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If you’re reading this article, you’ve likely seen the term “AI prompt engineer” plastered all over headlines, often marketed as a high pay but low effort position. Well, that’s not entirely true. In the article, we dispel the mystery surrounding AI prompt engineering and explore how you can become one yourself.
What Is an AI Prompt Engineer?
With the rise of large language generative AI models like ChatGPT and Claude.ai, comes a new job title: “AI Prompt Engineer.” Essentially, an AI prompt engineer is someone who is particularly skilled at crafting AI prompts that drive efficient, relevant, and accurate responses from AI chatbots. They are typically focused on software development and use their skills to have AI effectively generate pieces of usable code.
But AI prompt engineering isn’t solely limited to software development. In fact, at its core, the job is about getting the best results from generative AI models, which, in addition to coding, can include image generation, text content, and even vocal synthesis. In other words, An AI prompt engineer is someone who knows how to perfectly manipulate AI algorithms to their benefit.
Why Become an AI Prompt Engineer?
Because it is a relatively new job role, the benefits of becoming an AI prompt engineer may not be immediately apparent. However, there are many advantages to starting a career in the field, making it a highly attractive position.
High Demand
According to LinkedIn, there are over 10,000 job proposals that refer to “prompt engineering” responsibilities. Yet, as the generative AI industry is still in its emerging phase, many people do not have the required skills to fill these new job roles. As a result, there is a high demand for AI prompt engineers, meaning that if you have the knowledge–or are prepared to learn prompt engineering–you are a highly desirable candidate.
Currently, job markets are volatile, with positions being replaced by AI and many socioeconomic forces pushing against one another. This means having a highly demanded career can give you the job security many workers no longer have. Plus, as AI is further integrated into our daily lives, it’s likely that AI-orientated jobs will only continue to grow in demand.
High Pay
High demand and low availability of expertise means high pay for those who have the skills to confidently carry out a career as an AI prompt engineer. In fact, you’ve probably seen news reports of AI prompt engineering jobs paying upwards of $300,000, which isn’t far from the truth. If you can find a full-time position as a dedicated AI prompt engineer, you could find yourself earning between an average of $175,000 to $335,000 per annum.
However, most available AI prompt engineering jobs are not fully dedicated to prompt engineering and, instead, list it as a smaller responsibility within a greater role like software development or project management. Because these jobs tend to pay high salaries, too, they are ideal options for those still honing their prompt engineering skills.
Remote Work
Despite what some news outlets are reporting now that COVID is over (and that they and fellow big businesses have lots of empty office spaces to fill), remote working has been shown to increase productivity among workers. For instance, a report from Owl Labs suggests that workers are 47-percent more productive when working remotely; and, according to another report, 77% of workers feel they are more productive at home.
AI prompt engineering offers an excellent opportunity for you to work from home, as the open source and online nature of AI chatbots make them easily accessible from anywhere. Aside from productivity, working from home also provides a better work-life balance, allowing you to focus on priorities besides work while maintaining a steady and productive workload.
What Do You Need to Become an AI Prompt Engineer?
You’ve likely seen headlines stating that you can earn a high wage as an AI prompt engineer without having a degree in tech or any professional experience in information technology. However, whether you have a degree or not, there are several requirements in order to become an AI prompt engineer.
Understanding of AI
To work as an AI prompt engineer, you need to have developed an acute understanding of how artificial intelligence models work and how to get the best out of them. This means extensive experience experimenting with generative AI chatbots like ChatGPT is needed to successfully learn what kind of prompts it responds to best. It’s also crucial that you’re able to refine prompts until the AI produces the required results–they almost never produce the correct response the first time, certainly not when dealing with complex code and vocal synthesis.
Programming Skills
Programming skills are not essential for AI prompt engineers but they are helpful and make you a more valuable candidate to employers. For example, when generating code with AI, it is useful if you’re able to check if the code produced is accurate and likely to function correctly. Otherwise, you’ll need to hand off generated code to developers for verification each time it’s produced, reducing levels of efficiency.
Experience in Machine Learning
Some experience in machine learning is desirable for much the same reason as having programming skills. Understanding how machine learning algorithms work makes it easier for you to decipher generative AI models and get to know what inputs produce high-quality responses. Ultimately, the more knowledge you have regarding machine learning algorithms, the better poised you are to effectively guide AI into producing the required results.
Troubleshooting Skills
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, AI models may persistently return incorrect or low-quality responses. As a result, you need to have robust troubleshooting skills in order to determine the issue and refine your prompting accordingly. Most of the time it takes several inputs before achieving the correct output, but troubleshooting skills makes the process smoother.
What to Expect From a Career as an AI Prompt Engineer
So, if you’re considering pursuing a career in AI prompt engineering, what can you expect in your day-to-day working life?
Fast-Paced Role
As an AI prompt engineer, you’ll be at the forefront of a rapidly advancing field, as new models and breakthrough capabilities are released frequently. This forces prompt engineers to continuously test and tweak prompts to maximize performance. You’ll need to stay on top of the latest research and leverage new techniques quickly to excel. The swift pace of innovation provides excitement, but also demands prompt engineers to be comfortable with constant change.
Daily Challenges
Each day brings fresh challenges as models evolve. Because a prompt that worked flawlessly yesterday may falter tomorrow as algorithms shift, prompt engineers must troubleshoot lackluster model responses through debugging and experimentation. This means that, rather than setting prompts and forgetting them, you’ll need to continue monitoring their performance, tweaking them accordingly. Solving the daily puzzle of honing prompts and coaxing improved inferences from AI provides meaningful mental stimulation.
Constant Learning
Since prompt engineering is still an emerging practice, new best practices are uncovered almost daily, necessitating constant learning. Consequently, prompt engineers must have an insatiable appetite to absorb the latest research and discoveries to enhance their craft. The field rewards those who eagerly dive into newly published papers, rapidly assimilate new knowledge, and adapt their methods.
Creativity
While technical prowess is crucial, creativity and imagination differentiate great prompt engineers. Prompts are lenses into an AI model’s potential; with innovation, we can see the capabilities in new ways and unlock surprising utility. As devising clever, novel prompts requires tapping into your creativity, technical skills should be complemented with ingenuity and resourcefulness to fully leverage AI’s possibilities.
Learn More About AI With Idea Maker
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