As AI discussions heat up, a panel at The Hindu Huddle spotlighted something pressing: India must overhaul education and workforce strategies to meet AI-driven future head-on. Moderated by Raghuvir Srinivasan, the session drew insights from big names like ex-Cognizant CEO Lakshmi Narayanan, ex-NASSCOM president Debjani Ghosh,and former Saint-Gobain India chairman B. Santhanam.
While chatter usually focuses on AI-induced job losses,Ghosh said that's too simplistic. Many job cuts lately were pandemic-era overhiring corrections, not AI fallout. “A lot of the displacements till now were due to overhiring during pandemic,” she noted,urging a rethink on structuring jobs with AI in mind.
Entry-level jobs face risk as AI takes over routine tasks. Ghosh warned millions of young Indians could be hit. “The entry-level will definitely get disrupted,” she stated,pushing for new ways employers and policymakers define roles. Focus on task breakdowns for automation vs. human oversight,she said.
Ghosh introduced a “human sandwich model,” placing humans at AI's start and finish. “You need the humans to frame the questions and inputs, AI does the work,and then you need humans again at the end to verify the outcome,” she explained. This approach will matter more as autonomous AI spreads.
Talk also turned to India's global AI stance. Despite being a digital giant,Ghosh warned tech consumption doesn't mean value creation. A prediction: AI could generate $17.6 trillion in five years, with U.S. and China grabbing 80%. “For India, we should at least aspire to get 10% of that,” she urged.
Santhanam offered another view, saying India’s edge isn’t in competing with Silicon Valley but using AI in vital sectors like agriculture,education,and healthcare. “The most important work is in diffusion in these three areas,” he asserted,noting Indian agri-AI solutions quickly adapted for wider use .
He worried about tech ignorance among corporate leaders. On the Nifty 45 index,under 10% of directors know tech well. “Not one company in the managing director’s report had AI mentioned . Not one. That’s shocking,” he said, pointing to a board-level disconnect amid rapid tech change.
Narayanan echoed these concerns, slamming India's education and research state. He bluntly said colleges aren't prepping grads for AI's demands. “The short answer is no,” he said, noting India's tech diffusion strength yet weak in innovation and research investment. “We are not investing enough in research. The blame goes to the private sector,” he added.
Panelists painted complex future. AI will shake up jobs, especially entry-level,but it could also open new doors. Can India move from AI tech consumer to value creator? Reforms in education, corporate governance,and workforce strategies will be key…
