India Inc pulls out all stops to give its workforce AI edge

India Inc is investing heavily in an artificial intelligence (AI)-ready workforce.

Companies such as Wipro, Genpact and Ericsson are creating personalised AI training programmes for employees, partnering with universities, setting up skilling academies and enhancing internal learning platforms to build a future-ready workforce.

At Wipro, more than 55,000 employees have become advanced AI practitioners, and at Genpact, 60,000-70,000 employees dedicate eight to nine learning hours each month on new-age skills like AI.


According to 'The Workforce Wishlist' survey of more than 8,000 Indian professionals by upGrad Enterprise, shared exclusively with ET, eight in 10 respondents said they consider AI skills crucial, and nine in 10 said they value employer-supported training.

“Workforce dynamics are undergoing a significant transformation – upskilling and skilling have really evolved beyond ‘good to have’. Our data shows that nearly half of the surveyed professionals are more likely to stay with an employer that invests in their development, showing a clear correlation between upskilling initiatives and retention,” Srikanth Iyengar, CEO of upGrad Enterprise, told ET.

According to the report, standardised programmes no longer work; a customised and collaborative approach is the potential way forward, and 44% of respondents want AI safety training.

With AI fundamentally changing the roles and skills required to stay ahead in the modern workplace, companies are launching a slew of AI upskilling initiatives.

Wipro has created multiple personalised and contextualised AI training programmes for employees which are tailored according to role, skill sets and domain. The tech firm has launched 35 persona-based learning pathways for its developers, engineers, architects and sales and business teams.

“Since the launch of our ai360 strategy in July 2023, over 230,000 of our employees have been made proficient in basic GenAI fundamentals. Working with partners like Microsoft, Google, AWS, among many others, we have provided training and certifications to more than 25,000 employees,” said Sanjeev Jain, chief operating officer, Wipro.

Agentic AI is also expected to play a pivotal role in transforming industries and sectors, and its introduction into the workforce will drive efficiency and innovation, according to companies.

In January, Genpact launched the ‘Gigaacademy’, which aims to cultivate 25,000 AI builders or employees proficient in developing AI solutions. The company has also partnered with AdaSci for specialised AI training for entry-level talent and enhanced Genome.ai, its internal learning platform with nano-learning videos, AI assessments and role-play simulations.

“As advanced tech and AI solutions start getting embedded into client operations, we’re focusing on driving foundational AI literacy, with 12,000 employees currently classified as AI users and targeting almost 90% of our workforce trained and ready for this shift,” said Shalini Modi, global L&D leader, Genpact.

At Ericsson, more than 30,000 of the company’s 100,000-plus employees worldwide have been upskilled in AI. The company has launched programmes like the Digital Academy to make sure employees become proficient in AI.

“The focus areas for AI upskilling also include developing critical thinking, creativity and problem-solving skills. By focusing on these areas, we’re not just preparing our workforce for today’s challenges but also for the unpredictabilities that lie ahead,” said Priyanka Anand, head - HR, Southeast Asia Oceania and India, Ericsson.