Everyone is discussing about its aspects and evaluating its pros and cons to the best of their interests.

While AI is the newbie masses are going ga-ga over, it is speeding up faster than one anticipated.

AI has conveniently paved its way into our lives. Knowingly or unknowingly we use it seamlessly in the basic chores.

Anyone who has used a Smartphone is bound to have come across AI in some way or the other.

It won’t be erratic to say that the machines are now becoming as intelligent as humans, which is both astonishing and alarming at the same time.

There is a wide plethora of hush-hush revolving around the future job opportunities etc.

Though a precise future is unpredictable and could be either favorable or destructive, there are certain aspects that the aspiring job seekers could keep in mind:

1. AI won’t take away your job

Contrary to the pessimistic belief, AI will not take away the job of humans. In fact, it will create amplitude for additional job opportunities and ignite the need to employ more and more people under its garb.

Right from research, technology, implementation, integration, innovations etc., there will be reasonable demand for people to work under advancement and expansion of AI.

For clearer understanding, AI could be regarded as a separate department similar to the various departments functioning. Thus, like the latter, there will be people working in the AI vertical.

More than elimination of jobs, a rendition of jobs will be experienced.

Though there could be loss of few human jobs at grassroots level wherein the work is now gradually being conducted by bots.

The integration of AI is done to get rid of mundane and boring work conducted by humans which becomes automated and free of error.

For AI to not be a threat to your job, one must evolve, work smartly and match pace with AI. If you lag, you may unfortunately have to bear the brunt.

The ratio of new jobs and opportunities created, however, will be far more than jobs getting eliminated due to AI.

2. AI won’t destroy you

If you’ve believed the sci-fi movies, AI enabled robots, according to you, will perform horrid tasks which can create havoc on human race ultimately leading to extinction.

This isn’t exactly how it sounds.

AI enabled devices can perform only what they are designed to do. The extent of their power should be strictly regulated.

When the AI system is granted the authority to think of its own that is when the results could be ambiguous and horrifying.

It is in the hands of human to be extra cautious when it comes to artificial intelligence and if it is fabricated so as to bring about affirmative innovations and changes, it will certainly work in that direction.

3. It’s not just tech-specific

The inception of AI is certainly driven by technology companies. But now it is gradually being incorporated by other sectors and industries.

Right from financial sectors to healthcare, retail and e-commerce to BFSI, FMCG and so on, each vertical is eager to devour the AI-led opportunities that lead to significant benefits for the brand.

It is deemed useful in more ways.

4. It requires specialization

AI is extremely complex, far more than we can imagine.

Since it is still in nascent stage, there aren’t many people who comprehend its usage thoroughly. Thus, deeper knowledge and understanding of AI is paramount and this makes room for more opportunities as the competition with respect to jobs is less.

Meaningful integration requires specialization and quite a few people are acquainted with only the basic understanding of AI.

As far as R&D is concerned, the researchers are split between optimists and pessimists.

It is intriguing to dig deeper into the debate and create breathtaking innovations out of the same. Thus, the scope of AI is far-sighted and impactful.

5. AI is infinite

The degree to which AI can blend in our lives is limitless.

The extreme power of AI is unknown and unexplored for mankind and thus, there lies endless opportunities for it to grow.

There are various tributaries, verticals that AI delves into and each one is different from the other.

Whether backend or frontend, research, idealization, implementation, functionality has immense scope which the aspiring job seekers could bank upon and extract path breaking innovations.

They must seize the opportunity and seek maximum benefit from it.

With the exponential scope and potential of AI, there is a need to deploy more human resource to satiate the requirement.

Considering it is in its growth stage, this is the perfect time to understand and get associated with it. Good luck!

The Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras and the Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad topped the HRD ministry rankings.

Last date of applying online                                                           :     30 Oct  2013
Last date of submission of fee through online generated challan       :     2 Nov    2013
Last date of taking printout of application form                               :     5 Nov    2013
Last date of receiving printout of online application form                 :     9 Nov    2013
at the respective university
National Eligibility Test (NET)                                                        :     29 Dec  2014

The National Testing Bureau of University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi, has invited applications for its National Eligibility Test, popularly known as NET in arts and humanities subjects to be held on December 29 for determining the eligibility for the award for lectureship in Indian universities and colleges.

The University Grants Commission announces holding of the National Eligibility Test (NET) on 29th December 2013 for determining the eligibility of Indian nationals for the Award of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and Eligibility for Lectureship in Indian universities and colleges. UGC will conduct NET in 95 subjects at 84 selected University Centres spread across the country.

The UGC will conduct NET in 95 arts and humanities subjects (including 'Bodo' as new subject) at 84 University Centres across the country. The candidates who qualify for the award of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) examination are eligible to pursue research leading to Ph.D. One can apply either for JRF or lectureship or for both.

