Training the workforce in AI skills is becoming a crucial factor for India to maintain its position in the ever-growing global technology landscape.

Four leading Indian companies – Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys, HCLTech, and Wipro – are spearheading this effort. Their commitment to AI is central to India’s goal of making AI a driving force for socio-economic development in the digital age.

By the end of fiscal year 2024, TCS had reskilled over 300,000 employees in foundational AI and machine learning skills, including generative AI. This initiative, known as the “AI-ready” program, has helped employees apply AI to their daily work. Today, over 570,000 of TCS’s 600,000 employees are considered “AI-ready.”

Infosys has also been proactive, aiming to make its entire workforce “AI-aware.” The company’s training programs have reached over 270,000 employees, making up approximately 84% of its workforce. By the end of 2024, Infosys developers had written over 7 million lines of code using the AI-powered tool GitHub Copilot, significantly enhancing productivity and code quality.

A survey by Naukri.com, India’s largest recruitment platform, shows that about one-third of Indian tech professionals are undergoing formal AI training at work, with nearly 50% of employees with more than 10 years of experience considering generative AI (GenAI) a top priority. Surprisingly, only 18% of professionals mentioned layoffs as their top concern, indicating a shift in focus toward skills development.

Vietnam’s embrace of AI

Similar to India’s rapid AI upskilling, Vietnam is now beginning to embrace AI in its workforce. However, the real challenge in Vietnam lies not only in technical readiness but also in mindset readiness.

Prajith Nair, VP, Head of Learning & Innovation, and Head of FPT Software Academy at FPT Corporation, highlights that up to 70% of challenges in AI training stem from outdated mindsets and resistance to change. People often cling to legacy systems, and many are slow to adopt new technologies like AI.

Nair emphasizes that to truly benefit from AI, individuals must develop strong critical thinking skills. Unlike passive tools, AI is more like a thought-provoking colleague that requires engagement and prompting to provide valuable insights. “AI deployment requires a change management strategy, not just technical training,” Nair explains.

Prajith Nair believes that everyone should view AI as a thought-provoking colleague. Photo courtesy of Prajith

From a business perspective, 65% of Asia-Pacific business leaders believe GenAI improves performance, while 76% see an urgent need to reskill their staff, and 41% admit they haven’t started implementing GenAI, according to PwC’s 27th Annual Global CEO Survey.

PwC notes that the rapid evolution of GenAI, coupled with a lack of understanding about how to apply AI effectively, is a major challenge. This is a wake-up call for companies and workers who fail to invest in AI, as they risk falling behind in an increasingly tech-driven economy.

FPT has identified AI training for its employees as one of its most urgent priorities to enhance productivity and efficiency. In 2024, 98.8% of FPT employees received basic AI training, accumulating over 109,200 learning hours. FPT also launched the “AI for Everyone” initiative, requiring every employee to complete at least one AI course and apply AI tools to their daily work.

Over 10,000 FPT employees received certifications from NVIDIA’s AI program in 2024.

FPT aims to equip 500,000 people with AI skills by 2030.

FPT employees are trained with AI knowledge. Photo courtesy of FPT