The development of programs such as ChatGPT raises concerns that these AIs will soon replace humans in certain positions. But artificial intelligence also brings about new needs and the creation of new professions. We invite you to discover what the highly sought-after profession of prompt engineer entails.
What does this new job consist of?
Despite its name, the job of a prompt engineer has little to do with that of an engineer... This role, sometimes translated as "query engineer" or "input engineer," is one of these new positions born with artificial intelligence programs like ChatGPT and Dall-e.
This term, with its still uncertain translation in French, refers to individuals who master these new tools and whisper to the ears of AI... They are sometimes also referred to as "AI trainers"!
Their role consists of formulating the best queries in order to obtain precise and relevant answers that meet specific needs.
Why is this profession talked about so much?
If the profession of prompt engineer has been making headlines in the international press in recent months, it is because it could become one of the most sought-after in the next 2 years.
With the development of artificial intelligence and conversational robots such as ChatGPT, the media have highlighted the millions of jobs threatened by these new tools, including computer programmers and journalists, for example.
According to a report by the American investment bank Goldman Sachs, the rise of AI could threaten up to 300 million jobs worldwide. But the media have also emphasized that these innovative technologies can be opportunities to retrain or get hired in new, highly paid jobs.
What skills are required?
The profession of a prompt engineer does not require an engineering degree or any specific diploma as it is currently learned "on the job," through practice. To date, there is no specific training or diploma in the field of prompt engineering.
To practice it, it is not necessary to know how to code. One simply needs to be capable of generating targeted queries in AI in order to improve the productivity of human professionals. In the expression "prompt engineer," the word "prompt" or "requête" in French refers to the texts entered into ChatGPT when asking it a question.
One might think that everyone is capable of asking a precise question to this conversational robot, but in reality, that is not the case! To make the best use of this tool and indicate to the artificial intelligence what it should accomplish, one must ask the right question using the right words and formulation.
The required skills, therefore, include a good knowledge of the French language and the subtleties of language, the ability to understand how artificial intelligence works, and creativity.
For once, literary profiles are more sought after than computer scientists in the world of tech! Language or philosophy training is a plus, although it is important to also have a certain mastery of new technologies.
Is this the new dream job?
With the revolution of artificial intelligence, the profession of prompt engineer is already one of the most sought after. Individuals capable of understanding how AI works and leveraging it to achieve desired outcomes can expect an excellent salary.
According to the American news agency Bloomberg, prompting specialists can be paid up to $335,000 per year, which is approximately €300,000. This news has caused quite a stir, as evidenced by the surge in job offers on the professional networking site LinkedIn.
As the demand in this field continues to grow, the role of query engineer is expected to become more professionalized, and the availability of training programs is likely to expand in the coming years.
For now, it is important to note that with the rise of artificial intelligence, some jobs will be destroyed while others will be created. Individuals looking to switch careers and young people preparing to enter the job market should therefore stay abreast of the latest developments in AI and the professional opportunities that may arise from them.