In an exclusive interview with CNBC-TV18, Gummadi highlighted that while the precise balance between human employees and AI-driven agents is still developing, “it is clear that we will have a combination of physical staff and an agentic workforce.”
Unlike prior technological advancements, AI and generative AI are now democratized, making them accessible and trainable at relatively low costs. Gummadi noted, “The training process hasn’t been overly challenging. We’re collaborating with academic institutions to refine the curriculum for our workforce, and we’re also educating our employees.”
Cognizant has teamed up with Google to train 200,000 employees in AI technologies, showcasing the magnitude of their reskilling initiatives.
Babak Hodjat, CTO of AI at Cognizant, provided insights into the company’s internal AI training strategies.
Reflecting on his initial training sessions, he admitted, “The first attempt was somewhat chaotic—because we went too technical. We started discussing how AI functions, and, frankly, eyes glazed over.”
Hodjat emphasized the need to simplify AI training and alleviate anxieties surrounding new technology: “It’s truly about moving past your fears and simplifying concepts. It’s about articulating your intent and allowing the AI to generate solutions, followed by an iterative process of refinement.”
While AI tools have become more user-friendly than many anticipate, Hodjat warned that “it’s deceptively challenging, as you must verify everything.”
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(Edited by : Ajay Vaishnav)
