Artificial intelligence (AI) is set to change how people work in India, but it will not completely eliminate jobs, according to a new whitepaper by the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras). Instead, AI will reshape specific tasks within jobs, creating new roles and opportunities while also requiring workers to adapt and learn new skills.
- AI changes tasks more than entire jobs or professions.
- Impact depends on industry, cost, regulation, and worker adaptability.
- Affordable AI tools can help small businesses and workers.
- New skills and reskilling are essential for future employment.
- Collaboration between humans and AI varies by task and job.
How does AI affect tasks and jobs in India?
The whitepaper, titled How AI Is Reconfiguring Work in India: A Task-Based Framework for Understanding Augmentation, Displacement, New Roles and the Changing Structure of Jobs, was prepared by the Centre for Responsible AI (CeRAI) at IIT Madras. It explains that AI’s ability to perform certain tasks does not mean entire jobs or professions will disappear.
Gokul S Krishnan, research director at CeRAI, explains that discussions about AI often jump from what AI can do in a single task to broad claims about whole professions being replaced. The study separates four levels: tasks, jobs, occupations, and wider labor-market outcomes. AI taking over a task might lead to job augmentation, redesign, or displacement depending on factors like cost, capability, and regulation.
In what ways can humans and AI work together?
The paper identifies different models of collaboration between humans and AI. In some cases, AI performs most tasks while humans review the results. In others, humans retain decision-making power and use AI to enhance their work. Some tasks require human judgment, accountability, and regulatory compliance, which AI cannot replace.
AI can also be used for dangerous or repetitive work, reducing risks for human workers. However, the effectiveness of AI depends on its capability and the context of the job.
What role does cost play in AI adoption in India?
The study introduces the concept of "AI-cost geography," which highlights how the affordability of AI tools affects who can adopt them. Affordable AI can help small businesses with tasks like bookkeeping and quality checks. More advanced AI applications, such as legal analysis or medical imaging, may remain limited to larger companies in urban areas with better infrastructure and skilled workers.
This cost factor influences the distribution of AI benefits across different sectors, including call centers, manufacturing, banking, software development, law, creative industries, and small businesses.
What are the recommendations for AI adoption to benefit workers?
The whitepaper suggests three key steps to ensure AI benefits workers and the economy:
- Promote affordable AI tools: Encourage accessible, task-focused AI tools especially for small businesses to boost productivity.
- Study AI’s impact on jobs: Invest in research to understand which tasks AI can handle and assess costs related to quality, trust, safety, and accountability.
- Create pathways to new jobs: Provide training and opportunities for workers to learn new skills and transition into emerging roles related to AI.
The researchers emphasize that the future of work depends not only on AI technology but also on how organizations redesign jobs and prepare employees for new responsibilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will AI eliminate entire professions in India?
A: No, the IIT Madras study finds that AI is more likely to change specific tasks within jobs rather than eliminate entire professions.
Q: How can workers prepare for AI changes?
A: Workers should focus on reskilling and learning new skills to adapt to changing job roles and collaborate effectively with AI systems.
Q: What factors influence AI adoption in Indian businesses?
A: Cost, industry type, infrastructure, regulation, and worker skills all affect how and where AI is adopted in India.
