Most professions of the future are related to AI. What direction to choose at the start?

The labor market is changing rapidly, and most of the fastest growing and emerging professions are already related to AI rating LinkedIn Jobs on the Rise records the fastest growing professions over the past three years. The company predicts that in 2026, a significant portion of the top positions will be related to artificial intelligence.However, the rating itself does not explain the main thing: where to go for a junior if "everyone is going into AI," and what skills are really paid and what is not worth wasting time on. This is what we are talking about LIGA.net spoke with Mikhail Khaina, AI director and co-founder of BannerBoo and JemAds AI, and career consultant Alla Gichko.AI areas for starting a careerIn Ukrainian realities, the three areas that are most accessible to newcomers are those that generate the first income faster than others, says Mykhailo Heina.Creation of graphic and video creatives (AI Creator, Video Creator, AI Content Maker). We are talking about short content for social networks (Reels, Stories), as well as advertising or corporate AI videos. There are also more complex formats: cinematic content, TV series, or short films. Fork salary is UAH 20,000-42,500.AI copywritingcustom writing: creating posts and articles to order. The competition is higher here, but the entry is easier. You can start with free tools like ChatGPT or Gemini if you have a strong humanities background and a feel for the language. Medium salary – UAH 20,000.AI automation for business. To automate your routine, you can start with basic solutions: setting up GPT or GEM assistants, simple chatbots. Then move on to more complex scenarios: master services such as Make or n8n and build entire automated chains – from UGC content generation to order processing and customer support bots. This approach saves not only team time but also helps to optimize the budget. Medium salary – from UAH 32,500.AI is just a tool and an amplifier of your expertise, not a shortcut to "do well." This applies to all areas.These roles have a relatively low entry threshold: it is enough to master a few key tools for working with texts, videos, or images, and you can already fulfill your first commercial orders at the start, the career consultant emphasizes. They often generate the first income or offer much faster than more technical specializations.What AI skills are valuable in the marketThe market does not value a list of tools, but a practical result: the ability to quickly create high-quality content, adapt it to a client's request, and understand business goals, says Alla Gichko.Read alsoThe team is afraid of AI: 5 approaches to help engage people in changeMichael Hayne calls one of the key skills promotingis the art of correctly formulating a query to neural networks. This is what determines the quality of the result, regardless of whether it is text, images, or video, he explains. It's important to clearly articulate your thoughts and know the peculiarities of the neural networks you have to work with.- The "Top 100" sets of prompts for social networks or for Nano-Banana are mostly hype generated by the same neural networks. Learn how to write prompts correctly and you will be able to fulfill any request.What to write in a resumeThe real value will come from those experts who can show how AI influenced the outcome, namely:that was automated;how much time or resources were saved;what problem has been solved;what results were achieved (quality improvement, speed, etc.).Even one or two real cases described through the result and context work much better than the phrase "I know AI". They should be included in a resume, adds career consultant Alla Gichko.Strategic mistakes in AI: what to do and what not to doOne of the most common mistakes, according to experts, is high expectations. Focusing only on the promise of quick money often leads to disappointment. Mykhailo Heina compares the hype around AI to cryptocurrency, where there will be no result without market and niche analysis.Alla Hichko draws attention to another systemic error. Experts overestimate AI and underestimate their own responsibility: blindly trust the results of the models, do not check them, and cannot explain why the solution works the way it does. This can lead to curiosities in work.How to act:Research the market (even with the help of the same neural networks).Follow Ukrainian AI creators on Threads, X, and Instagram – they often share not only their workflows but also their experience with clients and the amount of money they earn.Decide on the tools/neural networks you want to work with. Calculate how much you can invest before you receive your first order.Demand for Ukrainian specialists in the coming yearsIn the coming years, experts believe that in Ukraine, AI proficiency will be perceived as basic as "confident PC skills" used to be. Demand for other areas will grow:GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) is a new branch of SEO, where optimization is done exclusively for neural networks (ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok, Claude, etc.).AI marketing (strategy, analytics, optimization, and automation of processes and advertising campaigns).AI engineering/programming, where the entry threshold has become much easier thanks to AI.Knowledge of computer vision and the ability to automate the collection of data analysis from drones. Automatic target detection is perhaps the most relevant for Ukraine today, says Heina.Data analytics using AI.Testing (QA).You shouldn't look for the perfect AI profession, but rather choose a practical start. Identify one available area where AI enhances your core expertise (content, automation, analytics), master two or three key tools, and focus on real cases. At the same time, research the market and demand, test small commercial tasks, and record measurable results – achieved metrics. This is the strategy that generates the first income and creates the basis for growth in more complex AI areas.Read alsoFull-time is in question. Is part-time work profitable in Ukraine?

Most professions of the future are related to AI. What direction to choose at the start?

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