The future of engineering is intertwined with artificial intelligence (AI), according to Infosys CTO Rafee Tarafdar. As students prepare to enter a transformed workforce, Tarafdar emphasizes the importance of understanding and utilizing AI effectively.
His message, delivered at the Moneycontrol and CNBC-TV18 AI Alliance NCR Chapter in Gurugram, highlights a crucial distinction emerging in the AI-powered job market: consumers and creators of AI.
This distinction is particularly relevant as tech companies increasingly seek individuals with specialized skillsets. Infosys, for example, recently revamped its hiring model, focusing on off-campus recruitment to attract talent with niche expertise.
Becoming an Effective AI Consumer
For those without a software engineering background, Tarafdar suggests honing their skills as AI consumers. By mastering AI tools, these individuals can significantly enhance their productivity and value.
Imagine a customer service representative leveraging a chatbot to address routine inquiries, freeing them to tackle complex customer issues. This exemplifies the power of AI as a productivity booster.
Creating AI-Driven Solutions
For graduates with a strong engineering foundation, Tarafdar recommends channeling their skills towards creating AI solutions. This could involve:
- Fine-tuning existing AI models: Imagine customizing a large language model to generate marketing copy that perfectly reflects a brand’s unique voice.
- Developing new AI techniques: Pushing the boundaries of AI capabilities through innovative algorithms or improved efficiency of existing ones.
- Building AI-powered solutions: Integrating cutting-edge AI research into practical applications. For instance, a self-driving car might utilize a newly developed image recognition algorithm.
By focusing on creating these solutions, Tarafdar believes graduates will be highly sought-after in the industry. Companies will require both creators and consumers of AI to achieve optimal results.
Infosys Embraces AI
Tarafdar provided concrete examples of Infosys’ internal adoption of AI, particularly Generative AI (Gen AI). Over the past 18 months, the company has implemented numerous Gen AI solutions.
One such example is their fully Gen AI-powered learning platform. This platform utilizes large language models to create innovative learning techniques, like Socrative learning, which personalizes the learning experience through reasoning and adaptive examples.
Additionally, Infosys equips developers with various code assistance tools. They also leverage AI-powered sales assistants to help client-facing teams access vast amounts of information about Infosys’ past projects, putting decades of knowledge at their fingertips.
In conclusion, Tarafdar’s message to engineering students is clear: embrace AI. Whether you become a consumer or a creator, understanding and utilizing AI effectively will position you for success in the rapidly evolving job market.
