TCS not afraid of AI, fine with revenue cannibalisation as well: CEO Krithivasan

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is “not afraid” of artificial intelligence, and is not worried about potential “cannibalisation” that AI deployment would entail, said K. Kirthivasan, MD and CEO of the country’s largest IT company.

The top boss of TCS said that senior level employees are slower in building AI-based solutions compared with the “proficient” younger staff. “We encourage our associates to go out (to the customers and use AI)… even if it means cannibalising our revenues,” Mr. Krithivasan said.

TCS was “insisting” that each of its over six lakh staffers update themselves with AI, Mr. Krithivasan said, adding that it had no fears that the company was taking away livelihood.

Mr. Krithivasan said that there was motivation to learn new AI skills but as they approach higher designations, they tend to read a lot but not do anything.

It is not about just giving a few prompts to a generational AI platform like ChatGPT, he said, adding that staffers have to get their hands dirty and build solutions using the AI tools.