LTM Launches AI1000 CoE to Build 1,000+ Forward Deployed Engineers for Enterprise AI Adoption

LTM, the Business Creativity partner to the world’s largest enterprises, today announced AI 1000, a strategic workforce transformation initiative anchored by a dedicated Center of Excellence (CoE). The program will develop a pool of 1,000+ AI-certified engineers, including Forward Deployed Engineers (FDEs), to help enterprises adopt, deploy, and scale AI.

The launch comes amid a major shift in enterprise tech talent. The FDE — among the fastest-growing roles in the AI ecosystem — combines the technical knowledge of LLMs and domain SLMs with business understanding to turn ideas into quantifiable ROI accretive outcomes and to drive client adoption. AI 1000 is LTM’s structured response to this shift: it provides the training, platforms, and governed career frameworks to develop FDEs at scale.

AI1000 takes an end-to-end approach to talent development via a four-stage model: Identify, Enable, Deploy, and Govern. It starts by identifying high-potential engineers using a proprietary AI Readiness Index. This is followed by curated learning journeys focused on AI-native skills and on validating capabilities through hackathons and real-world use cases. Qualified engineers are then deployed into AI programs.

A governance framework tracks performance, captures insights, and feeds its learnings back into the system. This creates a continuous cycle of capability building and growth. The CoE is supported by an integrated platform ecosystem for governing delivery with transparency, speed, and adaptability, better enabling our FDEs to achieve and measure business impact for clients.

“The role of the technology engineer is evolving rapidly. AI1000 is built with the purpose of enhancing workforce productivity in creating tangible business outcomes. Through the AI 1000 CoE, we are building structured pathways to develop the combination of technical excellence and domain expertise to enable this purpose — and prepare our talent for the future,” said Venu Lambu, CEO and Managing Director LTM.

With over 6.5 million learning hours, nearly 84% learning penetration, more than 15,000 external AI certifications, and more than 24,000 AI-trained associates, LTM has built a strong foundation for AI adoption. AI1000 formalizes these efforts into a structured, evidence-based program with defined role pathways, measurable milestones, and a governed deployment framework. Success will be measured not by the number of employees trained, but by the outcomes those engineers deliver.

About LTM

LTM- a Larsen & Toubro Group Company — is an AI-centric global technology services company and the Business Creativity partner to the world’s largest enterprises. We bring human insights and intelligent systems together to help clients create greater value at the intersection of technology and domain expertise. Our capabilities span integrated operations, transformation, and business AI — enabling new ways of working, new productivity paradigms, and new roads to value. Together with over 87,000 employees across 40 countries and our global network of partners, LTM owns outcomes for our clients, helping them not just outperform the market, but Outcreate it. Read more at LTM.com.

Hinduja’s OIL to Skill 1 Lakh UP Youth for Digital Jobs

(L-R) - Shri P. K. Pundir, Additional Director, Dr M. K. Shanmuga Sundaram, Shri Anil Rajbhar, Neha Prakash, Vynsley Fernandes

OneOTT Intertainment Ltd. (OIL), the broadband vertical of Hinduja Global Solutions Ltd. (HGS), part of the Hinduja Group, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Employment Department of the Government of Uttar Pradesh, aimed at strengthening youth employability, aligning skill development with industry requirements, and expanding opportunities in the digital economy, with a target to skill one lakh youth from the state and connect them with employment opportunities.

The MoU was signed by Dr. M. K. Shanmugha Sundaram, Principal Secretary, Labour and Employment Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh and Mr. Vynsley Fernandes, Whole-Time Director, Hinduja Global Solutions and MD & CEO, ONEOTT Intertainment Limited, in the presence of Shri Anil Rajbhar, honourable Minister for Labour and Employment and Coordination, Government of Uttar Pradesh, and other dignitaries.

