By Anurag Sharma
Founder and CEO of Taxellence Consultants India private limited
- The global AI market is expected to reach $1.8 trillion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 37.3% from 2023 to 2030. (Source: Grand View Research)
- n India, AI adoption could add $967 billion to the economy by 2035, with sectors like IT, healthcare, and manufacturing leading the way. (Source: Accenture)
The Blessings of AI in the Professional World
The office was once a battlefield of cluttered desks, overworked employees, and never-ending paperwork. The sound of furious typing, the rustling of files, and the endless ringing of telephones filled the air. Deadlines loomed like storm clouds, and professionals struggled to keep up with the relentless demands of the corporate world.
Then, like a silent force sweeping through the corridors of industry, Artificial Intelligence arrived—not with the noise of a revolution, but with the quiet precision of transformation.
From finance to healthcare, retail to manufacturing, AI didn’t just change how work was done—it redefined the very meaning of efficiency, intelligence, and innovation.
1. Increased Efficiency and Automation
AI-powered automation has transformed industries by reducing human effort in repetitive tasks. n simple terms AI is making workplaces more efficient by assisting employees rather than replacing them. It speeds up repetitive tasks, reduces human error, and allows professionals to focus on higher-value work.
- Example: Infosys has implemented AI tools that cut project delivery times by 30%, .allowing developers to work on more complex problems instead of spending hours debugging or managing repetitive coding tasks.
- In manufacturing, AI-driven automation has helped companies like Tata Steel improve efficiency. The company uses AI for predictive maintenance, which has reduced machinery breakdowns by 20% and improved production output. This technology ensures machines are fixed before they fail, preventing costly delays.
- Take the case of HDFC Bank’s AI-powered chatbot, EVA, which has handled over 50 lakh customer queries in multiple languages. Instead of replacing human employees, EVA helps bank staff by resolving routine questions instantly, allowing them to focus on complex issues that require human expertise.AI chatbots, such as those used by HDFC Bank (Eva) and ICICI Bank (iPal), handle customer queries 24/7, reducing the workload on human employees.
2. Data-Driven Decision Making
AI can process vast amounts of data and provide actionable insights for businesses doesn’t just automate work—it helps businesses make smarter decisions. By analyzing massive amounts of data, AI identifies patterns that would be difficult for humans to spot.
- Example: Reliance Jio uses AI to analyze user behavior and improve customer experience, This allows Jio to offer personalized recommendations, predict network congestion, and optimize data speeds helping it gain over 400 million subscribers.
- AI is also transforming the stock market. Platforms like Zerodha and Upstox use AI-based analytics to guide investors. AI tools predict stock trends, helping retail investors make informed decisions rather than relying on guesswork. A 2023 report by NASSCOM found that AI-driven financial analytics have led to 20% better investment decisions among traders in India.
- Even in healthcare, AI is saving lives. Niramai, a Bengaluru-based startup, has developed an AI-based screening tool for early breast cancer detection. Unlike traditional methods, this AI tool is non-invasive, low-cost, and has improved early detection rates by 27%, helping women access treatment before it's too late
3. Creating New Job Opportunities
While AI is replacing some traditional roles, it is also creating entirely new industries and job categories. According to NASSCOM, AI is expected to generate 1.97 million jobs in India by 2025, including roles like AI engineers, data scientists, and cybersecurity experts.
- For example, TCS and Wipro have launched AI training programs for employees, ensuring they can upskill and move into high-demand roles instead of being left behind by automation. Companies investing in AI aren’t just cutting jobs—they are helping employees transition into new careers.
- The e-commerce sector is another area where AI is creating jobs. Flipkart uses AI-powered recommendation engines to personalize shopping experiences. While AI helps optimize logistics and customer service, human employees are still needed to oversee AI systems, manage inventory, and provide specialized support.
- Even in traditional fields like agriculture, AI is creating opportunities. Agri-tech startups like CropIn and Gramophone use AI to provide farmers with weather forecasts, pest control solutions, and crop monitoring. These innovations are boosting yields and improving farmer incomes by up to 30%, according to a report by FICCI.
