Though many jobs are being created in the AI-focused global capability centres, the adoption of AI must be approached carefully to manage job disruptions. | Special Arrangement
As Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to penetrate various sectors and industries, the bitter truth emerges: job losses are becoming a reality. While many industry leaders assure that these changes will lead to retraining and reskilling, historical trends have shown that entire demographics could be left stranded.
AI is proving its capabilities in data analysis and decision-making at an unprecedented pace. Despite concerns about reliability, the deployment of AI has become synonymous with faster actions and streamlined processes. This shift raises critical questions: Will we witness mass unemployment akin to previous technological revolutions? What measures can individuals take to safeguard their careers against the encroaching AI wave?
To address these pressing issues, The Hindu hosted a live webinar titled ‘The Bitter Truth About Job Losses Caused by AI’ on Saturday, April 19, at 5:00 p.m. Experts from the tech sector discussed the implications of AI on employment and offered strategies for adaptation. The panellists included Sidharth Sivasailam, Tata Consultancy Services; Alosies George, Senior Engineering Manager, TROOP; and Kalyan Mangalapalli, emerging technology consultant.
A.I in different sectors
Digital economy encompassing areas like IT services, BPO, digital manufacturing, supply chains, tech, and start-ups has contributed to the Indian economy and job creation. Digital transformation to increase the productivity of labour will be key in transforming India’s economy.
Though many jobs are being created in the AI-focused global capability centres, the adoption of A.I. must be approached carefully to manage job disruptions. Mr. George highlighted that a lot has changed since 2022 in certain sectors due to AI In industries where it has not yet made its mark, the bubble is getting bigger and better due to the release of new models and workflows. He said AI is getting bigger in areas like translation, and it can do a pretty good job at sentiment analysis and natural language processing.
AI deployment with caution
Amidst these discussions lies a stark reality — job displacement may not only affect low-skilled positions but also increasingly complex roles as A.I. systems evolve. While some argue that advancements will create new job categories, experts caution that this transition may not happen swiftly enough to mitigate immediate employment impacts.
Mr. Sivasailam, however, states that companies in no way rely only on AI for developing codes and that human intervention is necessary. “We don’t have to work with a blank page; we work with prompts and take it forward, but these tools are nowhere near a stage where one can just rely on them”, he said.
At this stage, AI is more about bringing efficiency to the process. While jobs may not be fully immune, AI is viewed more as an accelerator than a replacement. For instance, A.I. tools speed up the development of software systems, which means you can create more, improve them faster, and work on optimising them. In short, AI is enhancing the work we do rather than posing a threat to jobs right now.
As industries adapt rapidly towards automation powered by AI technology, workers must remain vigilant in developing skills that complement rather than compete with machine efficiency. Emphasizing human creativity, emotional intelligence, and problem-solving abilities will be crucial as society navigates this transformative landscape.
In conclusion, while AI holds promise for enhanced productivity and efficiency across sectors, the potential consequences for employment must not be overlooked. Engaging in proactive discussions about reskilling initiatives and understanding future workforce dynamics will be vital in ensuring a balanced approach toward integrating AI into our lives.
Published – April 26, 2025 08:31 am IST