ONEOTT Intertainment Limited will develop capacity-building programmes, skill training workshops, structured training initiatives and knowledge-sharing platforms for the youth of the state. In addition, the organisation will extend research-based insights, technical recommendations and policy-level support to facilitate the effective implementation of these programmes.

Dr. M. K. Shanmugha Sundaram, Principal Secretary, Labour and Employment Department, said “This collaboration will play a significant role in aligning skill development programmes with the actual needs of industry. He added that through this partnership, several structured training and capacity-building initiatives will be undertaken to prepare the youth of Uttar Pradesh for emerging opportunities in the rapidly expanding digital services sector.”

Mr. Vynsley Fernandes, Whole-Time Director, Hinduja Global Solutions and MD & CEO, ONEOTT Intertainment Limited, said, “India’s progress towards Viksit Bharat is closely linked to strengthening the capabilities of its young workforce and aligning skills with the needs of a changing economy. At Hinduja Global Solutions we are driving digital transformation and understand that skills must constantly keep pace with technology. At OIL, collaborations with forward-looking state institutions will enable us to contribute & support the digital ecosystem across Bharat. Our association with the Government of Uttar Pradesh reflects a shared commitment to advancing youth employability, while explore the role of AI in enhancing the efficiency and transparency of public programmes.”

The Employment Department of the Government of Uttar Pradesh will facilitate coordination for the effective implementation of programmes and ensure collaboration with relevant institutions, departments and stakeholders.

OIL is increasingly working with governments and institutions across India to support digital inclusion, connectivity-led development and technology-driven capacity building aligned with national growth priorities. The initiative will also explore the use of digital connectivity platforms, technology-enabled learning modules and industry partnerships to build future-ready talent pipelines for the digital economy.

About ONEOTT INTERTAINMENT LIMITED (www.onebroadband.in)

ONEOTT iNTERTAINMENT Limited ("OIL"); is one of India's top private Internet Service Providers with over 1 million retail customers. OIL is a subsidiary of global leader in optimizing the customer experience lifecycle, digital transformation, business process management, and digital media ecosystem company Hinduja Global Solutions (HGSL), a Hinduja Group company. OIL has a strong presence in Broadband and Internet services in 350+ cities and towns, with a growing presence in Tier-II and Tier-III towns. Its services under "ONE Broadband" provide converged services of Video, Data and Voice to consumers by delivering high-speed internet and services at speeds up to 1,000Mbps.

CelerityX, the Enterprise Business Unit of OIL, offers customers access to a national-level digital mesh – providing secure and mission-critical connectivity through a mesh of terrestrial platforms, broadband-over-satellite, and Wi-Fi, layered with SDWAN capabilities.

HGS is listed on BSE and NSE. For the year ended March 31, 2025, HGS had a total income of Rs. 4,959 crore (US$ 586 million).

Udacity–Accenture Launches $5K Accredited MBA for AI Product Leaders

Udacity, now part of Accenture LearnVantage, has launched a fully accredited MBA program focused on training AI product leaders. The program is priced under $5,000, making it one of the most affordable accredited MBAs globally, with a curriculum blending business fundamentals and hands-on AI skills.

Key Highlights of the Udacity–Accenture MBA

• Launch Date: March 12, 2026
• Accreditation: Fully accredited MBA degree
• Cost: Less than $5,000
• Target Audience: Aspiring AI product managers and leaders
• Delivery Mode: Online, flexible, designed for global learners
• Parent Organization: Udacity is now part of Accenture LearnVantage (NYSE: ACN)

Curriculum Focus

• AI Transformation – strategies for integrating AI into business models
• Business Intelligence – data-driven decision-making frameworks
• Growth Marketing – scaling AI-driven products in competitive markets
• Product Leadership – managing cross-functional AI teams and innovation pipelines

Why This Matters

• Democratization of Access: Traditional MBAs often cost $50,000–$100,000. At under $5,000, this program opens doors for a much wider talent pool.
• Industry Alignment: Unlike conventional MBAs, this program emphasizes hands-on technical training, preparing graduates for AI-first product roles.
• Accenture’s Backing: With Accenture’s global reach, graduates may benefit from strong industry connections and recruitment pipelines.

