Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer the future—it is the present. From hospitals and factories to accounting firms and e-commerce giants, AI is quietly transforming how we work and what we work on. But is this transformation for the better?
A recent look into India’s AI landscape, particularly in Bengaluru—often dubbed India’s Silicon Valley—reveals a complex and nuanced story. It’s one of innovation and disruption, of new opportunities and growing anxieties.
From Paper to Bots: AI in Action
At a major hospital in Bengaluru, a new AI-enabled system is now handling invoice digitisation. Previously, the process involved manual data entry. Today, AI extracts invoice details directly from soft copies—cutting human involvement by at least 50%. No layoffs were reported—staff were repurposed. Yet, the shift raises questions about future hiring.
In the financial sector, coders at a Big Four accounting firm now rely on AI-powered assistants to reduce workload. The result? Increased productivity, but also increased concern about the future role of human workers.
These are not isolated stories. AI is permeating nearly every sector—healthcare, manufacturing, IT, retail, and finance—with the potential to enhance everything from surgical precision to traffic flow in cities.
The Big Picture: Opportunity or Displacement?
Globally, the AI market is expected to hit $4.8 trillion by 2033, according to the United Nations. However, the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) also warns that AI could affect up to 40% of jobs worldwide, potentially widening inequality, especially in developing economies.
In India, the response is mixed.
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Some see AI as an “intelligent assist”, like J.A.R.V.I.S. from the Avengers—enhancing what humans do best.
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Others fear it could become a disruptive force that replaces routine jobs, particularly in coding, accounting, and customer support.
Skilling is the New Safety Net
Recognising this challenge, the Karnataka government launched a first-of-its-kind survey to understand how AI is impacting jobs across sectors. The findings will shape policies under the NIPUNA Karnataka skilling initiative.
Industry leaders agree that reskilling and upskilling are critical. AI literacy is now essential, even for non-tech roles.
What’s Happening on the Ground?
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SAP Labs India: 50% of employees are now AI-enabled, with over 35,000 courses completed in a year.
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Mphasis: Talent is being repurposed based on demand. Java developers are nudged toward React or Node.js through personalised training.
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Bosch India: Acknowledges disruption but believes the net impact will be positive.
Double-Edged Sword: Corporate Growth vs. Worker Burnout
But not all is rosy. While AI is being touted as a productivity multiplier, employees in AI development teams report increased pressure to deliver rapid returns on expensive AI investments. And not all use cases have delivered as promised.
For instance, replacing human customer support with bots often led to lower customer satisfaction, raising concerns about quality versus cost-cutting.
The India Advantage (and Its Limits)
India’s advantage lies in its massive IT and ITeS workforce and a cost-effective labour market. In many Western economies, automation is a cost-saving strategy. In India, where labour is cheaper and regulations looser, companies might still prefer humans—at least in the short term.
However, this also means that mid-skilled, repetitive roles are vulnerable unless the workforce is rapidly reskilled.
AI may not take your job immediately—but someone using AI might.
What the Future Holds
AI is likely to decouple headcount from revenue. In other words, companies will generate more revenue with the same number of people—or fewer. But this doesn’t necessarily spell doom.
The same 30% of software engineers replaced from repetitive coding tasks could be retrained to build models, lead innovation, and manage AI systems.
As one executive puts it, “Our industry is full of shape-shifters. We learn fast.”
The Real Concerns: Beyond Jobs
Experts warn that job loss isn’t the only thing we should worry about. AI + quantum computing could lead to massive data breaches, surveillance abuse, and misuse in cyber warfare. Think of AI like nuclear energy—it can power a city, or destroy it.
As industry leader Ravi Vasantraj quipped, “If AI gives you a J.A.R.V.I.S., there’s always a Thanos waiting somewhere.”
Final Thought: Augment, Don’t Replace
The debate is no longer AI vs. jobs. It’s AI + humans vs. irrelevance. The focus must shift to building an AI-augmented workforce—resilient, ethical, and future-ready.
Policymakers, educators, and industry leaders must work together to:
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