No Need to Fear AI’s Impact on Jobs: Cognizant India CMD Rajesh Varrier

Cognizant India CMD Rajesh Varrier said there is no need to be overly worried about the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on jobs. He explained that while new technology may create certain disruptions, it also brings an equal number of opportunities.

Speaking at the annual conference of the Hyderabad Software Enterprises Association (HYSEA) on Thursday, Varrier noted that similar concerns were raised in the 1990s when computers were first introduced in offices. However, that technology eventually created more employment opportunities and improved productivity.

He stated that AI will play a crucial role in future economic growth. According to him, small and medium enterprises are adopting AI tools more quickly than large corporations. However, he stressed that businesses must have strong domain knowledge while using agentic AI tools.

Varrier also pointed out that there is currently a gap between the AI curriculum taught in colleges and the actual requirements of the industry. He said this gap needs to be addressed quickly. International companies are establishing Global Capability Centers (GCCs) in India to develop new business capabilities.

He emphasized that employees must continuously learn new AI tools and adapt to changing technological demands if they want to remain relevant in the job market.