AI to Reshape Work, Not Destroy Jobs, Says Microsoft India President
Microsoft India chief says AI will restructure tasks within jobs rather than eliminate roles.
Puneet Chandok, President of Microsoft India and South Asia, has said that Artificial Intelligence (AI) will not “kill jobs” outright but will fundamentally reshape how work is structured, urging professionals to adapt through continuous learning rather than fearing automation. His remarks come amid rapid AI adoption across industries and heightened global debate over the technology’s impact on employment.
Speaking at events such as the Microsoft AI Tour and the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, Chandok rejected the idea that AI will dramatically eliminate jobs. Instead, he described roles as bundles of individual tasks, arguing that AI will unbundle these tasks by automating routine elements and leaving humans to focus on higher-value activities that require creativity, judgement, and complex problem-solving. He noted that this shift will break the traditional career model where individuals could learn once and work in a stable role for decades.
Chandok warned that today’s workforce might be the last generation to enjoy lifetime, long-term careers in a single field. Future workers, he suggested, will need to pursue a portfolio of roles and continuously renew their skills to remain relevant as AI transforms job structures. “The real pink slip in this new AI era,” he said, “is not automation — it’s the refusal to learn,” underscoring the urgency of ongoing education and upskilling in an AI-driven economy.
Beyond job structure, Chandok has highlighted broader shifts in how businesses will operate with AI. He argued that AI will drive a transition from an “inefficiency economy” based on time-billed services to an “outcome economy” focused on results, where intelligent systems act as digital colleagues and amplify human capability. This reflects a vision where AI augments, rather than replaces, human roles.
Also Read: JEE Main 2026 Final Answer Key Released: 9 Questions Dropped, Scores Soon
Microsoft’s leadership, including CEO Satya Nadella, has reiterated the strategic importance of data in this future, noting that organisations able to use proprietary data contextually with AI will hold competitive advantages. At the same time, initiatives in India are emphasising skilling programmes and infrastructure to help workers transition into an AI-centric workplace.
Chandok’s message aligns with a broader industry narrative that AI, while disruptive, should be seen as a catalyst for evolving work rather than a direct threat to employment — with the most significant risk for individuals being stagnation rather than technological replacement.
Also Read: Pakistan's Political U-Turn Ends In Humiliating No-Show on The Field Against India
