"The future seems bright with more opportunities in the field of Artificial Intelligence and Big Data"
Takudzwa Mupanesure is a 27 years old student of "Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Technologies" programme at St Petersburg University from Harare, Zimbabwe. Before coming to St Petersburg he studied in Voronezh at Voronezh State University.
In this interview he told us about importance of learning AI, shared his opinion about potential applications of students’ skills in AI and Big Data field, and dispelled some myths about AI. We also asked him some questions about his first steps on the path of professional growth and how much time does it take to become an expert in AI field.
What can you tell us about your experience of life in St Petersburg?
My experience has been awesome, to say the least. The locals, from the university staff to the general public, are friendly, and the city’s architecture is beautiful, definitely one of the best cities in Russia.
How long did you study Russian?
Where did you start learning Russian? I studied the Russian language from the very first time I came to Russia in 2015 up until I finished my Bachelor’s degree in Voronezh.
What major did you choose while earning a bachelor degree and why?
I have a B. SC (Bachelor of Science) in Fundamental Informatics and Information Technologies, I chose this major because I love technology and I wanted to take part in creating some of the world’s information systems, which I am doing now.
Why did you choose SPbU to continue your education?
I chose SPbU because it is one of the top leading universities in Russia. During my research SPbU showed to have great history and also being situated in one of the most beautiful cities in the world made it a no brainer for me. Having lived here for a couple of months I can safely say that my choice was not wrong at all.
What inspired you to start studying AI?
Having experience in the IT industry being a software developer, choosing to study AI was a no brainer for me in that AI enhances the skills that I already have. Studying AI goes in hand with my career path where I want to build intelligent information systems.
What is the most difficult in studying "Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Technologies" programme in Russian?
Studying AI is challenging in itself, fortunately I am a hard worker. Sometimes understanding complex technical concepts and terminology can be challenging. However my experience with Russian is good so I understand for the most part.
When did you first come to know of Artificial intelligence? Has your opinion changed since then or not?
I first came to know of Artificial intelligence in 2017 during my bachelor’s degree studies, and I can surely say my opinion has not changed about Artificial intelligence being the future of our world where computers are increasingly becoming more intelligent and able to perform more and more complex tasks which even us, humans, cannot do. I think Artificial intelligence is here to stay, and we all need to learn how we can utilize it to maximize our productivity.
In which area do you want to apply your knowledge and skills in the future?
I recently started my own Tech start-up, and within the framework of my start-up I see us applying Artificial Intelligence and Big Data across various industries. Here are some of the areas where I could apply my AI and Big Data knowledge and skills:
- Healthcare: AI and Big Data can be used to analyse medical data, such as patient records and imaging scans, to improve diagnosis and treatment outcomes
- Finance: AI and Big Data can be used to analyse financial data to make informed investment decisions, detect fraud, and streamline financial operations
- Retail: AI and Big Data can be used to analyse customer data and purchase patterns to improve personalized marketing and customer service
- Manufacturing: AI and Big Data can be used to optimize supply chain management, increase efficiency and productivity on the factory floor, and make predictions about equipment maintenance needs
- Transportation and Logistics: AI and Big Data can be used to optimize routes, predict delivery times, and streamline distribution networks
- Energy: AI and Big Data can be used to optimize energy consumption and production, and improve energy efficiency and sustainability
- Government: AI and Big Data can be used to improve public services, such as traffic management, disaster response, and crime prevention
What academic achievements do you hope to accomplish while studying?
Coming up with some Information systems that are intelligent with the help of AI and Big Data.
What skills and knowledge do you consider the most important?
Good analytical skills, statistical and machine learning modelling, data engineering, problem solving and critical thinking skills.
What interdisciplinary projects would you like to participate in during your studying?
I would like to participate in Tech Conferences and share AI experiences with fellow tech minds.
Which artificial intelligence projects are the most successful, in your opinion?
It is hard to cherry pick because most of them are successful, however if I am to pick one I would say Natural language processing (NLP).
In your opinion, in which areas AI can completely replace humans? For example, could artificial intelligence write a novel that would won the Nobel Prize for literature?
One of the fears people have with regards to AI is that AI will take their jobs. I think it is unlikely that AI will be able to write a novel that wins the Nobel Prize for Literature in the near future. While AI has advanced significantly in recent years, it still lacks creativity, emotions, and human experience that are essential to writing great literature. The Nobel Prize is awarded to individuals who have produced works of exceptional literary merit, and it is unlikely that a machine-generated novel would be able to capture the depth and nuance of human experience in the same way that a novel written by a person can. Additionally, the literary world values the unique perspectives and experiences that individuals bring to their writing and a machine-generated novel would lack the personal touch that many readers are looking for in great literature. For these reasons, it is highly doubtful that an AI-generated novel would win the Nobel Prize for Literature any time soon. However, there are some areas where AI is already being used to automate certain tasks that were previously done by humans. These include tasks in manufacturing, data entry, and customer service, among others.
In your opinion, how long does it take to become a great specialist in this field?
It varies with the amount of time dedicated to studying this field. I believe that within 2 years one would have had the necessary knowledge to work in the industry. However the field is forever changing and one needs to stay up to date with the latest technologies in order to stay relevant.
How do you see your future profession? What are you going to do after graduation?
In my opinion the future seems bright with more opportunities in the field of Artificial Intelligence and Big Data, this comes with the world seemingly becoming more intelligent and interconnected. After my graduation I am looking forward to continue working on advancing my Tech start-up to become a big Tech company.