Tech Industry and Academia Urged to Collaborate with Governments in Shaping Future AI Talent Pipeline
The tech industry and academic institutions need to collaborate with governments globally to shape the future pipeline of talent for artificial intelligence (AI)-related jobs, according to Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Minister of State for Electronics and IT. In a recent fireside chat session at the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) summit, Chandrasekhar emphasized the importance of nurturing talent and urged industry and academia to work together to address the growing talent deficit in the field of AI.
As India takes a leap into the world of generative AI (GenAI) that will impact every aspect of the IT and tech industry, CP Gurnani, an Indian IT industry veteran, believes that short-term courses in the fundamentals of AI should be created to skill 100 million individuals for future AI job roles. Gurnani, who recently joined the board of Directors of edtech major upGrad, believes that by enabling AI education and providing introductory courses, individuals will be better prepared to tap into future opportunities.
India currently holds the first position in terms of AI skill penetration and talent concentration; however, there is a shortage of skilled professionals in this field across various industries, as indicated by Nasscom. To bridge this gap, Gurnani suggests running short-term courses, such as 7-day programs, focusing on the basics of AI. This approach would allow students to progress naturally from introductory to advanced courses, ultimately equipping them with the necessary skills for future AI-related jobs.
Gurnani, who spent 19 years as Tech Mahindra’s CEO and Managing Director, believes that while AI offers significant opportunities for efficiency and productivity, there needs to be a balanced approach. He suggests leveraging AI tools for automation and personalization, gradually increasing efficiency and productivity over time. Gurnani emphasizes the importance of creating smart content powered by AI and expanding into global markets to drive greater success and empower more individuals.
The potential value of AI tools in the global economy is estimated to be as high as $26 trillion, as reported by McKinsey. However, the availability of individuals with the right AI skills and capabilities is considered a major limiting factor in realizing the full business potential of AI. To overcome this challenge, it is crucial for countries and industries to collaborate and create a talent pool of cutting-edge AI professionals, including architects and designers of large-language models (LLMs).
In India, there is a projected demand for over 1 million data science and AI professionals by 2024. Debjani Ghosh, President of Nasscom, emphasizes the need for concentrated efforts from the government, industry, and academia to enhance AI skilling initiatives and scale them up. Ghosh believes that AI-led disruption in core sectors alone could contribute $500 billion to India’s economy in terms of gross value added (GVA) by 2026.
In conclusion, the collaboration between the tech industry, academic institutions, and governments is crucial in shaping the future talent pipeline for AI-related jobs. By focusing on skilling initiatives and providing short-term courses in the fundamentals of AI, countries like India can harness the opportunities offered by AI and ensure a skilled workforce capable of driving economic growth and innovation in this transformative field.
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