India Inc wants to explore if Generative AI plugins will replace or augment headcount: Microsoft

Indian enterprises are keen to understand how generative AI solutions can be integrated into productivity tools and how far that will help them save costs on headcount or offer productivity gains, Bhaskar Basu, country head - modern work, Microsoft India told ET.

Speaking on the sidelines of the launch of its flagship Work Trend Index 2023 Report, “Will AI Fix Work?”, he added that the company will shortly open up generative AI plugins on Microsoft productivity tools for a wider set of Indian enterprises which are currently available in beta form such as GitHUb Copilot and Microsoft 365 Copilot.

Talking about demands, Basu said, “We are not leading with the messaging by saying (to customers) that AI will help you save 20% headcount next year. We are talking about the fact that it's an augmentation capability.”


The Microsoft 365 Copilot was launched on a worldwide basis only with about 20 customers to start with as a private beta and is now being expanded to an early adopter program for about 600 customers across the world.

“It's a nomination-based process and we are looking at nominees coming in from India. And very soon we'll be rolling out a private data usage program for certain customers in India as well,” he said.

The report found over three in four Indian workers would be comfortable using AI not just for administrative tasks (86%) but also for analytical work (88%), and even creative aspects of their role (87%). Further, 100% of Indian creative workers who are extremely familiar with AI would be comfortable using AI for creative aspects of their job.

He said the company is yet to determine the pricing model for the tools that are in beta usage right now. “We haven't yet disclosed our pricing on Microsoft 365 Copilot and Viva Copilot and neither have offered any logic around how we will price it,” he said, adding that the pricing models will be disclosed once the company has more clarity on the discernable productivity outcomes that customers need.