Ex‑Microsoft Chair warns AI will cut entry‑level jobs at Bengaluru summit
At the Bengaluru Skill Summit, the former Microsoft chairman stepped up and gave a stark warning to anyone thinking India’s job market can stay the same. He pointed to the sleek AI tools on display and then said the real question is how fast the country’s workers can learn to use them. “No Viksit Bharat without AI,” he said, making it clear that artificial intelligence isn’t a nice-to-have extra but, in his view, the engine of future growth.
He broke down what he called three “foundational bundles” of skills - basic tech fluency, the ability to solve problems on the fly, and a habit of constant learning. Those, he suggested, will likely separate the people who move ahead from those who get left behind. The talk wasn’t just hype; it felt like a new yardstick for getting a job.
Surrounded by teachers, policymakers and industry heads, his tone cut through the usual optimism, hinting that the transition could be rougher than many expect. The stakes are obvious, and his follow-up comments laid out a pretty stark picture.
"AI is clearly beginning to impact entry-level jobs," he said. "In the short and medium term, it will destroy more jobs than it creates." Emphasising the importance of adaptability, he said, "Adaptability is the new employability." He outlined three "foundational bundles" of skills essential for the AI era: digital literacy, entrepreneurship, and human skills, including communication, leadership, and empathy. On digital skills, Venkatesan stressed that every citizen should be able to utilise AI tools and critically evaluate their results. "We need to make this part of the curriculum in all schools, colleges, and ITIs," he said, advocating partnerships between government and technology companies to scale training programs.
Can Karnataka become India’s AI-skilling lighthouse? Venkatesan says it has to, even though the odds aren’t crystal-clear. He warned that AI is already nibbling away at entry-level jobs and, in his view, will probably wipe out more roles than it creates in the short run.
“Adaptability is the new employability,” he told the crowd, then laid out three core skill bundles he thinks could ready the workforce. Still, turning one state into a national model feels like a big gamble - we don’t really know if it will work at scale. The summit’s bold claim that AI defines our generation highlights both the upside and the danger.
While everyone agrees we need fast reskilling, there’s little proof yet that such programs can actually offset the looming job losses. Critics may wonder whether the bundles match what companies actually need. Venkatesan’s point is simple: tech revolutions shake things up, and policy has to wrestle with both hope and risk.
Whether Karnataka lives up to the lighthouse label will hinge on real money put in and results we can measure.
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