The Transformative Impact of AI on Jobs of Future

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to evolve, its influence on the job market and the skills of the future is becoming increasingly profound. The recently released nasscom – Deloitte Report highlights the evolving landscape of AI skilling in India, shedding light on the skills that will shape the workforce of tomorrow.

The Rising Demand for AI Skills

The report indicates a significant surge in AI adoption across industries such as Technology, Retail, Education, and Financial services. Approximately 43% of the Indian workforce has encountered widespread use of AI in their organizations. This trend is particularly pronounced among Gen Z professionals, with 71% recognizing that acquiring AI skills can enhance their career prospects. As AI becomes integral to business operations, the demand for skilled professionals in areas like machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision is set to skyrocket.

AI Skills of the Future

To cater to this growing demand for AI skills, the report dwells into five core segments that need to be targeted with different learning paths, ranging from generic to specialised:

• AI informed: Focused on general AI literacy

• AI users: Focused on using AI to improve productivity and be AI first in the respective discipline

• AI integrators: IT workforce integrating AI tools and technologies into existing workflows

• AI builders /developers /architects: Workforce that will develop AI-related software and applications

• AI experts: Top-tier talent focused on newage research and who have the skill and capability to develop AI models from scratch

Bridging the Skill Gap

Despite the growing need for AI expertise, there exists a notable gap between the skills available in the workforce and those required by employers. The skills required for training the cohorts mentioned in Figure 1 will encompass a mix of technical and non-technical areas and depend on the specialisation, such as AI developers, AI experts and technical college students. To address this, the report emphasizes the importance of upskilling and reskilling initiatives. Collaborations between industry and academia play a key role in aligning educational offerings with real-world requirements. By implementing specialized training programs and mentorship opportunities, India can cultivate a robust pipeline of talent ready to drive AI-led innovation.

Strategic Measures for Growth

To propel India's AI exports to an ambitious target of $100 billion, several strategic measures are recommended. These include investing in upskilling initiatives, fostering collaborations between educational institutions and industry, and establishing data and AI labs for vocational training. Additionally, exploring diverse learning models, such as online platforms and boot camps, can enhance accessibility to AI education, catering to a wider audience.

The Road Ahead

As India positions itself as a major player in the global AI landscape, it is imperative to develop a skilled workforce that can navigate the complexities of this technology. The report outlines a collaborative approach involving industry, academia, and government to ensure a successful strategy for AI skill development.

For detailed insights into the evolving AI landscape and its implications for the job market, we invite you to download the full report https://community.nasscom.in/communities/data-science-ai-community/advancing-indias-ai-skills-interventions-and-programmes