Why Your Artificial Intelligence (AI) Expert Doesn’t Exist (And Never Will)

So, you’re looking to hire an AI expert with at least four years of experience. Congratulations! You’re officially in the market for a time traveler.

Here’s the harsh reality: no one—and I mean no one—has four years of experience working with AI tools as they exist today. Do you know why? Because four years ago, “AI-powered tools” were mostly confined to science fiction, academic research papers, and the fever dreams of tech bros with Bitcoin tattoos. Tools like ChatGPT or DALL-E weren’t part of our daily vocabulary. Even if you squint and count the precursors like machine learning models, the tools we use today weren’t even glimmers in a programmer’s eye back then.

Yet here you are, holding out hope that your dream candidate—let’s call him Dave—will walk into your office with an impeccable resume detailing his half-decade of “cutting-edge AI implementation experience.” Spoiler alert: Dave doesn’t exist, but the frustration of looking for him? Oh, that’s very real.

The Myth of "Experience" in an Emerging Market

The idea of requiring experience in a field that’s still in its nascent stages is like expecting a toddler to submit a CV before they learn to walk. Sure, the AI field has roots that go back decades, but the explosion of practical, business-applicable tools? That’s a brand-new frontier. And like any frontier, it’s wild, unpredictable, and full of promise—but not yet full of grizzled veterans who’ve been living there for years.

In fact, trying to hire based on “experience” in this context is like expecting someone to have spent years training for the Olympics...in a sport that was invented last week. The bar for entry isn’t years of experience; it’s adaptability, curiosity, and sheer gumption.

What You Actually Need in Your Team

If your job listing says “4+ years of AI experience,” do yourself a favor: delete it. Now. Instead, consider what you really need from a candidate:

1. Flexibility: AI tools evolve faster than your office printer jams. The ideal candidate isn’t someone who mastered a single tool two years ago (and promptly got stuck in their ways). It’s someone who can pivot from tool to tool without breaking a sweat, because they understand the principles underpinning the technology.

2. Wild Curiosity: You don’t want someone who checks the AI box and calls it a day. You need a natural tinkerer who sees a new AI model and thinks, “Let’s break it and see how it works.” The best candidates will approach AI like a kid approaches a new LEGO set: with reckless enthusiasm and just enough chaos to build something brilliant.

3. Ambition: AI is a field that rewards the bold. You want someone who doesn’t just want to use AI tools—they want to understand them, challenge them, and find creative applications that haven’t been thought of yet. Ambition in AI isn’t just about pushing boundaries; it’s about inventing the boundaries to begin with.

A Good Sense of Humor (Optional, But Highly Recommended): Let’s face it—AI can be weird. One minute, it’s generating groundbreaking insights; the next, it’s confidently insisting that cats are a type of vegetable. Your team needs people who can roll with the absurdities and find joy in the quirks.

How to Attract the Right People

Instead of filtering candidates by an arbitrary number of years in the field, shift your focus to finding people with the right mindset. Here’s how:

Write a Job Description That Doesn't Sound Like a LinkedIn Bingo Card: Skip the laundry list of “must-haves” that no human could possibly fulfill. Instead, focus on the skills and qualities you value. Use phrases like “eager to experiment,” “proven track record of learning new tools,” and “ability to thrive in ambiguity.”

Look for Cross-Disciplinary Talent: Some of the best AI talent comes from unexpected places. A graphic designer who’s taught themselves to use MidJourney? Gold. A copywriter who’s turned ChatGPT into their personal assistant? Platinum. People who bridge disciplines bring fresh perspectives.

Invest in Training: If you want someone with deep expertise in AI, create them. Invest in ongoing education and professional development for your team. Not only will you build the expertise you’re craving, but you’ll also foster loyalty in employees who know you’re willing to grow with them.

The Consequences of Ignoring This Advice

Let’s imagine you double down on the quest for your mythical 4-year-experience AI wizard. Here’s what might happen:

You’ll Waste Time: Your job post will languish for months as you wait for candidates who meet your criteria. Meanwhile, other companies will be snapping up all the adaptable, curious, ambitious talent.