My Perspective : A Force for Progress, if We Let It Be
AI is not a faceless machine stealing jobs in the dead of night—it is a tool, a collaborator, an enabler of human potential. From streamlining operations to predicting trends and creating new opportunities, AI is not the enemy of progress—it is the vehicle driving it.
But like every powerful force, AI is only as good as the hands that wield it. Used wisely, it will elevate industries, empower professionals, and create a world where humans focus on what truly matters—creativity, strategy, and innovation.
The question is no longer whether AI is a blessing or a curse. The real question is: Are we ready to embrace the future it offers?
The Curses of AI in the Professional World
The Silent Storm
The year is 2025. A sprawling IT office in Bengaluru, once buzzing with the sound of keyboards and casual chatter, now feels eerily quiet. Rows of empty desks stand like forgotten relics of a past where humans, not machines, held the reins. Rajiv, a mid-level software developer, stares at an email that seals his fate: “Your role has been automated. Thank you for your contributions.” He is not alone. Thousands like him are grappling with the same question—Where do we go from here?
The rise of AI, once hailed as a beacon of progress, is now casting a long shadow over industries worldwide.
1. The Vanishing Workforce: Job Displacement and Economic Shockwaves
AI’s efficiency comes at a cost—human jobs.
- According to the World Economic Forum, by 2025, AI-driven automation is expected to displace 85 million jobs worldwide.
- In India, the IT and BPO sectors, once the backbone of middle-class employment, are witnessing unprecedented layoffs. In 2023 alone, 40,000 IT professionals lost their jobs as companies turned to AI-powered automation. (Source: Business Standard)
- The banking sector, too, is feeling the shift. SBI and HDFC have already integrated AI-powered financial advisors, reducing the need for traditional customer service executives.
👉 Example: In 2024, TCS announced a strategic move to integrate AI-driven coding assistants, reducing the need for entry-level developers by nearly 20%. Fresh graduates, once hopeful of a thriving IT career, now struggle to find placements.
This is not just an employment crisis—it is an economic restructuring. The question remains: Will enough new jobs be created before the old ones disappear?
2. The Unseen Judge: Bias and Ethical Dilemmas in AI
AI may lack human emotions, but it certainly doesn’t lack human bias. Trained on existing data, it often inherits and amplifies societal prejudices.
- Hiring Bias: In 2020, an AI-powered hiring tool used by an Indian tech firm was found to favor male candidates over female applicants, reinforcing gender inequality.
- Racial and Caste Bias: A study revealed that some AI-driven facial recognition systems in India had 30% higher error rates for darker skin tones, raising concerns about wrongful identifications in law enforcement.
👉 Example: In 2023, an AI-powered loan approval system used by a major Indian bank was accused of systematically rejecting applications from individuals in lower-income groups. Investigations revealed that the AI model had been trained on biased historical data, reinforcing economic disparity instead of eliminating it.
The danger here is clear: AI is making life-altering decisions without accountability. Who takes responsibility when an algorithm denies someone a job, a loan, or even their freedom?
3. The Invisible Enemy: AI-Driven Cybersecurity Threats
With great power comes great vulnerability. AI’s ability to process massive amounts of data also makes it the perfect weapon for cybercriminals.
- India saw 13.9 lakh cybersecurity incidents in 2023 alone, many of which involved AI-driven hacking techniques. (Source: CERT-In)
- AI-powered phishing attacks are now 30% more effective than traditional scams, making even cybersecurity experts struggle to detect them.
👉 Example: In 2024, Indian stock traders were hit by deepfake scams, where AI-generated voices mimicked top CEOs, leading to fraudulent transactions worth ₹100 crores.
The more we rely on AI, the more we expose ourselves to digital threats we are not yet prepared for. If AI is the sword, then cybercriminals are learning to wield it faster than regulators can keep up.
My perspective: A Future Hanging in the Balance
The promise of AI is undeniable, but so is its peril. It has the power to revolutionize industries, yet it also threatens livelihoods, perpetuates biases, and opens dangerous cybersecurity loopholes. As India and the world race toward AI integration, the real challenge is not whether AI should exist—it already does. The real question is: Can we control it before it controls us?
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