IIT Madras White Paper Highlights Potential Impact of AI on Entry-Level Jobs in India

A new white paper released by the Centre for Responsible AI (CeRAI) at IIT Madras suggests that artificial intelligence could significantly reshape entry-level jobs in India. Titled ‘How AI Is Reconfiguring Work in India’, the report examines how AI-driven automation affects individual tasks and responsibilities rather than simply eliminating entire occupations.

The study highlights specific sectors such as information technology, business process outsourcing (BPO), finance, and professional services. These industries heavily feature repetitive, process-oriented tasks at the junior level that are increasingly capable of being handled by artificial intelligence tools.

According to the findings, automating these routine functions could alter how young employees gain necessary professional experience and advance to senior roles. The report notes that junior positions have historically served as a form of apprenticeship, where performing low-value, repetitive duties helps workers build the judgement required for advanced responsibilities.

Because AI threatens to take over these foundational tasks, the paper suggests that companies may need to rethink their approach to training and workforce development. Employers will likely need to redesign entry-level roles to ensure that junior staff continue to acquire essential skills and professional judgement.

The IIT Madras report carefully distinguishes between automating specific tasks and eliminating jobs altogether. While AI is expected to take over certain duties, human workers will continue to manage responsibilities that require decision-making, handling unusual situations, and maintaining accountability for final outcomes.

Furthermore, the impact of AI will not be uniform across the board. The report notes that effects will vary by sector and organization, depending on the specific tasks involved, the technology accessible, and how businesses choose to implement it.

To address these shifts, the paper recommends that employers establish structured worker-transition pathways, which include targeted training and reskilling programs. It also calls for increased investment in India-specific AI and labour-market research to clearly identify which tasks are appropriate for automation and where human oversight remains critical.

Ultimately, the report argues that measuring AI's impact on employment goes beyond simply counting jobs created or lost. Changes in daily work responsibilities, career progression timelines, overall skill sets, and productivity must also be factored in as Indian companies continue to adopt new technologies.

"The findings from IIT Madras highlight an important operational transition for businesses and startups in India. As artificial intelligence takes over routine entry-level tasks, organizations must proactively rethink how they train junior talent. Companies cannot rely on traditional apprenticeship models anymore. Instead, founders and business leaders need to design structured reskilling pathways and early-stage mentorship programs to ensure that young professionals still develop the critical decision-making skills required for senior leadership roles." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes