Are Indian business leaders ready to use AI for talent development?
Despite the widespread discussion of AI in Indian industry forums, substantial gaps persist on the ground. Rajesh Verma, Senior Dean at Mittal School of Business, Lovely Professional University, highlights that 'many leaders still function more as consumers of AI solutions rather than creators of AI-driven value.To build future-ready talent pipelines, leaders must develop strategic AI fluency—including understanding AI models, ethical considerations, and productivity tools—and cascade this knowledge through structured training, academic partnerships, and cross-functional projects.' These programs should target not just tech teams but also HR, operations, and senior management to foster a holistic understanding of AI's potential in talent management.BRIDGING THE CAPABILITY GAPPhani Tangirala, MD & CEO of Expleo Solutions Limited, cites 'a broad awareness and eagerness to integrate AI, but also a noticeable capability gap due to legacy systems and complex business environments. The reality is compelling organisations to invest in upskilling beyond basic AI usage and collaborate more closely with AI specialists and academic institutions to foster AI literacy both technically and contextually.'Leadership readiness is not just about adopting AI tools but about fostering an ecosystem where technology, talent, and trust converge to create enterprise value. 'Building an AI-enabled workforce requires reimagining roles, redefining competencies, and scaling upskilling initiatives. The real challenge lies in shifting mindsets and execution from viewing AI as merely a tool to embracing it as a core driver of business and workforce strategy,' explains Ruchika Godha, COO, Advaiya.STRATEGIC IMPERATIVE FOR LEADERSHIPIndian business leaders are at the cusp of an AI-driven transformation in talent development but face significant challenges in AI fluency and strategic integration. While AI adoption is a top priority for nearly all business leaders, the gap between aspiration and preparedness remains wide. As John Kallelil, Founder and CEO of XED, notes, 'Indian business leaders aren't short on AI exposure—they're short on strategic fluency. While awareness is high, the ability to translate AI's potential into enterprise-wide transformation remains limited.'advertisementAI fluency must be cultivated across the C-suite and mid-level leaders to build a common language of AI. HR functions should be treated as AI labs, leveraging real-time data and behavioural insights to pilot AI in hiring, engagement, and learning. Importantly, leaders must move from proof of concept to proof of trust by co-creating guidelines with employees and transparently communicating AI's role in decision-making.This human-first, bold approach is crucial for India to capitalise on its demographic dividend and digital depth to create exponential talent capacity. Only by moving beyond basic AI usage to strategic leadership can Indian companies build agile, data-informed talent pipelines that secure their competitive edge in a rapidly evolving global landscape.- EndsTrending Reel
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