TCS chief to staff: Don't resist AI

TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES (TCS) is asking employees to lead with artificial intelligence-led solutions for clients even if that means disrupting or shrinking existing revenue streams, signalling a shift in how the country's largest IT services firm is positioning itself for the impact of AI on traditional delivery models.

- URVI MALVANIA Mumbai, February 25

“We are telling our associates that if you find that you can do something faster, better, cheaper with AI, you should probably go and tell your customers, even if it cannibalises your revenue. We are not afraid this technology will take away our livelihood. We believe it is going to open up more so you enjoy the benefits the more you do and not by resisting the change,” K Krithivasan, md and CEO at TCS, said. Krithivasan was speaking at the Nasscom Technology and Leadership Forum. He was joined on the panel by Ashok Vaswani, md and CEO of Kotak Bank.

Krithivasan said TCS wants teams to focus on long-term customer value and the new opportunities emerging from AI adoption rather than protecting legacy revenue streams. This thinking, he said, underpins the company’s broader effort to embed an AI-first culture across the organisation as it expands AI-led services and solutions.

HE ADDED THAT the opportunity from AI extends beyond incremental productivity gains.