While Artificial Intelligence is the new kid on the block that’s grabbing all the attention, Data Science is its nearest cousin. One could also say they are siblings, such is the close proximity and relation between Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. They are both broad technological fields that often go hand-in-hand, and they complement each other.
Artificial Intelligence is the bigger entity in this world today, while Data Science is quietly doing many of the works in most fields today. Broad fields such as Sports, Entertainment, Hospitality, Transportation, and Retail, among others, rely heavily on Data Science.
With that said, let’s also have a detailed look at how both these close-enough fields differ from each other.
What is Data Science?
Data Science is an interdisciplinary field that relies on studying large data sets and interpreting them to extract valuable information. Data Scientists use statistical methods, algorithms, and scientific computing, to extract that information from complex data sets and draw a pattern to find the solution. They also often solve complex problems and make bold predictions, based on business needs.
What is Artificial Intelligence?
Artificial Intelligence is a subset of Computer Science that allows machines to perform tasks on its own that require human intelligence. AI, if and when trained well, can simulate learning, researching, thinking, problem solving, decision making, and many more such things.
From diagnosing patients to creating intelligent machines to coming up with creative solutions to self-driving cars and visual assistants, AI has found its foothold everywhere. You can also use it for entertainment purposes like enhancing videogames or configuring computers to play them by themselves.
AI works in a five-pronged method – Natural Language Processing, Deep Learning, Neural Networks, Reinforcement Learning, and Machine Learning. Each of these methods either involves reading data or analyzing algorithms to come up with a solution.
Difference Between Artificial Intelligence and Data Science
Artificial Intelligence is the broadest field of them all, with enormous goals such as creation of intelligent machines and self-driving cars, among others. Whereas, Data Science is an interdisciplinary field of study that utilizes various techniques to study large data sets, extract information, and come up with solutions.
It is interdisciplinary since it involves knowledge about statistical analysis, scientific methods, processes and algorithms. Here’s a more detailed look at the differences between AI and Data Science:
- AI encompasses a wide range of approaches, Natural Language Processes and Expert Systems. Data Science involves cleaning, collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data to derive valuable insights from it.
- The ultimate goal of AI is to create a system that can mimic human intelligence and perform tasks autonomously. Data Science just aims to extract meaningful insights from data to inform decision-making and solve business-related problems.
How are AI and Data Science Related?
AI is a broad field trying to mimic human intelligence and enable computers to perform tasks autonomously. In doing so, it is creating intelligent machines. It is one of five approaches that AI encompasses.
Data Science utilizes Machine Learning, as well as other tools and techniques, to extract valuable insights and information from complex data sets.
Both Data Science and Artificial Intelligence are broader concepts.
Careers in Data Science vs Artificial Intelligence
While all three fields of study are interconnected, each of them have distinct areas of focus. Here is the career path in each of these fields:
1. Data Science – Data Analyst, Data Scientist, Business Intelligence Analyst, Data Science Manager, Data Architect, etc.
2. Artificial Intelligence – AI Engineer, AI Researcher, Robotics Specialist, Natural Language Processing Engineer, Research Scientist, Computer Vision Specialist, etc.
Salaries and Job Market Overview
As of 2025, both these fields of AI and Data Science are seeing a huge demand in jobs. There is a very high demand for professionals in each of these fields of work. Salaries can range anywhere from INR 4 LPA to 8 LPA for freshers in either of these fields, to INR 20 LPA to 40 LPA for experienced professionals.
This is subject to their education backgrounds, their college, their company size and reputation, and the knowledge and skill set they acquire along the way.
For AI Engineers and other professionals in AI, salary can range anywhere from INR 5 LPA to 12 LPA for a fresher. With experience, somewhere around the mid-level, they can earn between INR 12 LPA and INR 20 LPA. Once they attain a senior level i.e. more than 5-6 years of experience, they can earn somewhere around INR 20 LPA and 40 LPA.
As for Data Scientists, the average salary is around INR 11 LPA to 12 LPA. However, not unlike AI, their salaries may also rise upwards to up to INR 30 LPA to 40 LPA with experience.
There is a huge demand for AI experts, and it is only growing with time. In the upcoming years, a 40% uptick is expected in the demand for professionals in these fields of work. Jobs may go up to 1 million in AI. Every single industry is now adopting AI, and therefore, it is soon going to be a necessary course to study in every field.
As for Data Scientists and Data Analysts, there is currently a shortage of skilled professionals, enough to fill every gap in an organization. However, this creates a unique opportunity for experts in the market.
As far as emerging technologies are concerned, Apache Spark, Databricks, and Snowflake are becoming increasingly important.
Benefits of Data Science and AI Course: Earn Your MBA Degree at MBA-ESG College
Data Science and Artificial Intelligence is possibly one of the most, if not the most, in-demand jobs in the technological sphere right now. Besides its sense of accomplishments, the salaries are usually high enough from the beginning in this work for anybody to immediately start pursuing Data Science and Artificial Intelligence.
More importantly, due to the impactful nature of Data Science & AI and its penetrability in every field, employees working with Data Science will feel like they have made a difference. AI in particular is being employed in literally every single field of work. Therefore, soon enough, it is going to be a necessary course to learn for every individual.
Pursuing a career in this field of study may create multiple job opportunities – Data Scientist, Data Analyst, AI Engineer, Data Architect, NLP Engineer, Robotics Specialist, etc. Each of these career paths have tremendous growth opportunities. Any employee may start with a salary of INR 4 LPA and can earn up to INR 40 LPA or more in 5-6 years’ time.
Besides huge earning potential and a variety of career opportunities, a Data Scientist will also work with cutting-edge technologies. There is a rising demand for even specialized professionals in this field of work. Lastly, the continual rise of AI will also heavily tilt the favor towards Data Science in the future.
To pursue Data Science and Artificial Intelligence from a reputable college such as MBA-ESG, one needs to pass Class 12 with a 50% marks or more and then pursue a bachelor’s degree.
It would be appropriate if they pursue a BBA in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, but any degree would make a student eligible to apply for an MBA in the said course from MBA-ESG. This is provided they also get 50% or more marks in the bachelor’s degree across academics.
MBA-ESG provides one of the most on-brand education courses for Data Science & Artificial Intelligence, replete with industry experts who teach students based on what is expected out of them once they join the corporate world. The curriculum is designed in a way to cater to industry needs.
This way, once the students join a company of their choice, they won’t feel at sea learning new things about their job. It helps in bridging the gap between college and corporate and sets them off on a bright and illustrious career path.
MBA-ESG is also one of the top 20 MBA colleges in Europe and top 4 in Paris. It is one of the most rising MBA colleges in India, with campuses in Bengaluru and Pune.
