AI Revolution and Human Value: Balancing Technology Advancement with Workforce Transformation

What connection exists between the late Sitaram Kesri, artificial intelligence, and global corporate layoffs? While seemingly unrelated, there's a fascinating parallel as Indians reflect on the Bihar leader who recently made headlines due to controversy over his removal as Congress party president. Before that dramatic exit, Kesri served for decades as the Congress treasurer, with his reputation encapsulated in a popular saying: "Na khata, na bahi, jo Kesri kahe, wahi sahi" (No account, no book. What Kesri says is right).

This adage emerged when financial records were maintained in red cloth-bound ledgers ('bahi'), and Kesri was the trusted individual who reportedly received donations in kerosene containers while tracking contributions without questions. From these physical ledgers to digital solutions developed by companies like Tally, Intuit, Oracle, and SAP, bookkeeping technology has evolved tremendously. Yet two constants remain: the fundamental concept of accounting and the essential nature of trust.

As AI and emerging technologies transform our world, it's prudent to recognize what remains unchanged—and understand your core capabilities within this shifting landscape.

Amazon recently led a significant wave of global workforce reductions, creating anxiety among technology professionals—from coders and software developers to engineers and marketing specialists. Meanwhile, Nvidia, the manufacturer of cutting-edge AI microchips powering data centers, reached a remarkable market capitalization of $5 trillion—approximately Rs 440 lakh crore, dwarfing India's most valuable company, Reliance Industries, valued at around Rs 20 lakh crore.

Simultaneously, OpenAI's Sam Altman announced his Microsoft-affiliated organization's commitment to developing 30 gigawatts of computing resources for $1.4 trillion.

These enormous financial investments in AI hardware infrastructure stand in stark contrast to widespread layoffs. Approximately 172,000 job cuts have been announced in America within the past month, including 14,000 positions at Amazon and 8,000 at Meta. AI-driven automation appears to be a significant factor behind these reductions. Previous months witnessed similar workforce contractions at Microsoft, Salesforce, and Google.

Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang recently made a noteworthy observation that skilled tradespeople like electricians and plumbers will experience increased demand as AI data centers continue expanding in size and quantity.

Whether this vision appears dystopian or utopian depends on your position within the AI revolution. However, as a seasoned technology observer, I believe both profit-driven growth projections and employment concerns may be exaggerated, as implementing revolutionary technology requires time, processes, and new skill development.

Economic expansion provides limited benefits if your capabilities don't align with market needs, but any boom offers opportunities for those willing to reinvent themselves by building upon existing skills while adapting to changing conditions. The transitional period presents the greatest challenge, which is where self-assessment and fundamental traits like learning willingness, collaborative ability, and humility become invaluable. Avoiding excessive debt and maintaining reasonable spending habits creates what I call a "transition cushion" that technology professionals need.

Beyond these considerations, there's reassurance in recognizing that AI itself requires various support systems. "Agentic AI," which employs intermediate technological components for efficient automation, demands diverse skills combining software expertise with AI-based code generation capabilities and industry-specific knowledge. Small language models function similarly to tourist interpreters, helping adapt comprehensive systems like OpenAI's GPT and Google's Gemini.

Additionally, basic economic principles of supply and demand remain relevant. When content creation becomes easier, consumption, utilization—and sometimes misuse—increases proportionally. As demand for AI solutions grows and new tool variations emerge (comparable to the proliferation of Instagram videos and Facebook posts), requirements for filtering, organizing, and securing these environments will expand. Cybersecurity importance intensifies with the rise of AI-enabled deepfakes. This resembles urban growth patterns—as population increases, both traffic enforcement and service establishments must expand accordingly.

We're approaching a period of chaotic technological expansion, with inevitable challenges along the way.

BR Chopra's 1957 Hindi film "Naya Daur" (New Age), starring Dilip Kumar, portrays an electric saw threatening traditional woodcutters' livelihoods at an old-fashioned mill. This narrative offers insights about technological introduction and resistance. Ironically, the term "film" itself sounds outdated in an era of digitally stored cinema watched through home broadband connections while large-screen theaters struggle to remain relevant.

Technology continually evolves, but those fearing change may find comfort in temporal factors. Futurist Roy Amara's eponymous law suggests people typically overestimate a new technology's short-term impact while underestimating its long-term effects. Consider that even today, certain villages worldwide remain without electricity, despite electrification beginning in the 1880s.

AI development incorporates key aspects of human behavior, trust dynamics, opportunities, and concerns—each creating roles that involve both facilitating progress and protecting people from technology-generated fears. Remember that railways produced not only tracks and carriages but also created positions for engine operators and crossing guards.

For the typical technology professional, success means rising above average by combining appropriate attitudes with core aptitudes—while maintaining reserves to navigate change. Trustworthiness, Sitaram Kesri's hallmark quality in the pre-computer era, remains an invaluable asset. After all, while AI lacks humanity, we possess it inherently.

(Madhavan Narayanan is a senior editor, writer and columnist with more than 30 years of experience, having worked for Reuters, The Economic Times, Business Standard, and Hindustan Times after starting out in the Times of India Group.)

Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author