Even as artificial intelligence reshapes the global IT services industry and triggers workforce restructuring at several companies, Infosys CEO Salil Parekh has made it clear that the tech giant does not plan to follow that path.
In an interview with Moneycontrol, Parekh said the company has not carried out layoffs in the past year and does not see any such move ahead, even as automation and AI tools become more central to how software is built and delivered.
“We have not done any layoffs in the last year and we don’t see anything of that sort coming up,” he said.
AI TO CHANGE WORK, NOT REDUCE JOBS
Parekh described the ongoing AI transition as a structural shift in the industry, but not one that will immediately reduce jobs.
“AI is expanding the scope of work, not shrinking it,” he said, adding that while the nature of roles will evolve, demand for talent will continue.
This comes at a time when several IT firms have taken a different route. Companies like TCS, HCLTech, Oracle and Cognizant have either announced or carried out workforce restructuring in the past year as they adjust to automation-led efficiencies.
INFOSYS TO CONTINUE HIRING FRESHERS
Instead of cutting jobs, Infosys plans to maintain its hiring momentum.
Parekh said the company will onboard around 20,000 fresh graduates this year, similar to last year’s intake.
The move signals that the company continues to rely on a strong base of entry-level talent, even as AI tools begin to change how work is done.
HOW INFOSYS IS PREPARING FOR AI
Parekh said the focus is on reskilling rather than reducing headcount. Engineers are being trained to work both with traditional coding methods and AI-driven tools.
“In training, we’re encouraging the engineers to build code in the way they used to in the past, and then introduce new tools and foundation models. We want them to learn how to do it with and without the foundation models,” he told Moneycontrol.
He added that employees are also being trained to evaluate AI-generated code, making quality control and technical understanding more important in the AI era.
AI ALREADY CONTRIBUTING TO BUSINESS
AI is not just a future plan for Infosys. Parekh said it already contributes around 5.5% to the company’s revenue and is growing quickly.
The company is also strengthening its partnerships with firms like OpenAI and Anthropic, while rolling out internal platforms such as Topaz Fabric to support AI-led development at scale.
While entry-level roles may change, Parekh indicated that AI will not eliminate the need for talent. Instead, it will shift the skill requirements.
“There is also more attention to deep individual knowledge and becoming a subject matter expert,” he said, suggesting that specialised skills will become more valuable over time.
The contrast between Infosys’ approach and layoffs at some peers highlights a broader shift in the IT sector. Companies are still figuring out how to balance automation with human talent as AI adoption accelerates.
For now, Infosys is positioning itself on the side of hiring and reskilling, betting that AI will create new opportunities rather than reduce jobs.