India AI Impact Summit 2026: ‘You must be dreaming if you think AI will generate employment,’ says Vineet Nayar

At the India AI Impact Summit 2026, a thought-provoking discussion on the intersection of artificial intelligence and employment took center stage. Sanjeev Bikhchandani, founder and Executive Vice Chairman of InfoEdge, emphasized the importance of mastering a few AI tools. He believes that while AI can enhance productivity, it is unlikely to create substantial employment opportunities. Bikhchandani pointed out that assigning human employees to cater to numerous low-paying clients is often impractical. Instead, AI-driven bots can efficiently manage such tasks without the need for a larger workforce. He noted, "You can sit in the office and make phone calls. The bottom 5,100 clients who don’t contribute much don’t warrant human attention. We utilize chatbots and voice bots to manage this outreach, showcasing how AI can serve previously neglected market segments without displacing workers." He encouraged young professionals to prioritize acquiring practical AI skills that align with their careers, rather than getting bogged down in broader debates about policy or large language models. "Focus on your job and your career. Learn 5 to 15 AI tools that will enhance your employability. Older employees may not adapt as quickly, so you have an advantage," he advised. In contrast, Vineet Nayar, founder and CEO of Sampark Foundation and former CEO of HCL Technologies, expressed a more cautionary view on AI’s impact on jobs in Indian IT companies. He warned that these companies prioritize profit, suggesting that expecting job creation from them is unrealistic. Nayar emphasized the necessity for mass-scale startups to generate new employment opportunities and urged for innovative solutions to address emerging challenges rather than merely focusing on new technologies. He lamented the lack of world-class AI models developed in India, arguing that foreign LLMs are dominating the market while local capabilities lag behind. Nayar stressed the need for strategic thinking and substantial incentives to foster the development of competitive AI technologies in India. He warned that without significant action, India risks losing a crucial competitive edge in the tech landscape over the next decade.