them. For some, you might have known and used them before now, while for some, you might just be knowing right now. It’s fine. However, here is a non-exhaustible list of powerful artificial intelligence or AI tools you can explore. 1. Patterned: Patterned generates royalty-free and unique patterns for your product! You can search & create thousands of such patterns for every surface with this AI tool! Please click here to check it out. 2. Cleanvoice: This tool removes spurious sounds, stuttering, and mouth sounds from your podcasts or recordings. You can follow this link to make more clean voice(I mean, clean podcasts). 3. Beatoven: Creates unique royalty-free music. It uses advanced AI music generation techniques to compose unique mood-based music to suit every part of your video or podcast. You can start creating for free here. 4. Podcast: An AI that allows you to record studio-quality podcasts, directly from a simple computer. Explore here. 5. Copy: Generates content and avoids blank page syndrome. Check here 6. Illustroke: Creates stunning vector illustrated images from text prompts. Do you want to try it out? Here 7. Krise: Removes background voices, noises and echoes during calls. Start making clean calls here. 8. Stockimg: This is another image generation AI tool. With this tool, you can generate book covers, stock images, posters and the like. Click here to sign in. 9. Flair: Generates photo shoots of your products. It is simply a box of magic. Check it out here. 10. CopyMonkey: Makes it easy to write product listings on Amazon. CopyMonkey generates and optimizes Amazon listings in seconds. It helps place all of the important keywords in your Amazon listing to get you ranking organically on the first page. Follow this link to try it out. 11. Ocoya: Facilitates the creation and programming of content on social networks. Try it out. 12. Unbounce: Generates landing pages and emails. Check it out. 13. Vidyo: Generates videos for social networks from longer videos. Start generating here. 14. Quickchat: Chatbots that talk like humans for customer relations. Get in here. 15. Puzzle: Creates a knowledge base or glossary from documents. Try it out here. 16. Soundraw: Generates royalty-free background music. Check it out here. 17. Cleanup.picture: Removes objects, defects, people or text from your images. Try it out now. 18. Looka: This AI generates brand names and logos. Start creating. 19. Synthesia: Makes it easy to create training videos by simply typing text. You can try it out today. 20. Otter: Record meetings and take notes in real-time. Link. It is an AI meeting assistant. 21. Thundercontent: Generates all types of content. Start creating here. These are simply just a few of the myriads of AI tools that are available out there that can supercharge your career and business. Are there other AI (Artificial Intelligence) tools you know or have you come across that you can add to this list? Please share. I would be really excited to know and check them out.

Is Artificial Intelligence a Curse or a Blessing?