Comparison: Traditional MBA vs. Udacity–Accenture MBA

Feature	Traditional MBA	Udacity–Accenture MBA
Cost	$50k–$100k	<$5k
Accreditation	Yes	Yes
Focus	General business	AI product leadership
Delivery	In-person/Hybrid	Fully online
Technical Training	Limited	Strong AI/tech focus
Global Accessibility	Moderate	High (online, low cost)

Risks & Considerations

• Recognition: While accredited, some employers may still prefer traditional MBAs with established reputations.
• Networking: Online MBAs may offer fewer in-person networking opportunities compared to elite business schools.
• Specialization: The AI focus is powerful but may limit flexibility for those seeking broader management careers.

Takeaway

For professionals aiming to lead AI-driven product teams, this MBA offers a cost-effective, globally accessible, and industry-backed pathway. However, those seeking traditional corporate leadership roles outside tech may still find conventional MBAs more advantageous.

Know More — https://www.udacity.com/mba-ai-product-management

Mahesh Kumar Leads Tiger Analytics’ Mission to Build AI Talent Across Bihar

Tiger Analytics, a global enterprise AI and analytics consulting firm, in partnership with Akhil Bhartiya Yuva Utthan Evam Samaj Kalyan Sansthan (ABYUESKS) & Enqurious, a next-gen Data and AI skilling and talent enablement company, conducted a two-day Data Analytics workshop at Muzaffarpur Institute of Technology (MIT) on February 10th and 11th, 2026.

The workshop, attended by over 100 students, marks the first step in Tiger Analytics’ broader vision to train and enable thousands of students from engineering colleges across Bihar in AI technologies over the next two years. Mahesh Kumar, Founder and CEO of the company, and a native Bihar, has been a strong advocate of this initiative. Several additional workshops are planned across engineering institutions in the state in the upcoming months.The workshop curriculum was jointly designed and delivered by Tiger Analytics and Enquirous. It focused on strengthening analytical and AI foundations, developing structured problem-solving capabilities, and exposing students to real-world industry use cases. The sessions were led by Sunil Kumar of Enqurious & Rakesh Sriramula of Tiger Analytics. Students responded enthusiastically, particularly appreciating the hands-on exercises and practical industry insights.

Bihar has always been a powerhouse of intellectual talent,” said Mahesh Kumar, CEO of Tiger Analytics. “Our goal is to ensure that these students are not only academically strong, but also industry-ready to thrive in the global AI and data economy.

"Partnering with MIT Muzaffarpur has been an incredible experience,” said Amit Choudhary, CEO and Founder of Enqurious. "By combining the industry depth of Tiger Analytics with the enablement frameworks of Enqurious, we are empowering students to solve complex, real-world problems from day one.”

About Tiger Analytics

Tiger Analytics is a global leader in AI and analytics, helping Fortune 1000 companies solve their most complex problems. Headquartered in Silicon Valley with a significant global presence, the firm combines deep domain expertise with cutting-edge technology to deliver measurable business impact. The company is also committed to community initiatives that build future-ready talent in emerging technology domains.

About Enqurious

Enqurious is a Bengaluru-based nextgen Data and AI skilling and talent enablement platform founded by Amit Choudhary and Prateek Kumar. The company provides high-impact, scenario-based learning to help students and professionals to master the Data + AI stack through real-world problem-solving and integrated lab environments.

Automation Anywhere and AI Kiran Launch Partnership to Train 1 Million for AI Careers

Automation Anywhere and AI Kiran announced a partnership to train one million people for careers in AI by 2030. Prioritizing women and youth, this collaboration will strengthen India’s global standing in AI.

The partnership prepares individuals for advanced roles in AI. It equips India’s workforce - especially women and young people - with skills for higher-value careers as AI changes traditional jobs.

