In AI age, upskilling likely to create jobs in new areas: Meity secy

White-collar jobs relying on cognitive skills face the highest AI disruption risk, but reskilling and new job creation will outweigh losses, says MeitY Secretary S Krishnan

The jobs that rely primarily on cognitive skills are at the highest risk of being replaced by artificial intelligence (AI), leaving white-collar workers vulnerable to being automated out of their positions, said S Krishnan, secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity). He was speaking at Ficci's 6th AI India Conclave.

 

The government, however, is confident that the opportunities for creating new kinds of jobs in new areas arising from AI are far greater, Krishnan said, adding that much of this would occur primarily through reskilling, upskilling, and talent development programmes that involve contributions from the private sector as well. 

The temptation for many companies could be to focus on early wins and ignore the long-term issues that may arise from AI, he said, adding that the government will, however, need to address both sides.

 

“It's not that we are not concerned about job losses, but we believe that the opportunities for creation of new kinds of jobs in new areas are far greater, and that will happen primarily through reskilling, upskilling, and talent development,” he said.

 

The government is committed to fostering and promoting innovation in the AI space through a supportive regulatory framework, Krishnan said.

 

"Our focus primarily is that innovation should not be hurt in this space. Innovation is the primary objective," Krishnan said, adding that existing laws remain adequate for addressing potential harms without imposing excessive new regulations.

 

India’s AI journey, he said, carried significance beyond the geographical borders, and the overall progress in the technology was “one opportunity in a lifetime” for countries of the Global South.

 

AI, Krishnan said, could provide the acceleration needed by developing nations "to grow into a developed state”.