Wipro's top executive says AI will rule for next 20 years, these IT skills will matter most

By Admin

25 Feb, 2026

Artificial Intelligence is no longer just a buzzword in the global technology landscape. According to Hari Shetty, Chief Strategist and Technology Officer at Wipro Limited, AI will dominate the technology conversation for the next 20 years   and rather than shrinking India’s IT industry, it will expand opportunities significantly.

At a time when investors are worried that automation could reduce the need for large outsourcing teams, Shetty believes these fears are misplaced. Instead of replacing engineers, AI is expected to transform the kind of work IT companies handle and create new, high-value roles.

AI Anxiety vs AI Opportunity

India’s $283 billion IT services industry has recently faced pressure as global investors question whether AI-driven automation could reduce demand for human engineers. If machines can write code, migrate systems, and integrate applications faster than humans, will companies still need thousands of IT professionals?

Shetty’s answer is clear: Yes   and possibly even more.

“When you look at the entire gamut of things that's possible, it really appears like a large opportunity for us,” he said. According to him, what most people see today is only surface-level task automation.

From Task Automation to Autonomous Enterprises

Shetty emphasized that the current use of AI largely focuses on automating repetitive tasks. However, the real transformation lies in what he calls the “autonomous enterprise.”

“What you're seeing today is basically task automation. What we are really talking about is autonomous enterprise, which is a completely different ball game that will require IT services companies to work deeply with clients to actually convert them,” he explained.

In simple terms, IT firms will move beyond executing technical instructions. They will become strategic partners, deeply involved in redesigning how businesses operate using AI-driven systems.

AI: The Biggest Technological Shift Since Electricity and the Internet

Shetty described AI as “probably the single biggest opportunity” the industry has seen   comparing it to groundbreaking innovations like electricity and the internet.

While much of the debate around AI focuses on job losses, he believes the conversation misses the bigger picture: AI will fundamentally change the nature of enterprise work, not eliminate it.

According to estimates cited from the World Economic Forum, AI could generate around 170 million jobs globally, even as approximately 92 million roles may disappear. The net impact suggests transformation rather than destruction.

These IT Skills Will Matter Most in the AI Era

As AI adoption grows, the most valuable professionals will not just be programmers   they will be AI-literate engineers.

Shetty highlighted several key skill areas that will define the future:

1. Model Training

Engineers who understand how to train, fine-tune, and deploy AI models will be in high demand.

2. Data Curation

Clean, structured, and ethically sourced data is the backbone of AI systems. Professionals skilled in data preparation and governance will become essential.

3. Responsible AI Practices

Ethical AI development, bias detection, compliance, and governance will play a critical role in enterprise adoption.

4. AI-Integrated Engineering

The ability to combine domain expertise with AI tools will differentiate engineers in the coming years.

“The primary differentiation here is people who know AI and people who do not know AI,” Shetty said.

Hiring Continues: AI Will Not Collapse the Staffing Pyramid

Contrary to predictions that automation will hollow out entry-level roles, Wipro continues to hire young engineers who are comfortable using AI tools.

Shetty compared the current AI shift to the early days of cloud computing. Initially, there were similar concerns about job losses. Instead, cloud adoption expanded IT workloads and created new specializations.

AI, he argues, will follow a similar path.

Clients Now Want Strategic AI Partners

Enterprise clients are no longer looking for vendors who simply complete projects. They want long-term partners who understand their internal workflows and can guide them toward autonomous enterprise models.

This shift means IT services firms will remain deeply embedded in client decision-making for years to come.

“We clearly think AI is a dominant force, at least for the next decade to two decades, in terms of the kind of business that it will drive,” Shetty said.

Not Everyone Is Completely Relaxed

However, not all industry leaders share the same level of optimism.

Vishal Sikka, Founder and CEO of Vianai Systems and former CEO of Infosys, has warned that AI disruption is already visible in enterprise projects.

“If you look at the application of generative AI to knowledge work, this disruption is real. It is here,” Sikka said.

He pointed out that generative AI is transforming tasks such as:

• Code migration
  
  

• System integration
  
  

• Application connectivity
  
  

These are core services in enterprise IT.

Sikka claims teams effectively using generative AI are seeing 20x to 30x productivity gains. While this improves efficiency, it also raises questions about project timelines, pricing, and workforce size.

“If a client expects that you now do this project dramatically faster or cheaper or with less people then that would impact the here and now,” he explained. Some clients are even asking for what has been informally called an “AI discount.”

Market Reaction and Investor Concerns

These uncertainties have contributed to a selloff in Indian IT stocks, following a global decline in software shares. Concerns intensified after AI advancements such as automation plug-ins introduced by Google-owned Anthropic demonstrated how multiple software functions could be automated.

The short-term volatility reflects uncertainty. However, long-term industry leaders like Shetty see AI as a multi-decade transformation   not a temporary disruption.

Conclusion: AI Will Redefine, Not Replace Indian IT

The AI revolution is not about fewer jobs   it is about different jobs.

The real divide will not be between companies that use AI and those that do not. It will be between professionals who understand AI deeply and those who do not.

For India’s IT sector, the message is clear:

• Learn AI tools
  
  

• Understand enterprise transformation
  
  

• Build skills in model training, data governance, and responsible AI
  
  

• Focus on becoming strategic technology partners
  
  

As AI moves from task automation to autonomous enterprises, IT services companies that adapt quickly will not just survive   they will lead the next phase of global digital transformation.