AI Is an Opportunity, Not a Threat: Chief Economic Adviser

New Delhi | Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not a danger to India but a major opportunity, Chief Economic Adviser V. Anantha Nageswaran said at the AI Impact Summit held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Speaking during a session on preparing for future jobs in the age of AI, he emphasized that the benefits of AI will depend on the policy choices made by the government.

He stated that AI development should be strategically guided and linked with large-scale employment generation. According to him, although millions of jobs are created every year, many young people are unable to access productive employment due to a lack of relevant skills. Therefore, reforms in education, stronger skill development programs, and regulatory improvements are urgently needed.

Nageswaran noted that the central government is taking positive steps toward forming a clear AI policy framework. However, he cautioned that delays or lack of direction could negatively affect employability in the future.

Info Edge founder Sanjeev Bikhchandani addressed fears of job losses, saying that technological changes, like the introduction of computers in banks, increased productivity rather than eliminating jobs. He said AI would benefit those who adapt to change.

Microsoft India and South Asia President Puneet Chandok said AI will not remove jobs but will transform the way work is structured by breaking tasks into smaller parts. He added that India is at a key turning point in AI development, similar to the launch of Aadhaar and UPI. He also mentioned that $17.5 billion will be invested in expanding India’s data center capacity.

S. Krishnan, Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and IT, rejected concerns about massive job losses due to AI. He said AI would create new employment opportunities and highlighted global interest in India’s AI and semiconductor growth. Under the India Semiconductor Mission, approved projects are expected to soon begin commercial semiconductor production in the country.

Industry leaders at the summit expressed cautious optimism. While some traditional jobs may become outdated, they agreed that AI will change the nature of work rather than eliminate employment entirely.