Considering a Career Shift to AI in My Mid-30s
I've been working at a traditional SI company for 8 years. Lately, AI has been such a hot topic that I'm considering switching to AI/ML. Of course, I have zero experience in AI so far. I've been taking Coursera courses after work, but is it too late to make a career change in my mid-30s? For those currently working in AI, is this a field where non-majors or people without prior experience can adapt?
3 answers
I actually think your mid-30s is the perfect time. I switched from SI to data analytics at 35, and the 8 years of project experience and domain knowledge turned out to be a real strength. Since AI is ultimately about solving business problems, the requirements analysis and system design skills I learned in SI have been a huge help. Listening to Coursera is a great start—try building a portfolio by working on small projects on platforms like Kaggle.
I work as an AI engineer, and quite a few of my colleagues come from non-computer science backgrounds. However, if you have experience in SI (system integration), you already have solid development fundamentals. The key is getting comfortable with math (linear algebra, statistics) and tools like PyTorch/TensorFlow. Studying after work might feel time-constrained, but gradually participating in AI projects at your company can be a good approach. The moment you think it's too late is actually the latest it can be.
I'm going through a similar dilemma. I switched from electronic engineering to AI at 32, and while it was tough catching up with the concepts at first, sticking with it paid off. However, if you have a long career in SI, your salary might take a hit, so make sure to research the market when switching jobs. AI isn't known for high starting salaries either, so finding a position where your experience is recognized is key. Keep it up!