Infosys Chairman Nandan Nilekani Warns 90 Million IT Jobs At Risk Due To AI Revolution

AI artificial intelligence wave is no longer just a distant sci-fi concept or a simple technological upgrade—it is a massive structural tsunami. Infosys Co-founder and Chairman Nandan Nilekani recently delivered a stark reality check to the global technology workforce, warning that a staggering 90 million traditional jobs are currently at risk of being wiped out by AI.

Speaking at the Infosys AI Investor Day 2026, the tech veteran made it crystal clear: the era of getting hired simply to write basic code is officially coming to an end. However, before techies hit the panic button, Nilekani also offered a massive silver lining that completely changes the narrative.

Vanishing IT Roles: 90 Million Jobs at Risk: During his address, Nilekani highlighted that AI's rapid integration is fundamentally reshaping how enterprises operate. Unlike the shift to mobile or cloud computing, which merely layered new tech over old systems, AI demands a complete "root-and-branch" transformation.

Because AI tools and intelligent systems are now highly capable of handling routine tasks, Nilekani pointed out four traditional IT roles that are rapidly declining in relevance:

• Front-End Web Developers: AI can now generate user interfaces in mere seconds.
• QA Testers: Automated AI testing catches software bugs before a human even starts.
• IT Support Specialists: Advanced chatbots and self-healing networks are resolving routine fixes.
• Blockchain Developers: Traditional, niche blockchain roles are being absorbed by broader AI-driven platforms.

 Silver Lining: 170 Million New Opportunities

While the headline number of 90 million lost jobs sounds terrifying, Nilekani swiftly debunked the "AI doom" theory. He projected that this technological transition will actually give birth to 170 million brand-new roles globally.

"Talent will have to deal with the world where writing code will not be the goal; it will be actually making AI work," Nilekani emphasized.

As the industry pivots, the hottest tech jobs of the near future will include:

• AI Engineers: Professionals who build, deploy, and scale large language models (LLMs).
• AI Forensic Analysts: Digital detectives who debug biased or rogue AI systems.
• Forward-Deployed Engineers: Field experts who integrate AI directly into a client’s specific workflow.
• Data Annotators: The essential workers who clean and label the data that trains smart AI.

Nilekani’s warning is not a prediction of mass unemployment; it is an urgent call for "talent transformation." The jobs aren't disappearing; they are evolving. The biggest hurdle for massive IT corporations and individual developers alike will be dealing with outdated legacy systems and actively reskilling the existing workforce.

For the modern IT professional, the writing is on the wall: adapt to the AI-first world, or risk becoming obsolete.