Siri says: You can have a career in computer science

As Apple prepared to launch its latest version of iPhone, many fans expected the iPhone 5 to debut. Instead, they got the iPhone 4S. Word around the blogosphere was that many were disappointed the new phone wasn't a significant change from the current version. However, there was one feature that seemed to make up for the letdown, and that feature was Siri.

Created by an Apple software team, Siri is touted as a personal assistant within your phone. Its advanced programming allows it to answer questions and complete tasks such as providing a weather report or creating a calendar reminder. While it seems simple on the outside, computer software engineers spent considerable time and effort ensuring Siri understands natural language and responds appropriately.

Computers come to life

Artificial intelligence makes for a great story. You have HAL 9000, the computer who stubbornly refused to open the pod bay doors in 2001: A Space Odyssey. Then there is Sonny in I, Robot. He is central to a mystery that comes to light at the same time old machines are making way for the latest model. And finally, who could forget Data, the android who longs to be human, in the Star Trek: The Next Generation television shows and movies.

Today, AI is more than just a fantasy. Computer software engineers have been able to create complex programs that interact with users on a level never seen before. Although basic questions such as "What time is it?" may have straightforward answers, most speech patterns are infinitely more intricate, and understanding them requires a high degree of sophistication. Previous attempts at AI have had difficulty navigating the challenges presented by nuances of human language such as figures of speech.
Siri has been programmed to listen to a user's speech, translate the words and interpret the meaning, and it isn't the first machine to use cutting-edge AI technology. Most notably, in February, IBM's supercomputer Watson trounced former game show champions Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter in a Jeopardy showdown.
AI or a close imitation?
Not everyone believes Siri and Watson represent a true leap to AI. Some, such as Forbes contributor E.D. Kain, assert that Siri only looks like real AI. As a cloud application, the program can be updated instantaneously unlike other apps that are stored on a device and require user authorization to upgrade. While cloud updates gives the appearance of AI, Kain argues we are not quite there yet.
Others give Siri the benefit of the doubt. Writing for The Wall Street Journal digital edition, Walt Mossberg seems to be a believer. He calls Siri a "nascent artificial-intelligence system."
"…it isn't a simple voice-command system," wrote Mossberg. "It understands a wide variety of ways to ask a question, grasps the context, and returns useful information in a friendly way, either audibly or by displaying results on the screen."
Demand for computer software engineers heats up
Whether you say the latest technology is AI or simply high-functioning applications, at the heart of the advances are computer software engineers, who hold some of the hottest jobs in the nation. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for these professionals is projected to increase by 32 percent from 2008-2018. Computer software engineers can specialize in applications or systems software, and job prospects are best for those with the right degree.
Those interested in working in the field need an education that gives them expertise in a variety of computer systems and technologies. Computer software engineers may have a degree in computer science or software engineering. Others may have a degree in mathematics that included instruction in computer information systems. While the BLS reports most employers prefer applicants with a bachelor's degree, some may require an advanced degree as well.
While average incomes are similar for both computer software engineer specialties, those working with systems software may earn slightly more. Software developers creating systems-level applications earned mean annual wages of $97,960 in 2010 according to the BLS. Meanwhile, applications developers earned mean annual wages of $90,410 that same year.
Siri represents a huge leap forward in computer technology, but it certainly won't be the last. Earn a degree in computer science, and you could be part of the next breakthrough in AI programming.