Artificial Intelligence is real and here, disrupting industries, automating routine jobs, and rendering “safe” jobs obsolete – all like a force multiplier. AI is a relentless machine of efficiency, and the stark reality is that it will likely destroy more jobs than it creates. Ola recently laid off 1,000 employees due to automation. Bengaluru witnessed over 50,000 IT job losses in 2024.

Meanwhile, ChatGPT has been touted as the third-best coder in the world, signalling a seismic shift in the very profession that has been the major job sector for most freshers in India. The WEF projects that by 2030, nearly 70% of jobs in India will be vulnerable to automation. Twenty million positions could disappear, and this doesn’t even account for the 12 million new job seekers who enter the workforce each year. 

India is at an inflection point, staring at an ominous future in employment, even as it battles the issue without much success currently.  The question is no longer whether AI will take jobs but rather how the average Indian employee can save his/her career.

Globally, AI has been taking away jobs across industries. In the US, nearly 300,000 jobs have been lost to AI since 2018, mostly in sectors like customer service, logistics, and data entry, taking the brunt. Amazon, for instance, has aggressively deployed AI-driven robots to reduce human dependency in many areas. McKinsey says by 2030, AI could automate nearly 30% of global tasks, displacing 400 million workers worldwide. China is racing towards complete automation in manufacturing, with companies like Foxconn replacing 60,000 factory workers with robots in a single move. No economy, no sector, no job is immune.

India’s famed economic advantage of demographic dividend could fast turn to a liability in the face of AI-driven automation. Unlike Western economies, where high wages justify automation investments, India has long relied on cheap labour to sustain industries. The trouble with AI is that  the  natural language processing and machine learning advancements make automation cost-effective, even in labour-intensive sectors.

While NASSCOM paints a rosy outlook for the Indian IT sector this year, it has not accounted for the jobs that would be lost in the sector. It was merely saying how IT companies will make better results, at the expense of lost jobs? There definitely is an existential threat. Quiet layoffs at IBM, Wipro, Infosys, and TCS indicate diminishing need for entry-level coders, as AI can now write, debug, and optimise code faster than an entire team of junior developers.  

Take the BFSI sector, where AI-driven chatbots and virtual assistants are reducing the need for human customer service representatives. The sector is also relying on AI-powered risk analysis, automating what was once the domain of highly skilled analysts. And, look at, the retail and logistics sectors where AI-based inventory management and automated warehouses are replacing thousands of blue-collar jobs.

How Not to Get A(I)xed

While the stakes are heavily skewed against the average Indian employee,  not all hope is lost. While AI is eliminating the work itself in some sectors, it is mostly changing the nature of work. The key to survival lies in adaptation, upskilling, and embracing a mindset of continuous learning. Here’s how the average Indian employee can survive AI-driven redundancy:

Master the human-machine synergy: Rather than competing against AI, learn to collaborate with it. AI will become a ubiquitous tool, and those who embrace its power will thrive. A financial analyst grasping the AI-driven risk modelling can outperform one who still holds on to traditional methods. A lawyer who integrates AI-driven legal research will be far more efficient than others. Learn to work with AI and it can be a game-changer.

Move up the value chain: Repetitive, rule-based jobs are the first to fall prey to AI assault. The safest bet is to move up the value chain, focusing on complex problem-solving, strategic decision-making, and creativity. AI is still weak in these areas. For instance, while AI can write basic code, it struggles with high-level architecture design, cybersecurity, and systems thinking. In this case, plan to upgrade from coding to solution architecture or cybersecurity to remain indispensable.

Put skills over degrees:  The innovation and strategy professor at Columbia University, Rita McGrath and I have been advocating this for a while now. The traditional education system, with its heavy reliance on rote learning, is woefully inadequate in preparing students for the AI era. Employers are shifting their focus from degrees to skill sets. Online platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and edX offer courses in AI, data science, and automation. Google, IBM, and Microsoft now offer certifications in AI and cloud computing that hold more value in the job market than many traditional degrees. Fresh engineers should not just go for the easy coding lessons to find a placement.

Think of entrepreneurship and gig work as better opportunities: As traditional employment structures as we know it is transforming in many ways, freelancing, consulting, and entrepreneurship will become more viable career paths. AI may eliminate jobs, but it will also create opportunities for those who can innovate. Professionals leveraging AI tools to enhance productivity will be better positioned than those clinging to outdated employment models.

Develop skills that AI can’t replicate: AI excels at logic, pattern recognition and computation but struggles with human traits such as emotional intelligence, leadership, empathy, and negotiation skills. Jobs requiring deep interpersonal skills such as psychologists, social workers, corporate strategists are less likely to be automated. Those in technical fields should develop strong communication and leadership skills to stay relevant.

Stay agile and adapt: The pace of technological change is relentless, and rigid career paths will become obsolete. The ability to dive into new roles, industries, and business models will be an essential trait of future-proof employees. Regular upskilling, exposure to new domains, and a willingness to experiment will separate survivors from those rendered redundant.

Follow the above strategies and avoid getting axed. End note: If you can’t beat the bots, train them. If you can’t train them, outthink them. If you can’t outthink them... well, good luck!