THE TALENT ARE YOU PARADOX AI READY?

Experts believe that AI adoption will inevitably displace certain types of repetitive work but at the same time history shows that every wave of technological disruption also creates new opportunities.

- BY AYUSHMAN BARUAH

India produces millions of engineers each year, but are they artificial intelligence (AI)-ready? The answer is clearly not. A Great Learning survey reveals that 67 per cent of Indian engineers feel their current roles are being impacted by AI. To be sure, 86 per cent of engineers agree that upskilling is no longer optional but vital to safeguard their careers against rapid technological shifts.

“Companies need to get their people ready for an AI-driven future by creating basic awareness, reskilling teams, and weaving AI into everyday work. That means helping everyone understand what AI can and can’t do, giving role-based training, and encouraging a culture where people see AI as a helper, not a threat. Roles will need to shift toward higher-value work, with clear rules for responsible use and regular tracking of adoption. Many organisations are even bringing in Chief AI Officers (CAIOs) to lead data readiness and drive adoption. If companies don’t start making these investments early, they risk falling behind competitors, losing productivity, struggling to attract talent, and missing out on the big efficiency and innovation gains,” says Neeti Sharma, CEO, TeamLease Digital.