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Research & Benchmarks

Ex‑Microsoft Chair warns AI will cut entry‑level jobs at Bengaluru summit

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• 2 min read

Why does this matter now? At the Bengaluru Skill Summit, the former Microsoft chairman took the stage with a blunt warning for India’s workforce. While the tech is impressive, he reminded attendees that the country’s development hinges on how quickly its labor pool can adjust to automated tools.

“No Viksit Bharat without AI,” he declared, underscoring a vision where artificial intelligence isn’t an optional add‑on but a core driver of growth. He outlined three “foundational bundles” of skills—technical fluency, problem‑solving agility, and continuous learning—that he says will separate those who thrive from those who fall behind. Here’s the thing: the emphasis on adaptability isn’t a buzzword; it’s presented as the new benchmark for employability.

In a setting filled with educators, policymakers, and industry leaders, his message cut through the optimism, hinting that the shift could be more disruptive than beneficial in the near term. The stakes are clear, and his next words lay out the harsh reality.

"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.

Will Karnataka rise as India’s AI skilling lighthouse? Venkatesan believes it must. He warned that AI is already eroding entry‑level roles and, in his view, it'll eliminate more positions than it creates in the near term.

Adaptability, he said, is the new employability, and he outlined three foundational skill bundles to prepare the workforce. Yet the feasibility of turning a single state into a national model remains uncertain. The summit’s historic framing of AI as the defining force of our generation underscores both opportunity and risk.

While the call for rapid reskilling is clear, evidence of how quickly such programs can offset job losses is lacking. Critics might ask whether the proposed bundles align with industry demand. Venkatesan’s message is a reminder that technological revolutions are disruptive, and that policy must grapple with both promise and peril.

Whether Karnataka can deliver on the lighthouse ambition will depend on concrete investment and measurable outcomes.

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