You’d have to be living under a rock not to have heard about the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), which has taken the tech world by storm. It all began with the release of ChatGPT in November 2022—the first large language model to go mainstream at the consumer level. Since then, many similar models have emerged, along with a proliferation of AI-powered tools—coding assistants, video and audio generators, and more. In less than three years since ChatGPT’s release, AI has become the central focus in tech and consulting firms—whether it’s developing AI tools or implementing them to boost productivity across industries.
Globally, hundreds of billions of dollars have already been invested in AI research and development. These funds are powering advanced chips to handle AI’s intense computational demands, building massive data centers, and attracting top-tier talent to push the boundaries of what AI can do. Just recently, Meta—the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp—offered salaries exceeding $100 million to hire leading AI experts. It’s estimated that nearly every major business on Earth, whether in tech or not, will integrate AI into their strategy within the next decade. That means AI-related spending could soon cross into the trillions.
The AI hype is, frankly, staggering. Google CEO Sundar Pichai has predicted that AI will be more transformative than the internet itself—and other tech leaders agree.
And yet, most of this action is happening outside India. As usual, India seems poised to import rather than innovate. There are several reasons for this: a deep-rooted disregard for modern science, a cultural obsession with glorifying the past to the point that it excuses us from aspiring to greatness in the future, and a corporate environment more focused on managing protectionism and regulations than fostering innovation. Our national priorities are often dictated by what’s dramatic and entertaining rather than what’s vital for the future.
In contrast, the U.S. and China are leading the AI race. Even Europe is scrambling to stay relevant. There’s a massive first-mover advantage in AI—those who build the foundational models that power future AI tools will maintain a lasting edge.
Still, AI will inevitably come to India. We’ll mostly consume AI products developed elsewhere, but there will be opportunities. As AI gets embedded in every major business—including those in India—new roles will open up. Airlines? AI can handle ticketing and customer service more efficiently. Hospitals? AI can optimize resource allocation. Banks? AI can reduce the need for human interaction. Those who align themselves with this transition will benefit tremendously. For India’s youth, this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity—if they prepare wisely.
However, there’s a real danger that India’s young people will miss this bus. Many don’t fully understand AI or its implications. Sure, ChatGPT is widely used—to cheat on assignments or complete term papers with minimal effort. Those who do so may feel clever for outsourcing the work, but they’re not actually learning anything. In fact, they’re letting their intellectual muscles waste away. If AI does your assignments, you never learn how to think critically, structure an argument, or express yourself in writing.
India’s youth are also deeply addicted to passive phone use. What seems like harmless entertainment is, in reality, a productivity crisis. Millions spend six to eight hours a day mindlessly scrolling through reels and short videos. This numbs the brain, diminishes attention spans, and stifles creativity. Read a book? Never. Why bother, they say, when you can just watch a video? But would you trust a doctor who never read a medical book and only watched YouTube videos? No? Then why apply that logic to your own development?
The sad truth is that many young Indians can’t read or write well anymore. As a result, they can’t reason or create effectively. So, what roles are left for them? Mostly low-skill, repetitive jobs: clerks, delivery personnel, call center operators, and tasks like account opening or KYC processing. These don’t require much intellect—and India’s youth are doing them today.
But here’s the problem: AI will obliterate these very jobs. These low-end, redundant roles—where India has built a strange expertise (ever seen lift operators who spend all day pressing buttons?)—will disappear. AI will either take over these tasks entirely or make them so efficient that one person can replace five. The result: mass job losses.
You might argue, “What about physical labor?” True—AI can’t yet fold clothes or deliver food on bikes. But even that may change soon. Enter robotics. It may sound like science fiction, but AI-powered robots are on the horizon—likely within five years. These machines will work tirelessly, with some intelligence and no complaints. Labor-intensive jobs aren’t safe either. Of course, Indian labor is cheap, and early robots may be too expensive to compete. But is that really the edge we want—that we’re cheaper than machines?
India needs to step up on AI. Yes, we had a glorious past, and yes, colonizers disrupted that. But in 2025, none of that matters. If we don’t embrace modern science and technology, and if our youth don’t actively use the most powerful organ they have—the brain—we risk becoming a permanently blue-collar nation. Our only competitive advantage will be cheap labor, and even that could vanish.
If you are a young person in India – read, write, become aware of the latest developments in AI. Work and study hard, and get your intellect and reasoning ability to a higher level. The world is changing. If you keep watching cricket, reels and shorts and think that’s so cool and gen Z and oldies just don’t get it on how to have fun – the real world is waiting to give you one tight slap when you approach your career. Sorry if this sounds harsh but it is coming out of a place of caring. You have one life – don’t waste it.