The growth of data is transforming our world. When collected, it听can drive insights to assist in making better听decisions across industries.
Between 2019 and 2025,听as organizations conduct more business online and increasingly use social networks and mobile devices,听. This data has important stories to tell.听Software company听 (ABR),听founded听by 蓝莓视频 alums, has developed听a new kind of artificial intelligence (AI) that mimics human neural networks.听听
鈥淲e听have developed听new AI algorithms that allow听us to put speech and language听AI networks onto听extremely small chips,鈥澨齭ays听Peter Suma (MASc鈥� 17), CEO听of听ABR. 鈥淭his听could have a听children's toy talk in full sentences or make your car easier to deal with less structured command words.听Devices will interact more easily while saving a lot of energy.鈥澨�
Math is key in data analysis听
ABR听also听uses data to develop听AI for industries听like听automotive,听semiconductors and military research听groups.听Their work has听large environmental听impacts. 鈥淢achine learning models that people are developing听are听enormous.听Training听a听large-scale听model听can听take听weeks听with large amounts of computing resources,听consuming incredible amounts of energy,鈥� says Peter听Blouw听(PhD鈥� 17), senior research scientist听and听head of advanced projects听at ABR. 鈥淲e're building advanced technology that introduces new capabilities听that can be incorporated in businesses across the world.听We're听building machine learning models in听a very energy-efficient way that preserves听privacy听by processing data directly on user devices.鈥澨�
To make strides in ABR鈥檚 work, mathematical skills听such as听statistical modelling and optimization听methods听are essential. The organization consistently hires听Math co-op students to assist on projects. 鈥淥nce trained our co-op students have ownership over a particular aspect of a听given听project,听such as designing and testing the performance of a machine learning model that classifies time-series data,鈥� says听Blouw. 鈥淲e鈥檝e been very impressed with their knowledge, professionalism and ability to solve problems with minimal supervision.鈥澨�
Data provides valuable insights听听
Despite a slowdown in 2020,听hiring in data-related jobs听is on the rise听and new听job titles听are听emerging听like the听analytics听engineer. There is growing investment in data capabilities with the market projected to be worth $103 billion by 2023.听Today,听听are investing in data and AI听including听investing in talent with the skills to handle data.听
Albert Zhang听is a听co-op student听utilizing his data skills听in the retail food industry.听Albert听is a听fourth-year听international听student studying听Statistics. He听spent a co-op work term听as a听marketing听analyst at听.听鈥淲hen I started at Hello Fresh, they were transitioning to a fully data-driven organization.听Every decision they听make听is based on data.听They听needed someone with a math background to bring fresh perspectives to the team,鈥� says听Albert.听听
Albert听worked on building a performance dashboard that听tracked partners听of the Hello Fresh brand and subsidiary companies听for customer insights.听He听also analyzed data to evaluate the success of marketing initiatives and the customer鈥檚 journey.听
According to听Albert, data tells stories for impact.听鈥淯sing data can change the ways business operates.听A theory is听like听a narrative and data is the evidence that backs up what you are trying to convey,鈥� he says.听鈥淒ata gives you insights on the goals of the project, what you are trying to get your audience to focus on or make changes for the better.鈥澨�
By 2028, experts expect 18,000 new jobs will be created听for data analysts and administrators. Only 16,700 new job seekers (arising听from graduates, immigration and mobility) are available to fill these positions. These jobs will be on the rise in both tech and non-traditional tech industries听as data听can听create听significant听change.听Hiring a co-op student can help your organization to get a head start finding data talent.听