by
Is Artificial Intelligence a Curse or a Blessing

It was in high school I began to hear about artificial intelligence (AI), back in 2010. I had never thought it to be something serious. Well, maybe because at the time, I was not exposed to computers so I couldn’t have understood the AI (artificial intelligence) topic. My first real exposure to a computer system was when I got admitted into college to study Pharmaceutical Technology. Sigh… “Pharmaceutical Technology and computers!? How do they relate?” You might want to ask. Oh well, computer study was one of the required courses I needed to take to graduate. And that was the beginning of my interaction with computer systems till this very moment. But, recently there has been a lot of buzz around artificial intelligence (AI) that spurred the need to really delve into this topic a little deeper. Just like back in the days when computer systems were newly released and there was a lot of intoxicating excitement and fears about how they would take away all the jobs in the world. In the same way, the fear of artificial intelligence and robotics rendering everyone in the world jobless has covered the landscape of the entire world like the water covers the sea. But follow me as I open this mystery layer after layer and lay it bare in bits and pieces just so you can devour it soothingly. From the Beginning: History of Computers and Artificial Intelligence First, we’ll start with the first thing; the history of computers. Trust me, I am not going to bore you with historical tales. I will make it as interesting as your fav meal😍. So, let’s go! At some point in antiquity, there existed no technological device that could aid man in processing data, he solely depended on his crude ingenuity to make statistical calculations and solve hard problems. But gradually, computers began to creep into (more like, walk into) human lives. Right from Abacus, invented about 4000 thousand years ago to Napier’s Bone and down to the most recent personal computers that we use, just like the one with you right now.😁 The Magic is Computers Can you imagine the stress and ugly scene you would have to pass through visiting the filling station and you begin to pack fuel from the pit into your vehicle? But with super ease, you can inject the pump into your fuel tank and within a few minutes, it pumps in fuel, gives you the exact quantity of fuel you purchased and calculates the amount you need to pay with accurate precision. Now, that is the power of computers and subtly artificial intelligence As an everyday citizen, you hear a prediction of weather change at a particular time and just as it was predicted, it happened and you wonder how they were able to come up with such a succinct prediction, well that’s just the power of computers at work. I am beginning to wonder how long it took Moses to take a census of the children of Israel back in the days while they journeyed in the wilderness. I am sure it must have taken him not just a lot of time, but a lot of manpower, logistics and a host of other things too. But here is how the 1890 U.S. census was efficiently done (well, compared to previous years), through the help of a computer system that could tabulate statistics and record or sort data or information. ENIAC may have performed more computations over a ten-year period than all of humanity combined, up until 1955 when a breakthrough occurred. Throughout the history of the development of the computer system, the basic essence behind the innovative move is to help humans become more efficient. But how did the first computer impact lives? More Impacts Thanks to computers, harder tasks became a lot simpler, new designs for cars and other forms of transportation were created, space exploration became a reality, entertainment improved, and more sickness remedies were discovered, among other things. The impact of technology on our life is extensive. They certainly made life easier, even though you might not realize it. But there was a huge problem! People began to fight these systems. In the UK, 19th century, a movement that became known as the Luddites struck back at the increased use of computers and automation. They rioted, smashed machines and even set fire on business owners’ homes. Now Artificial Intelligence This fear of AI and robotics taking over jobs still exists and is spreading like fire in the wild and yes, rightly so, there have been accounts of job displacements in big corporations like Google (12,000 workers sacked), Amazon (18,000), Microsoft (10,000) and a host of others. Reports have it that by the mid-2030s one-third of all jobs could face the risk of being automated, consequently leading to the loss of jobs of those skilled in those areas. Even the lawyer is at risk as history was made in February 2023 when an AI (artificial intelligence) lawyer defended his client in the law court. And Medics too would have a pound of flesh. But what does the future hold amidst all these fears? According to many estimates, there will be more jobs created over the next few years than the ones lost to automation. This smiles a brightness of hope, right? But how do you get prepared for this future of Artificial Intelligence (AI)? And so, while big changes are coming, a little advanced planning — by workers who stand to be replaced and the companies that employ them — goes a long way. In short, stop fretting and start acting! There’s no doubt that the artificial intelligence or AI revolution will require re-adjustments and a great deal of sacrifice. But despairing rather than preparing for what’s here is unproductive and, perhaps, even reckless. We must remember that our human knack for compassion and empathy is going to be a valuable asset in the future workforce and that jobs hinged on care, creativity … Read more

Security Operations Centre – SOC Essentials For Physical Security Operation

by
Rear view of security system operator looking at CCTV footage at desk in office

