India’s largest IT services company, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), is encouraging employees to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) without fear, even if doing so disrupts traditional revenue streams. The company’s leadership believes that embracing AI proactively will give new opportunities for both employees and clients.
“We are not afraid this technology will take away our livelihood. We believe it is going to open up more [opportunities], so you enjoy the benefits the more you do and not by resisting the change,” said K Krithivasan, CEO and managing director of TCS. Speaking at the 34th Nasscom Technology Leadership Forum in Mumbai, he urged employees, referred to internally as associates, to recommend AI-driven solutions to clients, even if it results in cannibalising existing business.
Building AI Fluency From Junior Staff To Senior Leaders
TCS aims to become the world’s largest AI-led technology services company, a goal the company believes requires widespread AI fluency across all levels of the organisation. Krithivasan stressed that employees should have the freedom to experiment with AI. “Creating AI fluency, ensuring that our associates are not scared of this technology. All our associates are given sufficient access for them to play around with it,” he said.
Senior management, Krithivasan noted, must also lead by example. “The most important point is how do you train the senior management. What we find is our associates at junior level are more comfortable and proficient in technology. As people go to senior level, they hear a lot of technology but they do not dirty their hands. We are insisting that every senior folk has to build something.”
Encouraging Learning Without Direct Incentives
When asked about motivating employees to adopt AI, Krithivasan explained that formal incentives aren’t necessary. “We don’t have to really incentivise because everybody wants to learn this tech. We need to tell them that one, I am giving them enough opportunity to learn, two I am encouraging them to ensure that the solution you provide to your customer is AI first, as I said, even if it means that we are cannibalising the delivery. We are helping them to be staying correct in this new world,” he said.
