TCS CEO Krithivasan Says AI Will Assist Workers, Not Replace Them

Jobs On the Rise?

As we gear up for the World Economic Forum in Davos 2025, AI is front and center, and not just in the form of buzzwords and tech jargon. TCS CEO K. Krithivasan has been one of the more optimistic voices: rather than scaring everyone into retraining for the next "hot" job, AI could just be the knight in shining armor the job market didn’t know it needed.

Let’s face it, most of us have been inundated with debates surrounding the job-stealing capabilities of AI. TikTok trends, late-night talk show banter, and even casual conversations at your coffee shop of choice have led us to believe that robots are coming to take our jobs. But Krithivasan has pushed back on this narrative. At a Nasscom session in February 2024, he said, “Critical thinking, the ability to do strategic planning and creativity will not be replaced by AI,” and that “GenAI in its initial phase, will only assist humans and not transform them.”

The Silver Lining of Automation

Back in the day, when calculators first came onto the scene, there were many who were convinced that math teachers would be out of business in no time. The reality? Teachers adapted, and new careers emerged around tech to teach students how to wield technology responsibly. Fast forward to today, and the narrative with AI is strikingly similar.

The numbers back up the hopeful side of the debate. The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 projects that 170 million new jobs will be created by 2030 while 92 million are displaced, a net gain of 78 million. Roles such as big data specialists and AI and machine learning specialists are among the fastest growing in percentage terms. The hope is that AI can handle repetitive tasks, allowing humans to focus on the more engaging, creative aspects of work.

Imagine a world where you’re freed up from mundane tasks like inputting data or answering FAQs, thanks to your AI coworker. You could finally unleash your inner Picasso— or, at the very least, find time to strategize your next big project without drowning in drudgery.

Riding the AI Wave

Though optimistic forecasts are always welcome, the big question still remains: will this shift happen fast enough to help those in roles vulnerable to AI? The technological shift isn’t happening in a vacuum; it’s accompanied by shifts in education, economic structures, and company needs. Different sectors have varied timelines for adapting to this change, and not everyone will be able to jump aboard the “AI express” at the same speed.

Training is the key. Programs that build tech skills and adaptability could help employees move into the new roles AI is expected to create. The same WEF report found that 50% of workers had completed training, reskilling or upskilling, up from 41% in its 2023 edition. It’s a win-win, but only if companies step up to the plate.

Let’s not forget the readers sipping their morning coffee wondering how much this means for their day-to-day. If companies take the right steps, employees could see their roles evolve rather than become obsolete.

Preparing for Davos

Davos has always been a haven for thought leaders, and the conversations here could steer the future policies shaping the economy. With business leaders like Krithivasan arguing that AI will assist workers rather than replace them, we might just find ourselves discussing more than doom-and-gloom narratives about job loss in 2025. Instead, we could focus on innovative, new career paths around AI, tech, and beyond.

As the WEF gears up to welcome global leaders, entrepreneurs, and thinkers, we can't help but feel hopeful for an approach to AI that prioritizes people over machines. So grab your favorite cup, buckle in, and prepare for what might just be the most enlightening chapter of our workforce story—where humans and machines work together, getting creative and shaking things up in the job market.

Let’s keep our eyes peeled on Davos; you never know what revelations might surface that'll make us re-evaluate our relationship with AI and the ever-evolving job landscape.

Update: TCS has since announced nearly 12,000 job cuts, about 2% of its global workforce, as part of a restructuring, but in July 2026 Krithivasan said AI would not shrink its overall headcount after the company added a net 9,279 employees in the June quarter.

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