The test will be conducted in 95 subjects including : 

Eligibility :

1) Candidates who have secured at least 55% marks (without rounding off) in Master’s Degree OR equivalent examination from universities/institutions recognised by UGC in Humanities (including languages) and Social Sciences, Computer Science & Applications, Electronic Science etc. are eligible for this Test. The Scheduled Caste (SC)/Scheduled Tribe (ST)/Physically Handicapped (PH)/Visually Handicapped (VH) category candidates who have secured at least 50% marks (without rounding off) in Master’s degree or equivalent examination are eligible for this Test.

2) Candidates who have appeared OR will be appearing at the qualifying Master’s degree (final year) examination and whose result is still awaited OR candidates whose qualifying examinations have been delayed may also apply for this Test. However, such candidates will be admitted provisionally and shall be considered eligible for award of JRF/Lectureship eligibility only after they have passed their Master’s degree examination or equivalent with at least 55% marks (50% marks in case of SC/ST/PH/VH category candidates). Such candidates must complete their P.G. degree examination within two years from the date of NET result with required percentage of marks, failing which they shall be treated as disqualified.

3) The Ph.D. degree holders whose Master’s level examination had been completed by 19th September, 1991 (irrespective of date of declaration of result) shall be eligible for a relaxation of 5% in aggregate marks (i.e., from 55% to 50%) for appearing in NET.

4) Candidates are advised to appear in the subject of their post-graduation only. The candidates whose post-graduation subject is not covered in the list of subjects in item No. 9, may appear in a related subject.

Age Limit

Not more than 28 years as on 01.12.2013. A relaxation upto 5 years is provided to the candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC/PH/VH categories and to women applicants. Relaxation will also be provided to the candidates having research experience, limited to the period spent on research in the relevant/related subject of post-graduation degree, subject to a maximum of 5 years, on production of a certificate from appropriate authority. Three years’ relaxation in age will be permissible to the candidates possessing L.L.M. Degree. Total age relaxation on the above ground(s) shall not exceed five years under any circumstances.

There is no upper age limit for lectureship.

Examination

The test will consist of three papers. All the three papers will be of objective type. There is no negative marking.

Paper-I shall be of general nature, intended to assess the teaching/research aptitude of the candidate. It will primarily be designed to test reasoning ability, comprehension, divergent thinking and general awareness of the candidate. Consist of 60 multiple choice questions of two marks each of which candidates have to answer any 50.

Paper-II shall consist of questions based on the subject selected by the candidate. Consist of 50 compulsory objective type questions of two marks each.

Paper-III will consist of 75 questions of 2 marks each based on the subject selected by the candidate, all of which are compulsory

Application

i) Candidate seeking admission to the Test (UGC-NET, December,2013) must apply online (i.e. www.ugcnetonline.in OR through a link available on the UGC website: www.ugc.ac.in).

ii) Before applying Online, the candidates must possess the Scanned passport size photograph in JPEG format of less than 300 kb.

iii) After filling all the details for applying online for NET, the computer will automatically generate your ‘Bank Challan’ indicating your details therein A print out of this Bank Challan may be taken by the candidate for payment through cash, on the next working day (after generating the challan from www.ugcnetonline.in) at any branch of State Bank of India (SBI) alongwith bank charges (commission) of Rs.20/-

iv) Two days after the payment of fee at SBI through filled Bank Challan, the candidate is required to check the status of fee payment at UGC website ( www.ugcnetonline.in ) and if the status is ‘OK’ the candidate will be able to take the printout of online Application Form (one copy), Attendance Slip (one copy) and Admission Card (one copy) on separate A-4 size papers.

v) SC/ST/PH/VH candidates and candidates belonging to OBC (non-creamy layer) (as per the Central list of OBC available on website : www.ncbc.nic.in) must enclose the attested copy of certificate for the same.

vi) Candidates seeking age relaxation must enclose the certificate of educational qualification/research experience entitling the candidates for age relaxation.

vii) The Application (consisting of two copies of printout of online application form, one copy of Attendance Slip and one copy of Admission Card) alongwith required documents must reach the Registrar of the University (UGC Test Centre).

viii) Application received after 09.011.2013 at the NET coordinating universities will be rejected.

ix) Before applying Online candidates are advised to go through detailed notification available on UGC website. Please note that Fee submitted through any other mode like Money Order, Demand Draft, IPO etc. will be summarily rejected

x) The envelope containing the Application Form should be superscribed UGC NATIONAL ELIGIBILITY TEST FOR JUNIOR RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP AND ELIGIBILITY FOR LECTURESHIP, DECEMBER 2013

xi) The candidates must affix their recent identical passport size photographs, at the places indicated, on the printout of Online Application Form and must sign across the photograph after it is affixed so that a part of the signature spreads over the Application Form beyond the photograph. Besides, it should be duly attested by the Head of the University Department/Principal of the College/Class-I Gazetted Officer.

xii) In order to avoid last minute rush, the candidates are advised to apply early enough. UGC will not be responsible for network problems or any other problem of this nature.

More details can be available from the UGC website.