This collaboration will provide:

• AI and Automation Training: Hands-on technical skills training in scalable programs.
• Certifications and Scholarships: Financial support for recognized AI and automation certifications.
• Technology Access: Automation Anywhere’s Agentic AI and automation platform.
• Builder Networks: Connection with the Automation Anywhere Pathfinder community and the AI Kiran Builders Community (100,000+ innovators).
• Recognition: Opportunities through the 10,000 Women in AI Stories initiative and Global AI Builders Awards.
• Leadership Opportunities: Advancement through the AI Kiran INK Fellowship.

AI Kiran provides foundational skills training, shares real-world success stories, offers awards and advanced fellowships, and creates opportunities for policy discussions to build inclusive AI.

(L-R) Kirthiga Reddy, Mihir Shukla, Lakshmi Pratury

“AI is redefining how value is created in the world. We have an opportunity to ensure everyone can participate in this transformation. Our partnership with Automation Anywhere creates structured, scalable pathways for women and young people to step into leadership within the AI economy. If we design this moment well, we will not just reskill a workforce – we will shape a generation of builders, innovators, and decision-makers.” said Kirthiga Reddy & Lakshmi Pratury, Co-founders of AI Kiran.

Automation Anywhere has long used AI to improve worker roles and increase capabilities for workers and businesses. This partnership brings that focus to India’s growing AI sector.

"Automation Anywhere works to create an inclusive AI future where anyone can build AI solutions and help shape the Autonomous Enterprise," said Mihir Shukla, CEO and board chairman of Automation Anywhere. “We provide the essential skills and leading Agentic AI platform to help women and youth secure high-value careers and drive real business outcomes using AI.”

This partnership sets a precedent for how global collaborations can prepare nations for the AI-driven future. As the program expands beyond India, it aims to create a skilled workforce ready to shape AI's worldwide impact by 2030.

NetApp and Agastya Launch Data Explorers Lab to Advance AI & Data Literacy in Andhra Pradesh

NetApp, the Intelligent Data Infrastructure company, in partnership with Agastya International Foundation, inaugurated the NetApp Data Explorers Lab at Agastya’s Campus in Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh last week. The new facility marks a major milestone in NetApp’s commitment to advancing data and AI education by equipping students with essential skills in data literacy, inquiry, and problem-solving.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by distinguished leaders including Mr. Himanshu Gupta IAS, Secretary, CBSE; Dr. A.S. Kiran Kumar, Former Chairman, ISRO; Mr. Ramji Raghavan, Founder, K Thiagarajan, Executive Vice Chairman; and Hariharan Ganesan, Executive Director - Partner Relations, Agastya International Foundation.

Agastya Foundation

Representing NetApp were Vasanthi Ramesh, VP - Engineering and India Site Lead, accompanied by Anirudh Atyanand (Senior Legal Counsel, India & South Asia & CSR Committee Member), and the members of the NetApp Social Impact team.

The NetApp Data Explorers Lab is a purpose-built, experiential learning space designed to equip students with hands-on data literacy and real-world problem-solving skills. The lab comprises two fully equipped classrooms, each with 15 high-end computers, and delivers a data science curriculum developed in collaboration with TERC and The Tech Interactive. The learning experience is further enhanced through the use of CODAP (Common Online Data Analysis Platform), an educational tool developed by Concord Consortium that enables students to explore, analyse, and derive insights from data through inquiry-led learning.

This lab will enable a structured data literacy learning to more than 1,200 government school students in 2025–26 with a combined learning of more than 30,000 hours. Using project-based learning methods, students collect, organize, visualize, and analyse datasets connected to community themes such as agriculture, water quality, and waste management aligning with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The future of problem solving depends on how we harness the power of data with creativity and responsibility. That's why data is at the core of this program, bridging knowledge to insights to emotions. Through Agastya’s DataVerse mega showcase, students discuss their projects focusing on data analysis and its real-world applications, adding meaning and purpose to data. Each project weaves a narrative drawn from personal experiences, community concerns, and unique perspectives, showing how data can inspire change and create solutions that matter.

