‘Will prove AI doesn’t eat jobs, creates new opportunities’: Mukesh Ambani at AI Impact Summit

Artificial intelligence (AI) is sweeping all sectors of the economy and segments of society, with experts speculating about its impact on the workforce. Will AI take away jobs or herald a new era of employment? This question is being intently debated across the world.

Top Indian industrialist Mukesh Ambani told a gathering at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi that AI would not take away jobs. He sounded a positive note on AI-triggered avenues.

Addressing the AI Impact Summit on Thursday, Reliance Industries chairman and managing director Mukesh Ambani laid out an expansive vision of transformative force that can drive prosperity, inclusion and global cooperation.

“Artificial Intelligence is not just another technology,” Ambani said. “For the first time, humans are creating human-like systems that can learn, speak, analyse, move and produce autonomously. AI is the mantra that powers every yantra — every machine and system — to work faster, better and smarter.”

More from India

He described AI as a modern-day Akshay Patra, drawing from the Mahabharat. “I see AI as a modern-day Akshay Patra, the legendary vessel that provided endless nourishment to all. Likewise, AI offers limitless augmentation in knowledge, efficiency and productivity. We are only at the dawn of this era. The best of AI is yet to come.”

He also acknowledged Prime Minister Narendra Modi  as the guiding force behind the summit, calling him the “guide and philosopher leader” of the Summit.

AI and jobs 

Addressing concerns about automation replacing workers, Ambani struck a confident note.

“We will prove that AI does not take away jobs. Rather, it will create new high-skill work opportunities,” he said, adding that India has the talent base to lead this transition.

Jio’s AI push 

Ambani said Reliance’s telecom arm is already embedding AI into everyday services.

“Jio connected India to the internet era. Jio will now connect India with the intelligence era. We will deliver intelligence to every citizen, every sector of the economy and every facet of social development and service of government," he said. 

He highlighted AI-led education initiatives, including Jio Shikshak and adaptive AI-based teaching assistance, aimed at improving learning outcomes and widening access.

AI is a moment of choice for the world

Ambani emphasised that AI is the need of the hour and the self-choice of the world. 

“Today, the world is debating a profound question — will AI concentrate power in the hands of a few, or will it democratise opportunity for all? Do we act as isolated nations, or as a united global family?,” he asked. 

He warned against a future where “AI is scarce and expensive, compute is concentrated, data is controlled and capability is locked behind barriers of capital and geography,” saying such a path would deepen inequality across nations and generations.

Ambani expressed his confidence that India is poised to emerge as a global AI leader . “We are only at the dawn of this era. The best of AI is yet to come,” he said.