Key Takeaways
- Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh warns: Adopt AI or risk being replaced by it
- Global experts predict 92 million jobs lost but 170 million new jobs created with AI
- Andhra Pradesh developing AI framework to assess workforce skills across all levels
- Industry leaders emphasize urgent need for reskilling and human-machine balance
Andhra Pradesh’s IT Minister Nara Lokesh has issued a stark warning about artificial intelligence: embrace the technology or face replacement. Speaking at the 30th Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam, the minister emphasized that reskilling and reimagining employment approaches are crucial in the AI era.
Andhra Pradesh’s AI Framework
The state government is developing a comprehensive framework that will use conversational AI to assess skill levels across the entire workforce spectrum – from carpenters to AI engineers. This initiative aims to enhance skills and prepare workers for the changing job landscape.
Minister Lokesh stressed that while AI should be leveraged to bridge economic and social disparities, creativity must not be outsourced to machines. “The need of the hour is to reskill, redefine and reimagine,” he stated during the “AI and the Future of Jobs” session.
Global Perspectives on AI Impact
Debjani Ghosh of NITI Aayog addressed the fundamental question about AI’s job impact, noting that while repetitive jobs in software and data entry face replacement, a “new universe” of specialized roles will emerge. “Work will change, workers will change and the workforce pyramid will change,” she opined.
World Economic Forum’s Jeremy Jurgens provided concrete numbers: “We will lose roughly 92 million jobs in the next 5 years. The good news is that there is a possibility to create 170 million new jobs.” He emphasized that achieving this positive outcome requires conscious action, reskilling, and partnerships between governments, corporations and academia.
Balancing Human Dignity and Efficiency
Professor Soumitra Dutta from Portulans Institute raised important concerns about AI’s threat to human dignity. “Humans primarily interpret data, create new patterns, and form relationships, all of which are under threat,” he cautioned, urging a balanced approach between humans and machines.
Meanwhile, Sharon Buteau highlighted AI’s potential benefits for gender parity, noting it can empower women with better visibility, opportunities and financial access.
India’s AI Readiness
Global experts expressed confidence in India’s AI potential. Joe Depa of Ernst & Young stated that India is ‘ripe’ to become an AI powerhouse, citing its young workforce, digital infrastructure and growing AI usage base.
The session concluded with the release of the CII-EY report “AI: Is India ready for Agentic AI?” and climate resilience reports, underscoring the dual focus on technological advancement and sustainable development.
