AI and human-centric leadership: Why India's workforce needs leaders who can bridge the gap

"Will machines replace humans?" This question is no longer confined to science fiction; it's a ground reality of the world we live in today.

- SRINIVASA ADDEPALLI

Even in India, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is altering how people across societal strata live, work, and lead. Yet, as we marvel at the possibilities AI presents, there's a silent undercurrent of fear: will people get left behind? This is not just about automation. It's about adaptation. And here lies the paradox: in an era powered by machines, what India's workforce needs most are human-centric leaders.

The Human-Tech Chasm India boasts of one of the youngest workforces in the world, but we're at risk of squandering this demographic dividend. Our institutions and leadership models are built around 20th-century paradigms: linear careers, fixed roles, top-down leadership. AI, on the other hand, thrives on agility, data, decentralization, and continuous learning.

We're entering a "machine economy" where not only physical tasks but also cognitive ones, like legal analysis, financial modeling, and customer service, are being redefined by intelligent systems. For many, this transformation feels like disruption; for the prepared, it's an opportunity.

WHAT KIND OF LEADERS DO WE NEED?