AI Will Not Reduce Work for IT Companies, Says Wipro Executive — More Jobs to Come in 20 Years

Hari Shetty, Chief Strategist and Technology Officer at Wipro, has shared his perspective on the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on India’s IT services sector. Contrary to widespread fears, Shetty believes AI will not reduce work for IT companies; instead, it will create new opportunities and more jobs in the coming decades.

AI Dominance in the Next 20 Years

Shetty explained that over the next 20 years, AI will dominate the technology landscape. However, he emphasized that India’s IT services business is unlikely to be negatively affected. On the contrary, he expects AI to generate additional work for IT firms, enabling them to take on more complex tasks and deliver deeper solutions for their clients.

Addressing Concerns About Automation

Recent innovations, such as Anthropic’s AI tools, have raised concerns in the IT sector about whether human roles will remain relevant. Tools like Anthropic Cowork can automate tasks, connect systems, and handle data faster than humans. Many worry that AI will reduce the need for thousands of IT engineers.

Shetty, however, dismissed these fears. He said that while AI will change certain jobs, it will create far more opportunities than it replaces. “Most people focus on surface-level uses of AI,” he explained, “but the real potential lies in deep automation and advanced problem-solving.”

AI as an Opportunity, Not a Threat

Shetty highlighted that current AI adoption is largely about task automation, but the future lies in autonomous enterprises—a fundamentally different approach. IT companies will need to work closely with clients, leveraging AI to deliver high-value solutions.

He emphasized that AI should be viewed as the biggest opportunity for the IT industry, rather than just a threat to jobs. “The debate often centers on employment,” Shetty said, “but we should also focus on how deeply AI can transform the way work is done.”

With AI tools becoming increasingly sophisticated, Indian IT firms are poised to expand their capabilities and create new avenues for innovation, ensuring the sector continues to thrive in the decades ahead.