Nandan Nilekani said AI will transform technology careers, arguing that writing code will no longer be the central objective in the industry.
The future of technology work may not revolve around typing code.
Nandan Nilekani, co-founder of Infosys, suggested that Artificial intelligence tools will fundamentally reshape how software is built, shifting the emphasis from manual coding to problem definition and system orchestration.
As generative coding assistants improve, routine programming tasks are increasingly automated.
Coding becomes orchestration
Developers may focus on:
- Designing system architecture
- Validating Artificial intelligence -generated code
- Ensuring security compliance
- Translating business needs into structured prompts
AI shifts value from syntax mastery to conceptual clarity.
Workforce transformation
Technology education systems may need to adapt curricula toward:
- AI literacy
- Critical thinking
- Product management skills
Automation does not eliminate demand — it reallocates skill emphasis.
India’s services sector impact
Given India’s large pool of software engineers, Nilekani’s remarks carry macroeconomic implications.
Upskilling at scale will determine whether artificial intelligence enhances competitiveness or compresses employment.
A paradigm shift
AI coding assistants are unlikely to eliminate developers entirely.
But they may redefine the baseline skillset required.
Nilekani’s framing reflects a broader consensus: the goal is no longer writing every line of code — it is building intelligent systems efficiently.
The future tech workforce may be smaller in manual coding hours — but larger in strategic oversight.
