AI is changing who gets hired — Cognizant wants non-STEM talent in the mix

At a time when technology giants are trimming headcounts and automating tasks, Cognizant is taking a contrarian approach. Its Indian-origin chief executive, Ravi Kumar S, says artificial intelligence is not replacing people but creating new roles—especially for graduates entering the workforce.

Speaking to Fortune, Kumar said Cognizant is expanding hiring from liberal arts schools and community colleges, signalling a shift from its traditional STEM-heavy recruitment base. “We are now going to hire non-STEM graduates. I’m going to liberal arts schools and community colleges,” he said. The company, which employs about 350,000 people globally, expects AI to “amplify human potential” rather than displace jobs.

Kumar, a former Nvidia engineer, believes AI is redefining the structure of work. “The middle is all there with AI, and the end of it is validation and verification by humans,” he told Financial Express. This, he argues, opens the door for younger and more diverse talent to take on new responsibilities at the entry level. “This year, we are hiring more school graduates than ever before,” he said.

The view runs counter to widespread fears that automation will eliminate millions of roles. Across the technology sector, companies have been slashing jobs while investing heavily in AI and robotics. But Kumar insists that AI’s true value lies in augmentation, not substitution. “AI is an amplifier of human potential. It’s not a displacement strategy,” he said, adding that productivity gains must translate into equitable wage distribution if economies are to benefit broadly.

Cognizant is reshaping its workforce around problem-solving rather than coding alone. Kumar said departments that once required strict technical expertise are now recruiting from backgrounds such as anthropology, sociology, psychology and journalism. “When machines assist with problem-solving, companies can achieve a more balanced mix of problem solvers and problem finders,” he explained.

The company is also investing in mid-career transitions and apprenticeship programmes designed to help employees adapt to AI-led roles. Under a “work, earn, and learn” model, Cognizant has partnered with universities and organisations such as Merit America to help workers shift careers without leaving their jobs. Kumar said this approach supports lifelong employability at a time when technology cycles are accelerating.

He also noted that AI is changing how leadership operates. By connecting insights across disciplines, he said, technology is helping executives make faster, more integrated decisions. “With four generations of employees, each with unique needs, we must balance the present with the future. Enterprises today are not just workplaces, they are platforms for societal change,” he told Fortune.

While much of the industry braces for job cuts, Cognizant’s model suggests a different trajectory—where AI becomes a leveller rather than a limiter of opportunity. If successful, Kumar’s strategy could offer a blueprint for how global IT services firms harness automation without sidelining the human workforce.