AI-led disruption demands new edu model, says JA Chowdary
Says Telangana positioned as India’s global innovation powerhouse
image for illustrative purpose
Hyderabad: There is an urgent need to reimagine education and invest in large-scale reskilling initiatives to address AI-led job disruptions, J A Chowdary, Founder, International Startup Foundation, has said.
He was delivering the keynote address The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Telangana hosted its Annual IT Conclave 2025 in Hyderabad, centered around the theme “Navigating the Future of Technology: Innovation, Intelligence & Impact.”
He said, “We must reskill and reimagine education to secure India’s digital future,” he said, reflecting on India’s IT revolution and Hyderabad’s transformation into a technology powerhouse. He recounted how the creation of the single-window clearance system for Texas Instruments marked a turning point in India’s IT journey, leading to what he described as “a trillion-dollar IT economy.”
The event brought together eminent leaders from government, industry, and academia to deliberate on how innovation-driven policies and collaborative ecosystems can shape India’s digital transformation and secure its technological future.
R Sivaprasad Reddy, Chairman, CII Telangana and Managing Director, Rachamallu Forgings Ltd, emphasized Telangana’s leadership in India’s digital growth story. Calling for a mindset shift, he said, “We should now call them Global Innovation Centers, as innovation is increasingly driven from India.” Citing projections that India will host 2,400 Global Capability Centers (GCCs) employing 4.5 million people by 2030, Reddy highlighted the immense opportunities for Telangana. He credited government initiatives like T-Hub and T-Works for fostering an enabling environment where academia, industry, and policymakers can collaborate to nurture innovation and talent.
Echoing the sentiment, Sanjeev Deshpande, Convenor, CII Telangana IT, DT & Startups Panel, and Global Chief Executive, N Labs AI Pvt Ltd, said, “Innovation is a mindset, but it must translate into tangible impact through a strong ecosystem of academia, industry, and government.” Stressing the need for robust AI infrastructure and funding, he urged companies to focus not only on serving global clients but also on creating homegrown solutions for Telangana and India.
Bhupendra Chopra, CEO, Kanerika Inc, highlighted the rapid evolution of AI and data ecosystems. “AI is changing by the hour — it’sno longer about cost, but about value creation and capability,” he said. He underlined the importance of data readiness as a prerequisite for AI transformation and envisioned Telangana emerging as “the sovereign AI hub of the Asia-Pacific region.”
M V Reddy, Co-Convenor, CII Telangana IT, DT & Startups Panel, and Senior Vice President, Jio Platforms, credited the state’s visionary leadership for shaping a robust innovation ecosystem. “Policy will act as a catalyst to build a future-ready digital economy,” he said, emphasizing the need for deeper collaboration among government, academia, and industry to unlock inclusive growth opportunities for all citizens.
The conclave featured a series of thematic sessions focusing on Telangana’s emergence as a global GCC hub, AI’s impact on employment, the future of cybersecurity, and the state’s thriving startup ecosystem. Experts deliberated on reskilling strategies, inclusive growth models, and policy interventions necessary for sustainable digital transformation.
