Anupam Mittal, Founder & CEO of Individuals Group and a number one voice in India’s startup ecosystem, has sounded a pointy warning concerning the nation’s AI and skilling narrative. In a latest publish, he urged policymakers and tech leaders to cease blindly echoing the West’s AI obsession and as an alternative concentrate on India’s distinct employment realities.
Highlighting the disconnect, Mittal in a publish on LinkedIn remarked, “Noticed this girl the opposite day, and thought possibly she ought to study Python. Maybe she will fine-tune an LLM too, whereas delivering your groceries.” His publish highlighted the the sharp mismatch between AI-skilling rhetoric and the ground-level workforce expertise.
He famous that whereas corporations like Microsoft, Meta, and Google are quickly adopting AI, India can not merely observe go well with. “Their CEOs are on document: 40-50% of labor processes shall be AI-driven in 2-3 years. Sure, true! However these are economies with decrease populations, excessive formal employment, and deep reskilling budgets,” he mentioned.
Drawing from his expertise within the US, Mittal defined how structured, on-the-job upskilling is a norm there — one thing India’s largely self-employed and fragmented workforce lacks. “That’s what actual skilling infrastructure appears like. India isn’t there but,” he added.
Gig economic system: a bridge, not a legal responsibility
Mittal underlined the essential position of India’s gig economic system in filling employment gaps. “Ergo, the gig economic system has been a blessing for us. It enabled employment for tens of millions. In a rustic holding 20% of the world’s inhabitants, that’s no imply feat!” the Shark Tank India choose mentioned.
Whereas India is residence to a rising tribe of tech-savvy innovators, Mittal cautioned in opposition to letting deep-tech overshadow the employment wants of these in low- and semi-skilled roles.
Want for a balanced strategy
Mittal careworn that betting every little thing on deep-tech is shortsighted. “After we begin touting deep-tech as the one resolution to all our issues, we endanger the livelihoods of a billion-plus nation.” As a substitute, he referred to as for a twin technique — one which fosters high-tech development whereas safeguarding broader employment.
“India wants to handle each these points concurrently, no?” he requested, posing a problem that goes past tech coverage — and strikes on the coronary heart of inclusive financial planning.
