Ai/Data consultant vs data scientist product based company

Question

I posted this WSO also but I thought I try to get answer here also.

How does the role of an AI/Data consultant differs from the role of a data scientist in a product-based company?

I am posting this question and I would like to understand the different in order to weed out some of the AI consultant jobs openings that I am looking at. I am trying to understand the difference. There is so much information and variations of information. I am having hard time deciphering basic points.

Some of the understanding that I have (if I am wrong please correct)

-AI/ Data consultant can work on various projects for various background increases their breadth and not necessarily depth where as data scientist in product based focus on one product that the company is working on until the product is launched and succeeded. So, they get depth and maybe less breadth. Also with that Consultant in AI/Data firms job might more a plan from data they recieved from the client and offer their suggestions but not a guarantee the client will listen. The data scientist is responsible for providing answers to help launch and follow thorough until the product has been launched.

Is this correct? do you have more you add? Or point an article that discusses the basics.

Answer 1

Hello!

Unfortunately, these terms are often interchangeable and totally depending on the company.

This said, data scientists are normally involved in the business, and own the data- related workstreams of the projects, as well as tools/resources development (for the non-so-technical side of the team).

Hope it helps!

Cheers,

Clara

Answer 2

Hi there,

You're probably in the wrong forum for this!

That said, a Data Consultant works more with an organization to align their data centers (collection, organization, linking etc.). Think databases + processes + systems. They're also more likely to drive strategy/ops/company decisions from the data

A data scientist is generally less business focused. They're working in Python, R, etc and coding, running regressions, getting deep into statistics etc.

There's going to be overlap depending on the company and role.

To really learn the difference, pick up the phone! Network and have conversations with people in these roles.