It is now beyond doubt that AI is transforming workplaces. AI is freeing up time for creativity, bold thinking and work that truly matters. Yet, as industries evolve, employees must proactively reinvent themselves to stay ahead.
Success in this new era hinges on building AI literacy, understanding real-world applications and upskilling in emerging areas such as prompt engineering, AI quality assurance and data analytics
Moreover, data from labour market analytics firm Lightcast shows that the market is already rewarding the combination of technical and human skills needed to succeed in the AI-powered workforce.
Roles requiring high-end AI skills pay nearly $18,000 more than similar positions without them. This demand has spread beyond IT. Since 2022, non-tech sectors have seen an 800% rise in generative AI roles, Lightcast’s data revealed.
At Cypher 2025, Malai Lakshmanan, Head of Engineering at LinkedIn India, shared his insights on preparing for an AI-driven future, emphasising the need for human-centric skills, leadership and a culture of continuous learning.
“AI is not science fiction anymore, unless you were living under a rock. AI is everywhere, and it’s actually starting to reshape the way we work and how we live. Do we feel we’re ready for this?” he stated.
The Skills Imperative
Lakshmanan mentioned that LinkedIn’s Economic Graph reveals that 36% of global job skills have changed in less than a decade, with projections suggesting 70% of skills will change by 2030. This is indicative of the new opportunities AI will create.
“Seventy per cent of your job is going to change in the next 15 years. Yet, the brighter side is that 170 million jobs are going to be created,” he added. Lakshmanan emphasised that problem-solving, curiosity and critical thinking are enduring skills. Those skills will remain consistent irrespective of the technology revolution.
While degrees certainly matter, skills are going to be the new currency.
He highlighted that alongside technical AI skills, human-centric abilities—such as empathy, communication, collaboration, and creative problem-solving—remain crucial. He mentioned that even as technical skills evolve rapidly, human skills continue to be relevant. “Empathy, collaboration, and communication are more important than ever in an AI-augmented workplace.”
Lakshmanan drew parallels between AI adoption today and the electricity revolution of the late 1800s. Electricity was a proven source of power in the 1880s, but it took 40 years before it was widely adopted. Unlike electricity, AI adoption is happening at breakneck speed.
“Zero to 100 million users for ChatGPT took only a couple of months, compared to several decades for electricity. And, for the first time, the world is in revolution at the same time,” he added.
India’s Moment
India’s workforce shows remarkable enthusiasm for AI. Four out of five professionals want to learn AI skills, and Indian learners spend 50% more time on LinkedIn Learning than global peers, Lakshmanan revealed.
Furthermore, the surge of AI agents is not only reshaping industries but also redefining job titles. Much like cloud computing gave birth to DevOps, the age of agentic AI is giving rise to new specialisations such as agent architects, agent orchestrators, and forward-deployed engineers.
While some view these titles as rebranded extensions of existing roles, some argue they are distinct responses to the structural gaps in AI adoption.
However, Lakshmanan said, “We shouldn’t look at AI with fear but with the ability to leapfrog. Our demographic dividend, combined with our startup ecosystem and digital infrastructure, sets us up for a leap.”
India’s digital public infrastructure, from mobile-first banking to payments ecosystems, positions the nation to lead rather than follow in this revolution. He advocated building for speed over scale during early AI adoption and empowering teams to become AI-native.
In this regard, the path to upskilling isn’t without hurdles. A staggering 79% of employers report difficulties in finding the AI talent they need, while 91% are clueless about how to implement an AI workforce training program, as per an AWS blog post.
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