Advances in artificial intelligence will augment existing professions humans currently are doing, and will rapidly begin shifting humans to the side en-masse when corporations and power brokers can choose machines to do the jobs of the future. Wherever there is money being made and where there’s money to be made, machines will increasingly be on the other side of the transactions.

But there are some fields where new opportunities and new professions will begin to emerge due to automation, new virtual spaces, and other technologies.

From the younger generations about to ride the wave, to the older and anxiety-ridden folks wondering “what the hell job am I even gonna do when these robotics companies come knocking on the bosses door?”, everyone should consider how to leverage their interests, their skills, and an understanding of market needs to adapt for the future.

And with that, here’s Acutepost’s predictions for the “Top 7 Emerging Professions for the Next Generation”, how much they pay according to Payscale, and how to get started for free:

1. Augmented and Virtual Reality Developers

(Median Salary: $74,000 per year; $48,000-$127,000 per year)

Screen time, the amount of time someone is on a mobile device, a computer, in front of the tv, etc., is increasing rapidly. According to Our World in Data, users 18+ now spend over 6 hours per day in front of a screen. People are becoming accustomed to spending a significant portion of their lives on their screens, and demand will grow for products which are more engaging and immersive.

And remember 2008’s Pixar animated film WALL-E about the cute robot left to clean up a deserted and unpopulated Earth? The clairvoyance is heartbreakingly impressive, but according to that film we still have several hundred years left for the human population to degenerate into helpless, obese oafs where robots and AI cater to our every whim. And AR/VR/XR will be there waiting for us! How exciting.

Education will be transformed. Students of the future will be able to take virtual field trips in 3D simulations, and have interactive textbooks with the help of augmented reality. Applications for healthcare in medical training and surgical simulations will lead to better patient outcomes. These technologies can bring some real benefit to humanity, and will.

Free courses and tutorials:

Unity Learn: Offers free tutorials, courses, and projects on AR/VR development using the Unity engine.

Coursera: Try this free course from the University of Michigan on AR/VR development and the evolving XR space.

Google AR & VR: Provides free resources and tutorials on AR/VR development using Google tools and platforms.

2. Cybersecurity Experts

(Median salary: $103,590 per year; $57,810–$158,860 per year)

The internet is growing, adding around 27,000 new users every hour around the globe, with just around 65% of the world's population currently online. And with more devices coming online, the world will need cybersecurity experts, the people with deep understanding of the latest technologies and tools used by attachers, as well as best practices and techniques to protect against them.

The ability to problem solve is a critical skill to excel in the field. Experts must analyze complex information and identify potential threats, as well as develop solutions to address threats. And if you join this field, you’ll get to jokingly refer to yourself as a “penetration expert,” but of computers only most likely ha-ha.

Cyber threats and attacks will rise, cybersecurity experts are in high demand and will be in high demand to protect organizations from potential breaches and to develop secure systems and protocols.

Free courses and tutorials:

Cybrary: Try these free online courses on various cybersecurity topics, including ethical hacking, network security, and digital forensics.

OpenSecurityTraining: Provides free online courses and materials on cybersecurity and related topics.

SANS Cyber Aces Online: Offers free online courses on foundational cybersecurity topics, including network security, operating systems, and malware analysis.

3. Data scientists and analysts

(Median salary: $96,000 per year; $62,000 to over $140,000 per year)

The initial art generations from DALL-E for this article made this profession appear to be rather dull and drab, but it seems actually pretty fun. To be a good data scientist, you need to be part detective, part mathematician, and part storyteller. Data scientists gather clues and piece together patterns to solve problems. Important are their storytelling skills, where findings need to be presented in compelling yet digestible ways.

In the coming generation, data scientists will be crucial for analyzing the copious data sets in our tech-centric world. They’ll be able to make sense of it all and provide actionable insights. Organizations having to make informed decisions, identify trends, and optimize operations will keep data scientists in high demand and highly valued.

Free courses and tutorials:

edX: Provides free courses on data science and analytics from top universities and institutions around the world.

Coursera: Offers a range of similarly structured free courses on data science and analytics.

Kaggle Learn: Try these free interactive courses on data science and machine learning topics, including data visualization, statistical inference, and machine learning fundamentals.

4. Digital marketing specialist

(Median salary: $57,000 per year; $37,000 to over $87,000 per year)

More users with screens, plus increasing screen time per user, means there’s going to be a lot of advertising space to be filled. Digital marketing specialists will be filling it by developing the strategies to grow brands, create content, and target audiences. The E-commerce segment will continue to expand, and social media platforms will develop new technologies and new opportunities within marketing.

