Bengaluru: Artificial Intelligence (AI) has impacted jobs in software development and customer support, with 85 per cent of companies expecting all their routine operations to be automated in the next five years, a government-commissioned survey has found.
The AI Readiness and Impact Survey had 2,000 respondents, which included C-suite executives and digital leaders from top companies in Karnataka, Information Technology Minister Priyank Kharge told DH.
Even as there have been lay-offs, 75 per cent of companies are expecting the creation of new jobs going forward, the survey said, adding that over 70 per cent of them are preparing hiring plans in the wake of AI. “These new jobs are expected in the space of emerging technologies,” the minister said.
The biggest takeaway from the survey for the government is that 95 per cent of respondents stressed on the need for reskilling and upskilling. “If you look at what has happened at Oracle, those (who were laid off) were mid-management or lower than that. Anybody who has a skill problem will be affected,” Priyank said.
Use of AI has resulted in “a great change” in the skill sets of employees, according to 65 per cent of the respondents. The survey also found that 95 per cent of companies acknowledged moderate-to-high levels of change in skill needs.
Priyank is banking on the ‘Nipuna Karnataka’ scheme, launched in September 2024 at a cost of Rs 300 crore, to reskill and upskill the state’s workforce. The scheme will be scaled up this year, he said. “Under Nipuna Kanrataka, we will provide the skills the industry wants. For example, Cisco has a clear mandate that they need 150 engineers in digital forensics,” he said.
“The curriculum will be endorsed by the industry and the right training partner will be roped in,” Priyank explained.
Last month, the state government constituted a 13-member ‘Responsible AI’ committee headed by Infosys cofounder Kris Gopalakrishnan. The committee is also looking at how the state can manage AI’s impact on jobs, the minister said. A sub-committee has been formed on capacity building, which involves introducing AI to government employees, training teachers at schools and colleges and developing micro-learning modules.
Last year, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced that his government will prepare a policy on AI “to safeguard Kannadigas’ jobs”. Priyank said “things are becoming very dynamic” with AI “so much so that the findings of this survey will become outdated soon”.
Quote – “If you look at what has happened at Oracle those who were laid off were mid-management or lower than that. Anybody who has a skill problem will be affected.”
-Information Technology Minister Priyank Kharge