India’s largest IT services exporter, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), has announced an ambitious plan to provide training in Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) skills to its extensive workforce of over 5 lakh software engineers. Recognizing Gen AI as an emerging business opportunity, TCS aims to equip its staff with the necessary skills to navigate the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence.
TCS’s recently established ‘AI.Cloud’ unit, led by Siva Ganesan, shared insights into the company’s proactive approach to Gen AI. Ganesan acknowledged that Gen AI is currently in its “early days” with smaller use cases, emphasizing the need for a wait-and-watch strategy to witness the unfolding transformation. TCS has been actively engaged in 250 generative AI-powered projects, leveraging the intelligence derived from Gen AI to enhance its ongoing client work.
As the demand for AI offerings is expected to rise in the future, TCS is in investment mode, focusing on preparing its workforce and establishing strategic partnerships. While refraining from specifying a targeted timeframe for completing the staff training on Gen AI skillsets, Ganesan highlighted the company’s confidence in creating one of the world’s largest AI-ready workforces.
TCS’s Chief Technology Officer, Harrick Vin, expressed confidence in the company’s ability to build a formidable AI-ready workforce. Ganesan emphasized that the skills imparted also include non-tech areas aligned with the broader organizational goals. When addressing concerns about profitability and potential compromises due to readily available tools like Chat GPT, Ganesan emphasized the complexity and rigor required in executing Gen AI solutions, underlining the importance of security, confidentiality, and meticulous system architecture.
