How are the latest trends increasing demand for Data Scientists?

One of the biggest trends in data science today is the increased focus on Explainable AI (XAI). XAI refers to the ability to understand, interpret, and explain the decision-making processes of AI systems, and it is becoming increasingly important as AI is used in areas such as healthcare, finance, and the criminal justice system where transparency and accountability are needed. This trend is expected to grow even more in the coming years, as organisations and governments around the world look for ways to ensure that AI systems are trustworthy and that they are making decisions in a responsible and ethical manner.

Automated machine learning (AutoML) is another trend that is rapidly gaining popularity in the data science community. AutoML is a technology that automates many of the tasks involved in building and training machine learning models, making it easier for data scientists to develop models and get results faster. This technology is ideal for organisations that want to scale their machine learning initiatives and for those that don’t have the technical expertise in-house. AutoML also has the potential to democratise machine learning by making it more accessible to businesses of all sizes and by helping to close the skills gap in the data science community (Chat GPT is a case in point).

The Rise of Edge Computing is a growing trend in data science that is focused on processing data at the edge of a network, rather than in a central location such as a data centre. Edge computing plays an important role as the volume of data generated by Internet of Things (IoT) devices and other connected devices continues to grow. By processing data at the edge, organisations can reduce the amount of data that needs to be transmitted over the network, reducing latency and improving the responsiveness of their systems. This trend is expected to continue to grow in the coming years, as more and more devices become connected and the need for real-time processing and analysis of data increases.

The Emergence of Augmented Analytics is another trend that is gaining pace in the data science community. Augmented analytics is a technology that uses machine learning algorithms to automate and optimise many of the tasks involved in data analysis, such as data preparation, feature engineering, and model selection. This technology has the potential to greatly improve the speed and efficiency of data analysis, and it is expected to become more widely adopted as organisations look for ways to get more value from their data.

Deepfake videos are a growing concern in the field of data science, as well as in society more broadly. Deepfake technology uses advanced machine learning algorithms to manipulate and generate synthetic media, such as videos or images, that appear to be authentic but are actually fake. This technology can be used to create videos of people doing or saying things that they never actually did or said, and it has the potential to cause significant harm, particularly in the realm of politics and disinformation. Detecting deepfakes can be difficult, as the technology is getting increasingly sophisticated and is able to produce very convincing synthetic media. This makes it important for data scientists to develop new techniques for detecting deepfakes, such as by analysing the subtle differences between real and fake videos or by using meta-data to determine the origin of a video, they can work to develop open-source tools and technologies that make it easier to detect deepfakes and to prevent their spread, or they can engage in public education and awareness campaigns to help people understand the dangers of deepfakes and how to protect themselves.

According to KDR data and job search websites, the number of job postings for data scientists in the UK has been steadily increasing, and the demand for the role is expected to continue to grow in the future. The average salary for a data scientist in the UK is over £65,000 per year, which is competitive compared to other tech roles in the country.

With all these advancements in technology, data scientists are in high demand in the UK and this trend is expected to continue as organisations continue to collect and analyse more data and seek individuals with the right combination of technical skills, creativity, and business know how to help them turn their data into actionable insights that drive growth and competitiveness.