Vasanthi Ramesh, VP - Engineering and India Site Lead, NetApp, said, “Data literacy is foundational for both citizenship and careers. Today’s inauguration of the NetApp Data Explorers Lab reaffirms our belief that data, when placed in young hands, becomes a powerful tool for inquiry, innovation, and positive change. This mirrors NetApp’s wider view that intelligent data should serve people, making experiences richer, more connected, and ultimately more meaningful.”

Mr. Ramji Raghavan, Founder, Agastya International Foundation, added, “Our partnership with NetApp brings together creativity, technology, and mentorship. The Data Explorers Lab will inspire thousands of children to think critically, explore responsibly, and use data to improve the world around them. We hope this partnership allows more ideas to spread, reaching learners and teachers beyond our boundary enabling them to engage more meaningfully.”

The NetApp–Agastya partnership combines NetApp’s expertise in data innovation with Agastya’s nationwide STEM ecosystem, strengthening a pipeline of data-literate youth and enabling the country’s future innovation workforce.

About NetApp

For more than three decades, NetApp has helped the world’s leading organizations navigate change – from the rise of enterprise storage to the intelligent era defined by data and AI. Today, NetApp is the Intelligent Data Infrastructure company, helping customers turn data into a catalyst for innovation, resilience, and growth.

At the heart of that infrastructure is the NetApp data platform – the unified, enterprise-grade, intelligent foundation that connects, protects, and activates data across every cloud, workload, and environment. Built on the proven power of NetApp ONTAP, our leading data management software and OS, and enhanced by automation through the AI Data Engine and AFX, it delivers observability, resilience, and intelligence at scale.

Disaggregated by design, the NetApp data platform separates storage, services, and control so enterprises can modernize faster, scale efficiently, and innovate without lock-in. As the only enterprise storage platform natively embedded in the world’s largest clouds, it gives organizations the freedom to run any workload anywhere with consistent performance, governance, and protection.

With NetApp, data is always ready – ready to defend against threats, ready to power AI, and ready to drive the next breakthrough. That’s why the world’s most forward-thinking enterprises trust NetApp to turn intelligence into advantage.

NETAPP, the NETAPP logo, and the marks listed at www.netapp.com/TM are trademarks of NetApp, Inc. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

About Agastya Foundation

Founded in 1999, Agastya International Foundation is one of India’s leading educational non-profits, committed to transforming learning for children from underserved communities. Its mission is to nurture curiosity, creativity, and confidence, under the umbrella of care, through hands-on, experiential learning in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) and 21st-century skills, including design thinking and problem-solving.

Through a diverse portfolio of innovative programs—including mobile science labs, science centres, Lab-on-a-Bike, innovation hubs, digital literacy centres, Digi-Kshetra, and capacity-building initiatives for teachers and ignators—Agastya has reached over 35 million students and 3,50,000 school teachers across India. Agastya’s inquiry-based learning model encourages learners to actively explore concepts and connect classroom learning with real-world applications.

Working in close partnership with governments, corporates, and communities, Agastya continues to enable systemic change in education, equipping learners and educators with the mindset and skills required for a rapidly evolving world.

NetApp, NASSCOM Foundation Join Forces to Bridge AI Talent Gap with New Skilling Program

George Kurian, CEO, NetApp and Rostow Ravanan, Chairperson, Nasscom Foundation

Recognizing India’s pivotal role in the global AI economy, NetApp®, the Intelligent Data Infrastructure company, today announced a multi-year partnership with the Nasscom Foundation to launch a skilling program in AI in Data Science. Furthering its commitment to promoting Data Science and AI Education, the initiative was unveiled in Bengaluru in the presence of George Kurian, CEO, NetApp and Rostow Ravanan, Chairperson, Nasscom Foundation.

