“AI Won’t Take Jobs, It Will Redefine Them”: Microsoft India Head on the Future of Work
Sun Dec 21 2025
Artificial intelligence will not eliminate jobs—but it will fundamentally reshape how work is structured, according to Puneet Chandok, President of Microsoft India and South Asia. Speaking at the Microsoft AI Tour, Chandok addressed growing concerns around automation and job displacement, offering a more nuanced—and arguably more urgent—perspective on the future of careers.
According to him, the biggest risk in the AI era is not automation, but the refusal to continuously learn.
“AI Will Not Steal Jobs. It Will Unbundle Them.”
Chandok pushed back against the popular narrative that AI will simply replace humans.
“AI will not steal jobs. It will dissect jobs. It will unbundle jobs.”
Rather than entire roles disappearing overnight, Chandok explained that AI will break jobs into smaller, task-based components, some of which will be automated or augmented by AI. Human roles will evolve to focus on judgment, creativity, coordination, and decision-making—while repetitive or narrowly defined tasks are increasingly handled by machines.
The implication is clear: jobs aren’t vanishing, but job descriptions are.
The End of the Traditional Career Model
One of Chandok’s most striking observations was about the collapse of the traditional, industrial-age career path.
“You and I are the last generation to have stable, long-term careers.”
For decades, professionals could rely on a single degree or skill set to sustain an entire career. That model, Chandok argued, is rapidly becoming obsolete.
The future belongs to portfolio careers, where individuals continuously combine and recombine skills, roles, and experiences. Instead of linear progressions, careers will look more modular, fluid, and adaptive—much like the AI systems shaping them.
Learning Is No Longer Optional—It’s Survival
Chandok repeatedly returned to one central theme: learning.
“The real pink slip in the AI era is refusal to learn.”
He described modern professionals as being in a constant race to stay relevant. In this environment, stagnation—not AI—is the real threat.
Using a metaphor rooted in everyday Indian life, Chandok compared learning to oxygen:
Just as people in Delhi deeply understand the value of clean air, professionals in the AI era must recognise that continuous learning is essential for survival, not advancement alone.
AI Models Are Commoditising—Data Is the Moat
The event also featured insights from Satya Nadella, Chairman and CEO of Microsoft, who zoomed out to discuss the broader AI landscape.
Nadella noted that while AI models are rapidly becoming commoditised, data remains the most strategic differentiator. The real competitive advantage lies not in having an AI model, but in:
- Owning high-quality, domain-specific data
- Applying it contextually within AI systems
- Translating AI outputs into real-world outcomes
In short: models are tools, data is leverage.
AI in Action Across India
Nadella highlighted several real-world examples of AI deployment in India, showcasing how AI is already reshaping work and governance.
One notable initiative involves a collaboration with the Maharashtra government, where Microsoft’s AI tools are being used to accelerate cybercrime investigations in Nagpur. The system has significantly reduced turnaround times and is already live across multiple police stations, with plans for statewide expansion.
Microsoft is also working with major Indian enterprises across manufacturing, banking, and IT services, reflecting how AI adoption is moving from experimentation to core operations.
A Fundamental Shift in How We Think About Work
Taken together, the messages from Microsoft’s leadership point to a profound shift:
- Careers will be defined less by job titles and more by skills and adaptability
- Roles will be continuously reshaped by AI augmentation
- Learning, unlearning, and relearning will become lifelong imperatives
AI, in this view, is not the enemy of human work—it is a force that reshapes it, placing greater responsibility on individuals to evolve alongside technology.
Final Thoughts
The future of work won’t be decided by whether AI replaces humans—but by whether humans are willing to continuously reinvent themselves.
As AI becomes embedded across industries, the most valuable career asset may no longer be experience or tenure, but the ability to learn fast, adapt faster, and stay curious.
In the AI era, relevance is not granted. It is earned—again and again.
Sun Dec 21 2025
