Microsoft India and South Asia President Puneet Chandok had made a bold prediction of the careers that would shape the upcoming generations. Chandok believes that the rampant use of artificial intelligence (AI) means this will be the last generation that will enjoy “stable, long-term careers.” Addressing the Microsoft AI Tour, which also featured a speech from the software giant’s CEO Satya Nadella, Chandok claimed that AI itself will not steal jobs. However, he did point out that the actual threat to employment will come in the form of “refusal to learn.” He added that the new technology will actually “unbundle” tasks within the existing roles. “Will AI steal jobs? I don’t think AI will steal jobs. It will dissect jobs. It will unbundle jobs,” he explained.As AI is rapidly integrated across all sectors, he argued that the “industrial age era” template, the idea of learning once and using that knowledge for a lifetime career, is now breaking down. He added, “You and I are the last generation to have stable, long-term careers,” adding that “our kids will do a portfolio of things.”
Why Microsoft India head Puneet Chandok thinks employees need to keep learning
Emphasising the importance of continuous learning, Chandok said, “The real pink slip in this new AI era is not automation. That is what we are worried about. The real pink slip is refusal to learn.”Comparing learning to an oxygen mask, he said: “We are fighting guerrilla warfare against irrelevance every day” and must keep learning new things.The business leader also appeared to be referring to Delhi’s air pollution problems when he added that no one understands the importance of oxygen masks better than someone living in Delhi.In his speech, Nadella also questioned whether AI models are becoming a “commodity” and claimed that data is the most valuable resource for any company in the AI era.“In the experience layer, data is one of the most strategic assets, and it is one of those things that is super important in the age of AI. But you have to use that data contextually to the AI,” said Nadella, who is on a three-day visit to India.He said Maharashtra has been using Microsoft’s AI tools for cyber safety, and that the Nagpur project has cut cybercrime investigations by 80%.In addition, the company is now working on AI projects with several other customers, such as Adani Cement, Yes Bank, Aditya Birla Group, and LTIMindtree, among others, Nadella said.