Social butterflies will excel in this field, as it's all about building relationships and connecting with people on social media. An essential skill is to be able to generate ideas which grab people's attention and make them want to engage. Though there is an art to it, you also need to be part nerd. Digital marketing specialists need to be creative geniuses, able to test out new marketing campaigns for optimization.

And as an added perk of being in the tech field, digital marketing specialists often are able to work remote while earning rather high salaires.

Free courses and tutorials:

Google Digital Garage: Provides free online courses on digital marketing and related topics, including SEO, social media marketing, and email marketing.

HubSpot Academy: Offers free online courses on digital marketing and related topics, including inbound marketing, content marketing, and email marketing.

Meta Blueprint: Provides free online courses on Facebook and Instagram advertising, including ad creation, targeting, and measurement.

5. Robotics engineers

(Median salary: $86,000 per year; $57,000 to over $130,000 per year)

With the rise of automation and robotics, there is a growing demand for engineers who can design, develop, and maintain robotics systems that can perform a wide range of tasks.

Robotics technology is rapidly evolving. Robots once merely automated manufacturing, especially in the car industry. Now, advances in technology have made the cars themselves robotic, loaded with technologies for self-driving.

Robotics engineers, like all engineers, need to be inventive tinkerers with a knack for problem-solving. In this field, the more mad scientist you are, the better-crazy ideas here can become reality.

Free courses and tutorials:

ROS (Robot Operating System) Wiki: Provides free tutorials and resources for learning about the ROS framework, which is widely used in robotics development.

edX: Offers free online courses on robotics, including programming and control of robotic systems.

Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy: Provides free online courses and resources on robotics programming and design for K-12 educators and students.

6. Sustainable Energy Specialists

(Median salary: $63,000 per year; $41,000 to over $96,000 per year)

The battle to save the planet is Herculean, and will require superheroes that will work tirelessly towards resolving Earths sustainability woes. Visionaries and engineers which are part environmentalist will excel in this field. Sustainable energy specialists will be designing and implementing real-world solutions. Tree-huggers are welcome in this space because it's all about bringing a passion towards protecting the environment and making the world a greener place.

Due to the growing need for sustainable energy sources in the next generation, sustainable energy specialists will be essential for a sustainable future. Climate change is increasingly becoming a hot-topic. Demand will grow for individuals who can design and implement sustainable energy solutions. Companies wishing to transition to renewable energy sources, reduce their carbon footprint, and making general efforts to create a sustainable future will rely on the know-how of sustainable energy specialists.

Free courses and tutorials:

edX: Offers free online courses on various sustainable energy topics, including this one on the “Age of Sustainable Development.”

Solar Energy International: Provides free online courses on solar energy design and installation, as well as other renewable energy topics.

MIT OpenCourseWare: Provides free course materials on various sustainable energy topics, including wind energy, solar energy, and energy storage.

7. AI/machine learning specialists

(Median salary: $112,000 per year; $75,000 to over $161,000 per year)

This field requires time travelers, able to put themselves in the future, to design intelligent systems that can adapt to changing environments. Working in this space involves developing futuristic, cutting-edge solutions. Innovative scientists which are part futurist will do well in this field.

With the increasing use of AI and machine learning in various industries, there is a growing demand for professionals who can develop and implement AI-based solutions for tasks such as predictive analytics, natural language processing, and image recognition.

Vital in the next generation due to the increasing importantance of artificial intelligence, whether humans are ready or not. Machines will become more intelligent, more sophisticated, and there will be the need for artificial intelligence and machine learning specialists who can develop and implement the technologies.

Free courses and tutorials:

TensorFlow: Provides free online courses and tutorials on using TensorFlow, an open-source machine learning framework.

Andrew Ng's Machine Learning Course: Offers a free online course on machine learning from one of the leading experts in the field.

Microsoft AI School: Provides free online courses and tutorials on AI and machine learning topics, including deep learning, computer vision, and natural language processing.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this look into the crystal ball

While these emerging professions may offer exciting opportunities, remember that they are not the only paths to success. Every person has unique talents and passions that can be applied to a wide range of careers and industries.

Whether you choose to pursue one of these emerging professions or blaze your trail in life, remember that every person plays a vital role in shaping our future. There are endless possibilities out there waiting for you to find your place and your mark.

Follow your passion and work towards a brighter future for yourself and those around you.

These are just a few examples of the new professions that are emerging due to advancements in technology. As technology continues to evolve, it is likely that new professions will continue to emerge, requiring a range of skills and expertise.