AI Will Create More Jobs Than It Replaces - Microsoft IDC President Rajiv Kumar

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is expected to create more employment opportunities than the number of jobs it may replace in the IT sector, according to Rajiv Kumar, Managing Director and President of the Microsoft India Development Center. In a recent blog post, Rajiv urged Indian engineers to move beyond fears that AI will eliminate jobs and instead focus on learning how to work alongside AI technologies. He emphasized that as technology evolves rapidly, the lifespan of technical skills is shrinking, making continuous learning and adaptability essential for career growth.

Referring to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, Rajiv noted that nearly 39% of core job skills are expected to change by 2030, while about 63% of India's workforce will require significant upskilling or reskilling. Comparing AI to the internet revolution of 1995, he said every major technological transformation initially sparked concerns but ultimately generated more employment opportunities. He highlighted the emergence of new roles such as AI trainers, agent specialists, and AI security experts. Rajiv also stressed that while AI can assist with coding and automation, human judgment, ethics, creativity, and decision-making remain irreplaceable. He further praised India’s engineering talent and revealed that Microsoft's largest research and development hub outside the United States is located in Hyderabad.