College of Computing, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and Data Science (CARDS) Associate Dean Vyas Krishnan discusses importance of degree and career opportunities in interview.
Saint Leo University’s newest graduate degree program, Master of Science in artificial intelligence, recently was featured on Fox 13 (WTVT-TV) in the Tampa Bay (FL) area. Dr. Vyas Krishnan, associate dean of the College of Computing, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and Data Science (CARDS) discussed the importance of this degree, various career opportunities, and the future of AI.
“Artificial intelligence is a technology that enables machines or computers to perform tasks that require human intelligence,” Krishnan explained. “Things such as learning, logical reasoning, decision-making, planning, problem-solving. So, if you are building an artificial intelligence system, basically it must be able to perform three things: It must be able to discover information. It should be able to infer, make inferences based on what it's learned and what it knows. And then it should be able to reason to make decisions.”
Saint Leo’s Master of Science degree in artificial intelligence is an online STEM-designated degree targeted to individuals currently working in the technology field or engineering in order to “upskill” and to those just coming out of a bachelor’s degree program, who need to build skills. Those earning the degree will graduate with a strong foundation in AI.
While the idea of artificial intelligence can be scary to some, Krishnan said AI is all around. “We are surrounded by AI,” he said. “It's impacting our lives in so many ways we may not even be aware of. For example, every time you use your face to unlock your phone, face detection, that’s AI. We’ve had that for years. AI is being used by businesses to make decisions to mine through a lot of data to get further insight, to make informed decisions. We use AI in virtual assistants such as Alexa, Siri, etc., to perform tasks for us. That’s all AI technology.”
When asked how long it would take a student to earn the master’s in AI, the associate dean said it should take a year to a year and a half to complete the 30-credit hour program. “This degree is perfect for those who have finished a bachelor’s and want to enter the workforce with the best AI skills,” he said. “It proves to employers that you are trained and qualified to work in this evolving field.”
View the Fox 13 interview.
Admissions Information
Information about admissions to the program is available by emailing admissions.grad@saintleo.edu or calling (352) 800-7161.