You’ll Miss Out: By insisting on experience, you’ll overlook candidates who might not have years under their belt but are brimming with potential to transform your business.

Your Competitors Will Laugh at You: Okay, maybe not literally. But they’ll silently enjoy the fact that they hired someone with half the “experience” who’s already delivering twice the results.

Final Thoughts: Forget the Unicorn, Build a Stable

The demand for AI expertise isn’t going away, but the way we define “expertise” needs a serious reboot. Stop chasing the mythical 4-year AI pro and start building a team of curious, flexible, and ambitious learners. They may not have all the answers right now, but give them six months and a budget for professional development, and they’ll turn into the experts everyone else wishes they had.

So, the next time someone asks if you’ve found your 4-year-experience unicorn, tell them the truth: “No, but I’m building a stable full of stallions.” Or, you know, something equally ridiculous to remind them that the future doesn’t wait for anyone—and you’re smart enough to build it yourself.

Author's Note

As we dive into the reality of AI’s rapidly evolving landscape, it’s worth acknowledging the wealth of opportunities emerging from newly developed AI courses and programs. Universities, online platforms, and boot camps are offering a growing array of training opportunities that introduce students to the intricacies of AI and its real-world applications. These programs are equipping learners with foundational skills and practical tools to harness the power of AI in innovative ways.

The graduates of these programs represent a natural and abundant source of AI talent. While they may not have years of experience in the field, they bring something equally valuable: up-to-date knowledge, fresh perspectives, and a strong foundation in applying AI to solve real-world problems. Organizations willing to invest in these eager learners and support their growth will find themselves at the forefront of innovation, benefiting from the enthusiasm and adaptability of a new generation of AI professionals.

To the employers seeking their next AI superstar: Don’t underestimate the potential of a freshly trained mind. These individuals are stepping into the workforce with the latest insights and an untamed curiosity that could be the key to unlocking your organization’s next breakthrough. The future of AI isn’t about finding a mythical unicorn; it’s about nurturing a vibrant herd of passionate learners ready to shape the world.

The growing demand for artificial intelligence (AI) expertise has led to a proliferation of educational platforms and institutions offering AI courses and programs. Here are some notable providers where individuals are receiving AI training:

Coursera An online learning platform that collaborates with over 150 universities and organizations to offer a wide range of AI courses, from beginner to advanced levels. Notable courses include 'AI for Everyone' and 'Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI).'

Udacity Known for its 'Nanodegree' programs, Udacity offers in-depth courses in AI and machine learning, developed in partnership with industry leaders like Google and Nvidia. These programs are designed to provide practical skills applicable to real-world scenarios.

DeepLearning.AI Founded by AI pioneer Andrew Ng, this platform provides specialized courses in deep learning and AI, including the popular 'Deep Learning Specialization' and 'AI for Everyone.' These courses are designed to make AI education accessible to a global audience.

Elements of AI A free online course developed by the University of Helsinki and Reaktor, aimed at demystifying AI for the general public. It covers fundamental concepts and encourages a broad understanding of AI's implications in various sectors.

edX An online learning platform offering AI courses from top universities such as Harvard and MIT. Courses range from introductory to advanced levels, covering topics like machine learning, robotics, and AI ethics.

Google AI Provides free resources and courses through its 'Learn with Google AI' initiative, aiming to make AI education accessible to everyone. Courses include 'Machine Learning Crash Course' and tutorials on TensorFlow.

IBM AI Education Offers a variety of AI courses and certifications through platforms like Coursera and edX, focusing on practical applications of AI in business and technology. Notable courses include 'IBM AI Engineering' and 'Applied AI.'

LinkedIn Learning It offers a variety of online learning modules that cater to professionals looking to enhance their skills in artificial intelligence. Examples include "Artificial Intelligence Foundations," and "AI in Practice: Virtual Assistants."