Job augmentation: Humans and AI collaborating rather than competing — Vishaal Gupta, Pearson

The Pearson Skill Summit 2026 brought together global leaders to discuss the transformation of the workforce in the age of artificial intelligence. Against this backdrop, ET Consulting Editor Sumit Chaturvedi sat down with Vishaal Gupta, India Chair and President, Enterprise Learning and Skills, Pearson, and explored how India is positioning itself as a strategic hub for AI, skills and innovation.

Their conversation marked a shift from seeing AI as a job replacement to viewing it as a tool for job enhancement, letting technology handle routine tasks so people can focus on more valuable work. As technical skills become outdated quickly, "learning to learn" is now vital for job security. The summit also highlighted the move toward stackable credentials over degrees and Pearson’s ‘DEEP’ framework for talent mapping, envisioning India as a leader in exporting AI-driven services in sectors like healthcare and education.

Sumit Chaturvedi: There is a lot of noise around AI killing jobs. From your perspective at Pearson, is the fear around employability justified?
Vishaal Gupta: I am very optimistic and bullish about AI’s impact on employability. Rather than seeing AI as a threat that destroys jobs, we view it as a ‘pivot moment’ for job augmentation. Our research suggests that with the right skill sets, AI can actually create more roles than it displaces, particularly in a young country like India, where humans and AI will work together in partnership.


Sumit Chaturvedi: India produces millions of graduates every year. How can we turn this demographic advantage into a tangible AI skills advantage?
Vishaal Gupta: India has the world’s largest base of graduates, but we have to address two critical areas. First, we must move away from purely theoretical AI programmes in universities toward applied and contextual learning that makes students immediately employable. Second, we must use AI to make education personalised and inspiring rather than a chore, utilising adaptive content and "learning in the flow of work" to ensure young Indians stay employable over the long term.

Sumit Chaturvedi: You’ve mentioned that the Indian learning ecosystem is quite fragmented. How is Pearson navigating the different roles of government, universities, and enterprises?
Vishaal Gupta: It is a complex landscape, but we are engaging across the entire spectrum. We recently signed an MoU with the state of Telangana to support a new AI hub in Hyderabad, where Pearson is the partner for skilling participants. We also collaborate with major IT firms to support employee upskilling and work with over 5,000 institutions to ensure their academic programmes align with the real-world skills that employers are actually demanding.

Sumit Chaturvedi: Can India’s skills push contribute to the global economy in sectors beyond just technology?
Vishaal Gupta: Absolutely. While India is a leader in tech, the opportunity extends significantly to sectors like healthcare. India is already becoming a global destination for medical services, and professionals with AI-augmented healthcare skills will be highly valuable worldwide. By treating skills as a national priority and leveraging recent trade agreements with the UK, EU, and US, India can export talent and services across multiple industries.

Sumit Chaturvedi: Are you concerned about an "AI divide" emerging between urban centres and rural India?
Vishaal Gupta: This is a major concern. We risk creating two classes of learners: those with access to AI-powered education and those without. Since a vast portion of India's talent resides in Tier-2 towns and villages with limited connectivity, we have a collective obligation to ensure no one is left behind. We are currently exploring models with partners like Microsoft to extend AI skilling beyond major metros.

Sumit Chaturvedi: Beyond technical AI fluency, what skills will be non-negotiable for workers in the next decade?
Vishaal Gupta: Technical skills have an increasingly short half-life, making "learning to learn" the most vital capability for any worker. Beyond that, human-centric "soft skills" such as critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and communication will remain non-negotiable for long-term employability. Pearson is embedding decades of neuroscience and cognitive research into our platforms to help people adapt continuously to these shifts.

Sumit Chaturvedi: Looking ahead, what is Pearson’s long-term vision for India within its global strategy?
Vishaal Gupta: India plays a dual role for us. It is a critical growth market where we bring our best-in-class products to learners and institutions. Simultaneously, it is one of our largest technology and innovation hubs, where we conduct significant product engineering work. India remains a top-priority country for Pearson as it evolves into a powerhouse that contributes ideas, products, and talent to the global skills economy.

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