The program is designed to prepare the next generation of technology talent from underserved communities by equipping them with in-demand skills in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. In its first phase, engineering graduates from resource-constrained communities across the states of Karnataka and Delhi will be trained through a comprehensive curriculum that blends technical expertise with workplace readiness and industry exposure.

Our partnership with Nasscom Foundation reflects our shared vision of building a future-ready workforce. We are meeting the evolving needs of the digital economy by co-creating industry-relevant curricula. This helps not only in nurturing AI talent at scale but also strengthening Nasscom Foundation’s skilling ecosystem, said Vasanthi Ramesh, Vice President of Engineering and Site Leader, NetApp India.

Participants will undertake 120 hours of technical training in Python, data analytics, machine learning, and deep learning, complemented by NetApp-curated sessions on Kubernetes, persistent storage, and AI infrastructure. Beyond technical skills, the initiative will also deliver 60 hours of soft skills development, including communication, teamwork, and career guidance, to enable graduates to be job-ready. Industry-recognized certifications and job placement support will further enhance employability, with a target of placing nearly 70 percent of the cohort in technology roles.

“The growing demand for AI and Data Science professionals is reshaping the future of work,” said Mr. Rostow Ravanan, Chairperson, Nasscom Foundation. “To meet this transformation head-on, it is vital to bridge the opportunity gap by ensuring equitable access to continuous, industry-aligned skilling. Our collaboration with NetApp reflects this vision where we are empowering youth, especially women from underserved communities, with the digital, AI, and data capabilities needed to thrive in an inclusive and future-ready economy.”

The skilling program launched by NetApp and Nasscom Foundation furthers India’s ambition to be a global hub for AI talent by addressing a critical gap: the need for skilled, ethical, and job-ready professionals. Through rigorous technical training combined with real-world exposure, the initiative will create pathways into meaningful technology careers and broaden inclusion in the digital economy.

About Nasscom Foundation:

Established in 2001, Nasscom Foundation has been witness to the transformative power of technology for over two decades. Part of the Nasscom ecosystem, we are a neutral not-for-profit organization representing the Indian tech industry. We remain rooted to our core philosophy of TechForGood, where our efforts are focused on unlocking the power of technology by creating access and opportunity for those who need it the most. We work on helping people and institutions transform the way they tackle social and economic challenges through technology. We have five key areas of intervention – Digital Literacy, Skilling and Employability, Women Entrepreneurship, Scaling Social Innovation and Empowering NGO Ecosystem.

About NetApp

For more than three decades, NetApp has helped the world’s leading organizations navigate change – from the rise of enterprise storage to the intelligent era defined by data and AI. Today, NetApp is the Intelligent Data Infrastructure company, helping customers turn data into a catalyst for innovation, resilience, and growth.

At the heart of that infrastructure is the NetApp data platform – the unified, enterprise-grade, intelligent foundation that connects, protects, and activates data across every cloud, workload, and environment. Built on the proven power of NetApp ONTAP, our leading data management software and OS, and enhanced by automation through the AI Data Engine and AFX, it delivers observability, resilience, and intelligence at scale.

Disaggregated by design, the NetApp data platform separates storage, services, and control so enterprises can modernize faster, scale efficiently, and innovate without lock-in. As the only enterprise storage platform natively embedded in the world’s largest clouds, it gives organizations the freedom to run any workload anywhere with consistent performance, governance, and protection.

With NetApp, data is always ready – ready to defend against threats, ready to power AI, and ready to drive the next breakthrough. That’s why the world’s most forward-thinking enterprises trust NetApp to turn intelligence into advantage.

NETAPP, the NETAPP logo, and the marks listed at www.netapp.com/TM are trademarks of NetApp, Inc. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

TCS Plans to Recruit 40,000 Fresh Graduates From Campuses in 2025

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has announced plans to hire 40,000 fresh graduates from campuses in 2025. According to TCS's Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), Milind Lakkad, the company aims to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) skills at all levels of the Organization.

