Stay calm and focus on AI Skills that is the message from tech leaders at the India AI Impact Summit that started in New Delhi today. The general consensus among industry leaders seem to be that while some existing jobs might become redundant, artificial intelligence will create new job opportunities and employees must be on the lookout to find which skillsets they need to upgrade.Sateesh Seetharamiah CEO EdgeVerve (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Infosys) said that AI will act as faster capability multiplier and “life-long learning ability” will be the core mantra to tide over the AI wave. He said that AI has generated more productivity to businesses. Seetharamiah added that ultimately there has to be a human being to take accountability of the jobs getting done. “So the jobs are not going anywhere, nature of jobs will change.” Indian IT veteran and Sampark Founder Chairman Vineet Nayar said that while 50 per cent of current jobs will go because of AI, same perceantage, which is 50%, more jobs will also be created, which would need skilled manpower to handle AI. “AI offers us a scope to reskill ourselves. But what skills are required (in respective professions) that we need to figure out,” Nayar said.
Sanjeev Bikhchandani, Founder, Info Edge (which owns Naukri.com) cited the example of the time when computers were brought in to handle functions at the bank.”Nobody lost their job and instead productivity went up,” he said. Responding to a query on whether AI adoption is going to cost jobs, Bhikchandani said, “don’t worry about policy. Just think what should you do so that AI does not make you lose your job and instead help you get a job”.He adde, “AI is happening, it is relentless, if you don’t do AI, AI will be done to you… Set a personal target of learning how to use three AI platforms within the next three months.The more you do that the more your job is safe.” Bikhchandani’s message to youngsters is simple: You should learn useful AI tools.Speaking at the event, Microsoft India and South Asia President Puneet Chandok said that AI technology would not eliminate employment but would fundamentally reshape roles. “AI – it will not kill jobs, but will unbundle jobs. AI will end the charade. You and I have to bundle ourselves. If you are not learning AI today, you are not learning anything,” he remarked.
