HCLTech CEO on India IT's AI Transition

C. Vijayakumar, Managing Director and CEO of HCLTech, addressed concerns about jobs and the relevance of the nearly $300 billion India IT services sector amid the rise of AI. Speaking at NASSCOM's NTLF event, he acknowledged that the transition would be 'painful' due to its human element but asserted that the industry's ability to manage complex enterprise technology and domain understanding would ensure its continued relevance. Vijayakumar emphasized the need for reinvention and reskilling, noting that while AI models like Anthropic's Claude are proficient in coding, coding constitutes only 30% of software development. He also suggested that Software as a service companies might face challenges in maintaining high prices, and Hyperscale computing companies could struggle to justify their significant infrastructure investments if revenues do not keep pace.