The company plans to provide comprehensive training sessions to new hires, focusing on AI technologies and digital transformation.

TCS is also looking to reduce its dependency on H-1B visas by hiring more local talent.

Key Points:

AI Integration: TCS plans to incorporate AI skills across all levels, from entry-level (E0) to senior positions.

Foundational AI Skills: Even entry-level employees (E0) are expected to have a foundational understanding of large language models (LLMs) and their applications.

Advanced AI Skills: At higher levels (E3 and above), employees are expected to have advanced expertise in AI and its applications across various domains.

Job Transformation: Lakkad emphasized that while AI will transform jobs, it will more likely change the nature of roles rather than eliminate them. Human insight and empathy will remain crucial, especially in client-facing and knowledge-intensive roles.

This ambitious hiring plan reflects TCS's commitment to staying at the forefront of technological innovation and ensuring that its workforce is equipped with the necessary skills for the future.

This recruitment drive is expected to create significant job opportunities for fresh graduates and support India's expanding tech sector.

Hiring AI-skilled Talent is a Priority for Over 9 in 10 Employers in India but 79% Struggle to Find the AI Talent They Need

AI skills could boost salaries of workers in India by more than 54% and accelerate career growth as AI adoption ramps up, finds new research

Hiring AI-skilled talent is a priority for over nine in ten employers in India but 79% struggle to find the AI talent they need, highlighting a looming AI skills gap in the country

Amazon Web Services (AWS), an Amazon.com company, has just released new research showing that when artificial intelligence (AI) is fully harnessed, workers in India with AI skills and expertise could see salary hikes of over 54%, with workers in IT (65%), and research and development (62%) enjoying the highest pay increases.

To better understand emerging AI usage trends and skilling needs in workplaces, AWS commissioned Access Partnership to conduct a regional study, titled “Accelerating AI Skills: Preparing the Asia-Pacific Workforce for Jobs of the Future”. Over 1,600 workers and 500 employers were surveyed in India.

On top of significant salary increases, 97% of workers in India expect their AI skills to have a positive impact on their careers, including increased job efficiency and career advancement. 95% of workers in India indicated a keen interest in developing AI skills to accelerate their careers, and this interest transcends generations. 95% of Gen Z, 96% of Millennials, and 93% of Gen X workers want to acquire AI skills, while 90% of baby boomers — a demographic usually contemplating retirement — say they would enrol in an AI upskilling course if it was offered.

The research also found that the productivity payoff from an AI-skilled workforce could be immense for India. Surveyed employers expect their organisation’s productivity to increase by 68% as AI technology automates repetitive tasks (71%), encourages learning of new skills (68%), and improves workflow and outcomes (64%). Workers believe AI could raise their efficiency by as much as 66%.

Organisations in India go all-in on AI

The speed of AI transformation happening in India is remarkable. Almost all employers (99%) envision their companies becoming AI-driven organisations by 2028. While most employers (97%) believe their finance department will be the biggest beneficiary, they also foresee IT (96%), research and development (96%), sales and marketing (96%), business operations (95%), human resources (94%), and legal (92%) departments driving significant value from AI too.

“The AI wave is sweeping across the Asia-Pacific region, including India, transforming the way businesses operate and the way we work. Our research shows that society as a whole will benefit from an increased productivity boost, which will translate into higher salaries for skilled workers in India,” said Abhineet Kaul, Director at Access Partnership. “With a growing number of organisations expected to deepen their use of AI solutions and tools, and the continual evolution of AI-driven innovations, there is a need for employers and governments to nurture a proficient workforce capable of steering current and future AI advancements.”

Generative AI—a type of AI that can create new content and ideas quickly, including conversations, stories, images, videos, music, and more—has captured the attention of the general public in the past year. This technology is already transforming workplaces in India where 98% of surveyed employers and workers expect to use generative AI tools on the job within the next five years, with 73% of employers highlighting ‘increasing innovation and creativity’ as the top benefit, followed by improving outcomes (69%), and automating repetitive tasks (68%).

