Enterprise AI to take several years to unfold, working on 225 Gen AI programme: Nilekani

Unlike AI uses for consumers, the next generation technology for enterprises will unfold over several years and the biggest challenge is to unleash AI for next wave of productivity for businesses, Infosyschairman Nandan M Nilekani said on Wednesday.

While speaking at the 43rd annual general meeting (AGM) of Infosys, Nilekani said that Infosys has created 23 AI industry blueprints to solve industry-specific challenges and is working on over 225 generative AI programmes for clients.

"World is at very early stage of AI development. Unlike consumer AI which will roll out quickly...enterprise AI will take several years to unfold. Infosys is well positioned for that.

"The pace at which everything around us is evolving is dizzying. A big challenge of our time is to unleash AI for the next wave of productivity for enterprises. We have had a head start on that journey and are keen to share the learning and value with our clients," Nilekani said.

Nilekani said the initial AI doomerism has quietened down and people have accepted that, like any other general-purpose technology--electricity, nuclear energy, the internet etc, gen AI (generative artificial intelligence) has enormous potential for good when advanced within the guardrails of responsibility.

"We have created 23 AI industry blueprints to solve industry-specific challenges. We are currently working on over 225 generative AI programmes for our clients. Key to executing complex transformation is talent," Nilekani said.

He said that while there are concerns around AI, there is no global initiative on responsible AI.

Nilekani said that Infosys, however, is committed towards becoming responsible and take gaurdrails seriously at the time of software development.

Infosys claims to have trained 2.5 lakh employees in the area of generative AI.

Nilekani said that the rise of powerful open-source AI models has also accelerated the deployment of AI to solve tough business and societal challenges.

"As we move into more use cases, a thousand flowers will bloom," he said. Nilekani said the manifestations of consumer AI will make life easier and more productive for millions of people while enterprise AI, on the other hand, is a lot more complex.

"It (enterprise AI) will require a root and branch surgery of the multi-generation technology that lies within firms. The challenge will also be to orchestrate the extensive data inside the corporation in a way that it is consumable by AI. The quality of output will need to be managed to ensure factual responses and insights with no hallucinations," he said.

Shareholders during the AGM asked about impact of AI on company's employee, margin, demanded bonus, asked for splitting of shares, push for sustainability drive etc.

On impact of Gen AI on jobs in the IT sector, Nilekani said that Gen AI has enormous potential to solve business and societal challenge.

"We expect our productivity to go up with the use of tools. While we will have productivity going up, there will be lot more opportunity AI-led transformation in the world and I believe we are well placed to take advantage of that," Nilekani said.

He said that AI will help in reducing cost and help in growth. On a shareholder's question over compensation increase for employees, Infosys CEO and MD Salil Parekh said the company has completed compensation plan for financial year 2024 and is now working on plan for the next year.

He said that the company is focussing emerging area of Gen AI, cloud services, engineering services, SAP, HANA, growth in data, large deal coming from efficiency, cost saving etc. for growth in the next five years.