Security Operations Centre otherwise known as SOC is a central hub for security operations. The concept was originally applicable to cybersecurity operations. However, it is no more an exclusive field. Futuristic physical security is increasingly optimizing its operation through adaption of this niche functions of surveillance and response. With Artificial Intelligence dominating business world, Security Operations Centre is indeed the future of security value. The reality of future physical security is such that most organizations would go full automation. This disruption will lead to sharp drop on reliance on physical deployment of guardforce personnel. Many routine roles of guardforce that require less decision making will likely be replaced with automation. Given above scenario; most corporate security departments are currently expanding their traditional CCTV control room operation to reflect a classic Security Operations Centre settings. In this configuration, the SOC will be equipped with skilled personnel for complex tasks that would essentially include monitoring, analyzing and responding to security threats. Security Operations Centre will serve unique function, dedicated to using analysis of observed event to direct and guide field security operatives to respond to emerging security incidents within a facility or distant location being monitored remotely. In the age of Artificial Intelligence, the importance of Security Operations Centre cannot be relegated. It would play crucial roles in shaping the future of physical security operations. Field security force who are serving as quick response force – QRF would rely on SOC to activate response to security incident. See below, the summary of security routine security functions to be integrated into Security Operations Centre. Controlling access to premises and assets. Monitoring people, locations and activities. Managing security incidents. Responding to emergencies. Supporting investigations. Enforcing compliance to company rules and regulations. Reporting incidents. The two types of Security Operations Centre – SOC:  Managed SOC – this is an outsourced SOC, to a third-party service provider. It may be located onsite or offsite command centre operated by the vendor. Dedicated SOC – this is a proprietary or inhouse SOC; owned and operated by an organization. It is usually located onsite, however; it maybe tasked to manage various offsite locations that belong to same organization. It is correct to brand such, a command centre SOC. Security Operations Centre technologies and tools: Access Control System – ACS: this tool is deployed for management of access control. It makes use of pre-enrolled card, pin, code, fingerprint, facial or voice recognition, etc. SOC runs the enrollment, privileges, activations, deactivations, data analysis and archiving, etc. for efficient operation. Visual Surveillance System – VSS: this technology provides SOC with cameras, DVRs, cables, videowalls, spot monitors, dedicated software/application, etc. for real-time remote monitoring of people, assets/locations & activities. Intrusion Detection System – IDS: this comprised of alarms, alerts and prompts; it may be visual and/or audio. IDS relies on sensors to collect data, analyzers to process data, and response mechanism to initiate appropriate actions which SOC would act on. Standard Operating Procedures – SOP: this sets step by step guides on required response of SOC per event and the overall functions. It provides framework for uniformity, consistency and standardization in Security Operations Centre. Composition of SOC team: Tier 1 personnel: this is an operator and level 1 analyst. Tier 2 personnel: this is an operator with added functions and authority above tier 1. Tier 3 personnel: this person handles supervisory or coordinator roles; having authority above tier 1 & 2 personnel. SOC Manager: this person should be responsible for overall SOC resource management. Primary functions of SOC include: Monitor – this function requires active surveillance on cameras, alarms, and alerts. Analyze – requires making sense of people, location and event being monitored. Detect – identifies abnormal, odd, out of place, threats and security breach event. Respond – requires taking actions in response to events or incident. Communicate – entails reaching out to other functional personnel about the incident. Collaborate -demands working with the entire team from start to initial and final close of the incident. Record – will require documenting every piece of information about the incident. Investigate – entails fact-finding focused on what-when-where-who, how & possible why. Report – is about providing fact-based account or testimony of the incident. Archive– store and protect data, and exhibits about the incident using chain of custody guide. Security Operation Centre is the future of physical security operations. It is been driven by Artificial Intelligence. Its adoption will disrupt traditional physical security functions. It has potential for huge return on investment. Your organization’s CCTV control room operation can be expanded and transformed to SOC. ALSO READ: A Christian Journey That Started With Theft

3 Steps To Write Good AI Prompts

by
Ai prompt

With over 300 million AI users globally, everyone is trying to figure out how to write good AI prompts. ChatGPT and other forms of AI invaded us quickly and a lot of users still struggle to write the right prompts.  Prompting your AI tool correctly does not only save you time but enhances the results you obtain. Let’s get started on how you can rightly prompt AI to get the best result for your intent.  What is An AI Prompt? AI (artificial intelligence) prompt is a means of communication between a human and a large language model telling the model to generate an intended response.   Think of AI prompts as a list of orders you give the waitress at your favorite restaurant.  You tell the waitress what you want and it is brought to you.  AI prompt provides the AI tool with a piece of information that it is meant to act on. The prompts can be in the form of questions, statements, examples, or codes.  Now that you understand what AI prompts are, are they really important?  Why are Good AI prompts Important?  Imagine telling the waitress at a restaurant to serve you rice while your friend requests for jollof rice. You both requested rice, but your friend is more specific.  Good prompts bridge interaction gaps between humans and AI. Using good prompts;  clearly communicate your intent to the AI tool  when used effectively, helps save time and thereby enhances performance  it increases AI comprehension making it generate the desired response  How to Create Good AI Prompts?  Getting to know your AI tool is the first thing to do in creating AI prompts that give you the best result. Yeah! You should understand what the AI tool can and cannot do. This will guide you in communicating your intentions clearly within the scope of what the tool can do.   You should fulfill three key requirements to create a good AI prompt.  Keep it simple and direct:  Be clear, direct, and concise. Your AI tool doesn’t like unnecessary details. Including several details that are not important will do nothing but to confuse it.  Provide Adequate Context: Contexts are like preliminary maps that help your AI navigate properly. You should provide the right context required to help your AI tool navigate and streamline its search.  Single Task: Overloading several tasks sets the path for inconsistency and error in responses provided by your AI tool. Despite being built to handle different tasks, AI tools cannot multitask. Avoid task overload!  Before you write your next AI prompt, check to ensure you provide clear and concise directives for your AI tool. To ascertain you are on the right track to creating the right prompt,  use this 5 checklist.  Are your instructions clear?  Are there specific details about your request?  Are there examples and ideas to guide? Are there no grammatical errors in your prompts?  Is the prompt following a clear structure?  Communication is key in every relationship. Communicating your intentions clearly is required to prompt your AI tool and get the best response. When prompting AI, you should evaluate the responses it gives and tweak the prompts to get the best out of your AI tool.

