AI May Disrupt Entry-Level Jobs, Industry Must Revamp Internships: Rajeev Gowda

Bengaluru, Sept 19 : Former Rajya Sabha member Rajeev Gowda on Saturday warned that artificial intelligence could disrupt entry-level employment and called for an industry-led overhaul of the internship ecosystem to prepare India's young workforce for the AI and post-AI era.

Addressing the 4th BCIC Leadership Summit here, Gowda said businesses could not afford to "sit back and let things happen to us" as technology reshapes employment, stressing the need for greater industry participation in preparing young talent.

"We have to think about ways in which our pool of talent can be prepared for this AI and post-AI era," he said.

Gowda questioned the effectiveness of the Centre's Prime Minister's Internship Scheme, citing figures from its first round, in which 1.27 lakh internships were offered, but only 22 per cent were accepted, seven per cent of candidates joined and just 3,995 candidates eventually completed the internships.

He said the figures highlighted the need for businesses to create meaningful and structured internship programmes rather than treating internships merely as additions to resumes.

"Something is missing in this internship ecosystem," Gowda said, suggesting that companies should offer one- or two-month programmes with defined projects, mentorship and meaningful workplace exposure.

He said workplace exposure would become particularly important as artificial intelligence changes the nature of entry-level jobs.

"It's not just the technical skill, it's the judgment, the creativity, the human qualities which are going to be important," he said, adding that such qualities could be nurtured through exposure and experience in different professional settings.

Gowda said Bengaluru had benefited enormously from the software industry, which had employed lakhs of youngsters from across the country, but warned that any slowdown in hiring could have a significant impact on the city's economy.

He also called for greater private-sector participation in research and innovation, noting that India's overall research and development expenditure remained below one per cent of GDP.

"Research is about pushing the boundaries of knowledge," he said, urging companies to make research part of professional activity rather than leaving it largely to the government and public institutions.

Gowda said Bengaluru had a large pool of research talent but needed stronger connections between academia and industry to convert that talent into patents, products and innovation.

He said multinational research centres in Bengaluru were successfully tapping Indian talent, while domestic institutions needed to create better incentives and linkages to ensure that researchers could contribute more effectively to innovation.

Gowda said the Bengaluru Research and Innovation Network was aimed at mapping the city's research ecosystem and connecting industry with academia.

He also urged the business community to "pay forward" the opportunities created by Bengaluru's transformation by expanding access to career guidance, mentoring and professional networks for youngsters from less privileged backgrounds.

He said many students in Bengaluru still lacked awareness of career pathways despite living in a globally connected city.

"There are lakhs and lakhs of others who are not able to access even ideas about pathways in the future," he said, proposing career guidance programmes, competitions and mentoring initiatives involving professionals from BCIC member organisations.

Gowda also suggested setting up a small-business guidance unit within BCIC to provide entrepreneurs with assistance on starting, expanding and managing businesses, including through online material, podcasts and videos in multiple languages.

Recalling Bengaluru's transformation over the past five decades from a city dominated by public sector enterprises such as HMT, ITI, HAL and NAL into a globally competitive technology and entrepreneurial hub, Gowda said the city's success was the result of a wider ecosystem involving businesses, institutions, talent and public infrastructure.

He said the business community should now help extend those opportunities beyond the established corporate ecosystem.

Calling for greater attention to the "beyond Bengaluru" agenda, Gowda said the next phase of growth should not be confined to the city but should create opportunities across Karnataka.

He said leadership in the coming years would require businesses to look beyond immediate commercial objectives and focus on innovation, people, sustainability, resilience and the wider impact of their decisions.

"Success will increasingly depend not just on how fast we grow, but on how intelligently, responsibly and sustainably we grow," he said.

Gowda said the challenge for leaders was to balance short-term business priorities with long-term purpose and ensure that organisations were capable of adapting to technological, economic and social changes.