“Generative AI offers an unprecedented opportunity to transform businesses across India, and this research shows that AI skills are imperative for the future workforce. From financial services to construction and retail, industries are embracing AI at a rapid pace, which is why an AI-skilled workforce is essential to unleashing a culture of innovation and driving productivity in India, aligning with the government of India’s IndiaAI Mission,” said Amit Mehta, Head of AWS Training and Certification, AWS India Private Limited. “At AWS, we are helping organisations such as Wipro, L&T Technology Services, Iris Software, and others, to upskill their employees to be ready for a future powered by generative AI.”

“AI skills are becoming paramount for our customers to innovate and stay competitive. AWS and Wipro are collaborating to train AWS skilled associates at Wipro in generative AI services,” said Ramesh Pai, Vice President, AWS Business Unit Head, Wipro Technologies. “Equipping them with Wipro developer experience platform devNXT.ai, which is integrated with Amazon CodeWhisperer and Amazon Q, helps in accelerating developer productivity and fostering a culture of continuous innovation.”

Bridging India’s AI skills gap is mission-critical

The research reveals a looming AI skills gap which must be bridged to ensure India is well-positioned to unlock the full productivity benefits of AI. Hiring AI-skilled talent is a priority for more than nine in ten (96%) employers in India, of which 79% can’t find the AI talent they need. The research also uncovers a training awareness gap, whereby 91% of employers indicated that they don’t know how to run an AI workforce training program. Meanwhile, 86% of workers said they aren’t sure about relevant career paths where AI skills are useful.

The research highlights the need for greater collaboration between governments, industries, and educators to help employers across India implement AI training programs and guide workers in matching their AI skillsets to the right roles to harness their newly acquired AI capabilities.

“In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, upskilling workers in AI, founded on ethical frameworks and principles, is not just a strategic choice, but a critical imperative for governments and organisations across Asia-Pacific,” said Dr. Rupa Chanda, Director of Trade, Investment and Innovation Division, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP). “This report shows that the future of work demands a workforce equipped with AI proficiency to navigate emerging challenges and harness opportunities for sustainable and equitable economic growth and development as well as inclusive innovation.”

Accelerating digital skills training across India

AWS has trained more than 5.5 million people in India on cloud skills since 2017. But with the rapid adoption of cloud-enabled technologies like AI, more needs to be done to upskill the workforce at scale so organisations can innovate and grow in an AI-dominated future.

In November 2023, Amazon launched the ‘AI Ready’ initiative that complements AWS’s commitment to provide free cloud computing skills training to 29 million individuals globally by 2025. Through ‘AI Ready,’ we now offer a suite of free AI and generative AI training courses, aligned to both technical and non-technical roles, so that anyone can build AI skills. This is in addition to the more than 100 courses and learning resources on AI, machine learning, and generative AI available through AWS Skills Builder and AWS Educate—our digital learning centres for beginners to advanced learners. AWS also announced new generative AI innovations at AWS re:Invent 2023, including Amazon Q—a new generative AI assistant designed for work that can be tailored to businesses.

For more information about our “Accelerating AI Skills: Preparing the Asia Pacific Workforce for Jobs of the Future” research, download the report here.

About Amazon Web Services

Since 2006, Amazon Web Services has been the world’s most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud. AWS has been continually expanding its services to support virtually any workload, and it now has more than 240 fully featured services for compute, storage, databases, networking, analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), mobile, security, hybrid, media, and application development, deployment, and management from 105 Availability Zones within 33 geographic regions, with announced plans for 18 more Availability Zones and six more AWS Regions in Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and the AWS European Sovereign Cloud. Millions of customers—including the fastest-growing startups, largest enterprises, and leading government agencies—trust AWS to power their infrastructure, become more agile, and lower costs. To learn more about AWS, visit aws.amazon.com.