Ethical Issues Of Artificial Intelligence In Healthcare

by
Ethical Issues Of AI In Healthcare 300x200

Ethical Issues Of Artificial Intelligence In Healthcare The role of artificial intelligence in healthcare is fast becoming prominent. However, ethical issues such as data privacy, data handling, biases, patient confidentiality, and more have raised concerns about the reliability of AI in healthcare.  Over the past decade, AI and technology (machine learning) have helped to provide new insights into clinical cases and drug discovery. With AI, health workers, particularly nurses, are more well-rested and overburdened with problems machines can solve. This is a massive breakthrough for the healthcare sector.  In this article, we will discuss some of these ethical issues. Data handling and Security  Drug development  Biases  1. Data handling and Security In healthcare, medical personnel use electronic records or data collected from patients can be used for scientific purposes such as clinical and academic research to improve healthcare quality. However, there are risks of these data being hacked by cybercriminals and third parties.  This ethical issue leads to a break in patient-doctor confidentiality. In some scenarios, sensitive data has been sold to unprofessional sources. 2. Drug Development  In drug development, artificial intelligence helps in drug development, which used to be strictly human-led. Data generated from patients can be used to develop specific drugs and models that are gene, organ, and tissue specific depending on the needs of individual patients.  However, concerns are being raised about the current regulatory laws and whether there is a need to implement more rules to allow data privacy, especially in drug development. This is to protect the patient’s privacy.  3. Biases  AI biases are another ethical issue that threatens the growth of AI in the health system. These biases are anomalies that arise when human designers unknowingly introduce them to the AI model during creation. Another instance of bias occurs during incomplete data collection. Although these biases are not intentional, they can lead to differential treatment, improper diagnosis, and less effective treatment. Conclusion  In conjunction with policymakers, the government at all levels needs to work together to ensure that ethical issues, such as data privacy, the safety of patient information, and informed consent, are tackled promptly to have a beautiful working system.  

The Role Of AI In Transforming Healthcare

by
The Role Of AI In Transforming Healthcare

The healthcare sector constantly faces a growth in demand in all parts of the world. This demand has prompted the use of AI to transform the healthcare sector.  An increasing population drives this demand, the outbreak of zoonotic and non-zoonotic diseases, a rise in genetic conditions, lifestyle changes, and a continuous cycle of innovative technology. With all these demands, it is difficult for the healthcare sector to keep up without structural and transformational modifications. This is where AI comes in. In combination with machine learning, computer vision, and natural language processing. AI contributes to better diagnosis, treatment prevention and management, personalised care, and delivery of accurate prediction of diseases in the population, all of which have transformed the healthcare sector. Here are some of the uses of AI in healthcare. 1. Imaging and diagnostics The use of AI and diagnostic imaging, especially in radiology, helps to improve imaging analysis and provide adequate care and treatment based on diagnosis. The introduction of AI reduces the chances of error in diagnosing clinical conditions. Examples of diagnostic tools used for imaging include Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Computed Tomography (CT), and Positron Emission Tomography (PET). 2 Precision medicine Precision medicine focuses on diagnosing and treating patients based on genetic makeup rather than signs and symptoms. The evolution of AI aids healthcare providers to personalise treatments and improve patient outcomes. Furthermore, pharmaceutical companies use precision medicine knowledge to develop more potent drugs with limited side effects. READ ALSO: Wearable Devices: The Impact On Personal Health Conclusion AI in healthcare has come a long way and gives promising solutions for using AI in diagnosis, treatment management, and data collection, which can improve patient outcomes. In the next few years, they have taken over the healthcare sector, thereby improving efficacy and efficiency, reducing the cost of production, and the rise of certain medical conditions. However, concerns and challenges, especially about the ethical indications of AI centered around patient confidentiality, data privacy, and others, should be addressed to have an effective system.