Once upon a time, a professor sent me a link to an article from Harvard Business Review titled ‘Data Scientist: The Sexiest Job of the 21st Century’ (https://hbr.org/2012/10/data-scientist-the-sexiest-job-of-the-21st-century) and asked me to read it carefully, with no further instructions, like a mysterious quest waiting to unfold. I clicked on the link and read the article and was intrigued by how the authors described data as a gold mine or an oil field—full of potential but useless unless refined. They compared data scientists to miners and petroleum engineers, extracting raw information and transforming it into valuable business insights. At that time, I was aspiring to become a business analyst. I thought this is my go-to subject.
As an aspiring business analyst, and I believed this was the perfect field for me. The perspective in the article fascinated me, but looking at where we are today, I’m sure even the authors didn’t fully anticipate the profound impact AI would have and what we are experiencing now. Nevertheless, they did mention that big data was growing, and the foundation of AI is, in fact, built on this ever-expanding data. AI is here now, and it’s transforming everything.
AI: The Ultimate Refinery and mint of Big Data
Today, artificial intelligence is automating many of the tasks that once defined data science. AI models can now analyze massive datasets, detect patterns, and generate insights faster than ever before. In many ways, AI has become the refinery itself, turning raw data into valuable intelligence almost instantly.
In 2023, I had the privilege of touring an AI lab with supercomputers at the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC), India, and witnessing firsthand how the Indian government is investing in AI technologies to enhance various sectors, including agriculture, weather forecasting, climate change, and healthcare. India is rapidly embracing AI, and it is proving to be a game-changer. Like Papua New Guinea (PNG), a multicultural nation, India is also navigating the challenges of ethics, data privacy, and public awareness surrounding AI.
What Happens Next?
Does this mean data scientists are becoming obsolete? Not exactly. Just as oil refineries didn’t eliminate petroleum engineers, AI won’t eliminate data scientists—it will reshape their roles. The focus is shifting from manual data analysis to AI strategy, oversight, and ethics. The next wave of in-demand professionals will include AI engineers, AI strategists, AI ethicists, business analysts, policy makers, researchers, academics, etc… —those who understand how to guide and govern AI rather than just use it.
Embracing AI, Not Resisting It
AI is no longer something we can afford to ignore—it’s here, and we must adapt. Businesses and individuals who embrace AI will stay ahead, while those who resist it risk being left behind. The “sexiest job” of the future may no longer be data science, but rather AI strategy—providing the right ethical and moral guidance to harness AI for the betterment of human lives, improving efficiency, and creating value. The time to prepare, invest in AI learning, and commit to training is now!
Bata Des, 26th March 2025, 1129PM.
Comments are closed