Will AI kill jobs?: Government data tells a different story
New Delhi, December 30
Amid Artificial Intelligence reshaping industries worldwide, fear of mass unemployment has also become a familiar refrain.
In a Year-Ender note released on Tuesday, government highlighted that the Artificial Intelligence is often seen as a threat to jobs, but in reality, it is creating new kinds of opportunities.
Busting the myth, it cited NASSCOM's report titled "Advancing India's AI Skills", and said, India's AI talent base is expected to grow from about 6 to 6.5 lakh professionals to more than 12.5 lakh by 2027, at a compound annual growth rate of 15 per cent.
AI is driving demand in areas such as data science, data curation, AI engineering, and analytics. "As of August 2025, around 8.65 lakh candidates have enrolled or trained in various emerging technology courses, including 3.20 lakh in AI and Big Data Analytics," it said.
It highlighted the FutureSkills PRIME launched by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) that aimed to prepare the workforce for the future
It is a national programme focused on reskilling and upskilling IT professionals in 10 new and emerging technologies, including AI.
"As of August 2025, more than 18.56 lakh candidates had signed up on the FutureSkills PRIME portal, and over 3.37 lakh had successfully completed their courses," it said.
The report also mentioned the how AI is reshaping governance and public service delivery.
As per the Supreme Court of India, under e-Courts Project Phase III, modern technologies are being integrated to make the justice system more efficient and accessible, it said.
Artificial Intelligence and its subsets such as Machine Learning, Optical Character Recognition, and Natural Language Processing are being used in translation, prediction, administrative efficiency, automated filing, intelligent scheduling, and communication through chatbots, it added.
AI Translation Committees in High Courts are overseeing the translation of Supreme Court and High Court judgments into vernacular languages.
Digital legal platforms such as e-HCR and e-ILR now provide citizens online access to judgments in multiple regional languages, making justice delivery more transparent and inclusive.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good to see data instead of just fear-mongering. The numbers on enrollment in AI courses are impressive. But the real challenge is ensuring these new opportunities reach tier-2 and tier-3 cities, not just metro hubs. The digital divide is still real.
The application of AI in courts for translation and accessibility is a game-changer! Getting judgments in regional languages can empower so many citizens. This is technology serving the people, not just corporations. More of this, please.
While the report is optimistic, I have a respectful criticism. It focuses on IT professionals. What about jobs in manufacturing, retail, or customer service that are more vulnerable to automation? The reskilling programs need to be broader in scope.
Absolutely. AI is a tool. It will replace some repetitive tasks, but it will create demand for people who can manage, interpret, and ethically guide these systems. The key is continuous learning. Jai Hind!
The 15% CAGR for AI professionals is huge. This is a massive opportunity for our youth. Instead of fearing job loss, we should be encouraging more students to take up STEM and data science. India can be a global AI leader. 💪
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.