Tech Jobs at Risk: Infosys Chairman Nandan Nilekani Warns 90 Million Roles at Risk; Outlines 5 New AI Positions To Lead Global IT Transformation

Bengaluru, February 20: Infosys Chairman Nandan Nilekani has delivered a stark warning regarding the future of the technology sector, stating that over 90 million tech jobs are currently at risk due to the rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence. Speaking at the Infosys AI Investor Day 2026 in Bengaluru, Nilekani emphasised that the ongoing revolution is fundamentally reshaping business operations in a manner unprecedented by previous technological shifts.

Nilekani’s analysis suggests that the vast quantities of tech professionals hired across India for specific functions are becoming nearly obsolete. He noted that the era of "writing code as a goal" is ending, as AI now handles routine development tasks with superior efficiency. This shift is driving a complete restructuring of talent within the IT industry, moving away from legacy systems toward AI-native architectures. Amazon Layoffs: Viral Video of India Office Party Sparks US Backlash and Claims of Offshoring Amid 16,000 Global Job Cuts.

Infosys Chairman Nandan Nilekani Predicts Rise of 170 Million AI-Powered Opportunities

While 90 million roles face displacement, Nilekani predicted that the AI transition will simultaneously create at least 170 million new positions worldwide. The focus is shifting toward "agentic" systems and "non-deterministic" environments where outcomes vary based on complex inputs. Engineers previously focused on front-end development, QA testing, and IT support are being urged to pivot toward these emerging specialisations to remain relevant in the global economy.

5 Emerging Tech Roles Redefining the Industry

According to market data from LinkedIn and the Stanford AI Index Report 2025, capital is flowing aggressively into five specific AI roles:

• AI Engineers: Tasked with building and scaling Large Language Models (LLMs) to enhance enterprise workflow.
• AI Forensic Analysts: Experts who use machine learning to monitor LLMs for bias and investigate digital evidence from cyber incidents.
• Forward-Deployed Engineers: Field-based professionals who work directly with clients, such as hospitals or banks, to integrate custom AI solutions.
• Agentic Workflow Architects: Designers of autonomous "AI Workers" capable of managing entire business processes like supply chain tracking.
• Data Annotators: Professionals responsible for cleaning and labelling data; a role now requiring domain-specific expertise in fields like medicine or law.

India Leads Global AI Hiring and Skill Penetration

Data reveals that India has already positioned itself as a global hub for this transformation. The Stanford AI Index Report 2025 highlights that India recorded a 33.4 per cent year-over-year rise in AI hiring, the highest globally. Furthermore, the relative penetration of AI skills in India is 2.5 times greater than the global average. This trend is most visible in southern technology corridors, with Bengaluru and Hyderabad leading the nation’s AI job listings. Whirlpool Layoffs: Appliance Giant To Cut 341 Jobs at Iowa Refrigerator Plant as Part of Modernisation Drive.

LinkedIn’s 2026 "Jobs on the Rise" report corroborates this shift, with Prompt Engineer ranking as the fastest-growing job in India, followed by AI Engineer and Manager of Artificial Intelligence. Employers are now prioritising "hybrid skills" that blend technical AI fluency with human capabilities like adaptability and problem-solving. As companies spend nearly 70 per cent of their budgets modernising legacy systems for AI readiness, the demand for traditional tech roles continues to contract in favour of these new-age specialities.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 20, 2026 08:44 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).