At the India AI Impact Summit 2026, Infosys Chairman Nandan Nilekani warned that artificial intelligence could put more than 90 million jobs at risk globally while also creating an estimated 170 million new opportunities – signalling monumental shifts in the future of work.

At a high-profile session of the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, Nilekani delivered a stark message about the future of work in an AI-driven world. While automation and generative models are accelerating efficiencies across industries, they are also displacing long-standing tech roles that have formed the backbone of the global IT workforce.

According to his analysis, more than 90 million traditional roles especially in technology and support functions – face potential redundancy as AI tools increasingly handle tasks once performed by humans.

He specifically highlighted front-end developers, quality assurance (QA) testers, IT support specialists and even certain blockchain development roles as examples of positions whose routine responsibilities are being taken over by intelligent systems.

However, Nilekani emphasised that this disruption is only part of the story. On the positive side, he projected that AI’s growth will generate roughly 170 million new job opportunities worldwide particularly in emerging fields where human judgement, contextual insight and specialised skills remain essential.

These emerging roles, according to industry analysts and workforce trend reports, include AI engineering, forward-deployed systems architects, AI forensic analysts, agentic workflow designers, and advanced data annotation specialists.

In his address, Nilekani said the shift is not incremental, but a “root-and-branch transformation” that demands a rethinking of how companies hire, train and retain talent. “Talent transformation is huge,” he commented, “It’s not that you won’t need people – it’s that they’ll shift from QA testing or basic development to emerging roles in AI and data.”

Global and Indian Perspectives on the AI Shift

Nilekani’s remarks come against the backdrop of a deepening global debate over AI’s economic impact. While leaders in technology and policy circles broadly agree on the transformative potential of advanced automation, there is significant divergence on its socio-economic consequences.

For instance, Mukesh Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Industries, remarked at the same summit that AI will not eliminate jobs wholesale but will instead create high-skill roles and drive economic growth – offering a more optimistic view of the future workforce.

Meanwhile, India’s Chief Economic Advisor V Anantha Nageswaran cautioned that the pace of AI adoption poses a “stress test” for state capacity and labour markets, urging policymakers to align technological growth with broad-based employability. Without rapid upskilling and institutional reform, he warned, India could risk widening inequality during a critical demographic transition.

A recurring concern raised during the summit was the risk of “backlash” not just from blue-collar workers traditionally affected by automation, but also from white-collar professionals who may feel threatened by AI’s encroachment into skilled domains. Nilekani stressed that widely shared, meaningful AI applications that benefit everyday people in healthcare, education, financial inclusion and agriculture will be essential to avert social and political resistance.

Beyond India, global industry reports echo similar trends: advanced AI systems are rapidly absorbing routine tasks but struggle with nuanced reasoning and domain-specific judgement – areas where humans still excel. This dynamic is reshaping hiring patterns, wages and career expectations worldwide.

Implications for Workers, Industry and Society

The rapid pace of AI adoption is prompting urgent introspection among businesses, governments and educators alike.

For workers, the message is clear: adaptation is no longer optional. Skills linked to repetitive tasks are becoming less valuable, while roles that blend technical fluency with human skills such as creativity, empathy and ethical judgement are growing in demand.

Companies are already acting. Many enterprises now prioritise hybrid talent that combines domain expertise with AI integration capabilities rather than traditional siloed coding or testing functions. A LinkedIn “Jobs on the Rise” report, for instance, shows prompt engineering and AI-related roles rising fastest in India’s tech market.

Governments are beginning to respond too. Across the world, policymakers are debating reskilling initiatives, apprenticeship programmes and education reform to prepare workers for an evolving labour market.

Yet significant gaps remain. Large sections of the workforce especially in developing economies lack access to advanced technical training, digital infrastructure or stable employment pathways. The Chief Economic Advisor’s remarks underscored these structural vulnerabilities and the need for comprehensive upskilling efforts.

There is also a broader philosophical debate about the purpose of AI: should it primarily drive efficiency and profit, or should its deployment be guided by societal benefit and human wellbeing? Nilekani and others at the summit argued that prioritising inclusion and public-centric outcomes is not just ethical but essential for sustained trust and adoption.

The Logical Indian’s Perspective

The rise of artificial intelligence presents humanity with both opportunity and responsibility. We must recognise the transformative power of these technologies while confronting their potential to disrupt livelihoods, exacerbate inequality and alienate large swathes of the workforce.

Our stance is that technological progress should enhance human dignity, not diminish it. AI should be harnessed to advance public good improving access to health, education, services and sustainable livelihoods not simply to automate away human contributions for profit alone.

Policymakers, corporations and civil society must collaborate to build inclusive educational frameworks, transparent governance structures and ethical guardrails that help workers navigate this transition with dignity. Compassionate leadership, empathetic planning and proactive upskilling programmes are essential to ensure that the benefits of AI are shared broadly.