From Virtual Reality (VR) to Artificial Intelligence (AI), the global tech sector and its professionals are going through a period of unprecedented change.
As more tools and innovations are released, core job functions are changing all the time – which means studying a course such as SAE’s Creative Computing and AI degree can be invaluable in providing professionals with the critical thinking, programming skills and flexible mindset to ride the wave of opportunities powering the sector.
Learning a course on AI comes at a time when investment in the tech is spiralling – according to Goldman Sachs research, AI companies may invest more than $500bn (£372bn) in innovative solutions in 2026.
As the landscape progresses so do the roles required from skilled professionals alongside what technical expertise is valued. From problem solving and understanding natural language processing to data analytics and managing a major project, there are now myriad creative computing skills required and career paths accessible to our students.
Our latest blog will explore the sector, the new jobs available and insights around career progression as well as the many industries offering exciting creative computing opportunities – if you’re looking to take advantage of this tech and launch a career in AI computing, message our team now.
How the Creative Industries has been changed by Artificial Intelligence
From large language models and machine learning to generative AI (GenAI), we are now living within an age where futuristic possibilities are fast-becoming a reality.
One third of AI start-ups in Europe are based in the UK and there’s been a 600 percent increase in the number of UK AI companies during the last decade, recent figures have revealed. From augmented creativity to new efficiencies, and previously untapped forms of creative expression, AI tech is being utilised in a dizzying array of areas.
Adobe reports that 86 percent of professionals now use GenAI in their work. In film, editors are using language models to pre-visualise scenes, helping them inform set and costume design while more than 70 percent of marketers use GenAI every week.
It’s clear that AI is here to stay and, whether we realise or not, is already part of our daily lives through recommendations on discovering new artists on streaming services, phone facial recognition and self-driving cars. Adoption is also taking place in almost every sector including retail, healthcare, and business, demonstrating how a variety of professionals need a deep understanding of its potential to transform industries and solve complex problems if they are to get ahead.
AI Ethical Concerns
While there are exciting new opportunities with tech companies created by AI, there are also various ethical implications too.
A major challenge is the legal ambiguity surrounding AI-generated works, particularly since many GenAI models are trained on vast datasets of existing, often copyrighted, human creations without explicit consent or compensation. This has sparked ongoing debates and calls for clear regulation to protect human creators.
There are concerns that AI-generated content or ‘AI slop’ as it has been billed, is clogging up our social media platforms, news feeds and other communication channels. Not only is content inauthentic but it can also lack the emotional depth, and originality that comes from lived experience. This potentially leads to a saturation of generic, low-quality content, uncertainty over ownership and questions surrounding the validity of images or reports.
Advanced technical skills in creative computing
Using AI in a computing environment instantly opens up your creative options, giving you access to a whole plethora of talents and skills you might not naturally possess.
As part of our course, students explore visual, text, video and interactive media where they can build a stunning multimedia portfolio of creative artefacts across the immersive media space. During their time, they become proficient at using the latest creative AI tools and software, including Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator and Premiere Pro), ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Ollama, LM Studio, Resolume and Apple Vision Pro with Xcode and Swift.
Alongside existing platforms, students also trial a host of additional AI tools and software as they evolve at rapid speed, including them in workflows so they are consistently utilising the latest advancements within this field.
An ability to hone a future-facing mindset will be highly sought after, as is an aptitude for continuous learning too. With new applications and platforms appearing all the time, it is important to be able to stay on top of any changes in a fast paced world where innovative approaches will be highly valued.
Key roles in AI
From understanding computer programming and predictive analytics to maths skills and project management, there are various abilities that studying a course in AI and creative computing will equip students with.
Here are some of the roles that these skills can help enhance business goals for companies.
Robotics engineer
A robotics engineer designs, builds and tests robotic systems for automated tasks, blending mechanical, electrical, and software skills with AI. The aim is to create machines that can be used within different applications and solve problems.
Data analysts
A data analyst collects, cleans, processes, and statistically analyses large datasets. The aim for these professionals is to identify trends within the data, then present this information so businesses or organisations can make informed decisions.
AI researchers
AI researchers develop new algorithms, models, and technologies to mimic human intelligence. They often work in machine learning or computer vision to create systems that can learn and perceive.
AI product manager
An AI Product Manager (PM) specialises in the creation and launch of AI-powered products. This role usually bridges the gap between complex technology and user needs by drawing on an understanding of AI and machine learning. They will often collaborate with data scientists on strategy and ethic surrounding initiatives.
AI engineer
An AI Engineer designs, builds, and deploys artificial intelligence systems and applications, focusing on integrating existing AI models (like large language models) into software. Their skills includes machine learning, programming, and an understanding of data science.
UX design
A UX designer in AI focuses on crafting user-centric experiences for AI-powered products, using AI tools to automate tasks (like data analysis, prototyping, and copy generation) and concentrating on higher-level strategy, ethical considerations, personalisation.
Deep Learning engineer
An AI Deep Learning Engineer in AI designs, builds, trains, and deploys advanced AI models using deep neural networks for complex tasks like computer vision and NLP. The focus of this role is on data preparation and algorithm optimisation.
STUDY creative computing and ai
If you want to get to grips with the latest innovations and technologies shaping computing, then our Creative Computing and AI degree could be for you.
Our state-of-the-art facilities and expert tutors are well placed to give your career the best possible start in exciting and creative sector.
