Wipro’s artificial intelligence initiatives have delivered productivity gains equivalent to the work of around 20,000 employees, who have subsequently been reassigned to other roles within the Indian IT company, according to its chief technology officer.
The remarks come as India’s $315 billion software services sector navigates the growing impact of AI, which is changing recruitment patterns, software development and client contracts.
Wipro, which had around 243,000 employees as of June, is moving towards a “human-AI operating model”. More than 100,000 employees have already undergone advanced AI training and earned relevant certifications, CTO Sandhya Arun said in an interview.
She explained that the same engineer could oversee multiple AI agents while working on other projects or preparing for a different role, stressing that AI adoption does not necessarily involve replacing one employee with one AI agent.
Arun’s comments echo views recently expressed by Wipro Chairman Rishad Premji.
Tata Consultancy Services, India’s largest software services exporter, said in June that IT companies were likely to reduce hiring as the industry moves towards a workforce comprising an equal number of employees and AI agents.
TCS intends to develop a workforce of up to 8,900 forward-deployed engineers over the coming years, while Infosys plans to have around 6,000. These engineers work directly with clients to speed up AI implementation.
Wipro is similarly increasing its number of forward-deployed engineers. Although Arun did not disclose a specific figure, she indicated that the company’s workforce in this area would probably be comparable to that of its competitors.
However, Arun warned against placing excessive emphasis on the forward-deployed role, saying the larger priority was ensuring that engineers across the company acquire the capabilities required to work efficiently alongside AI systems.
“The shift has to be from productivity to outcomes,” Arun said, noting that AI should ultimately be assessed based on whether it enhances customer experiences, generates fresh revenue opportunities and supports broader business objectives.
Among India’s four largest IT companies, Wipro is the only one that does not disclose its AI-related revenue.
According to Manoj Chandra Jha, principal analyst at Nord-IQ Research, Wipro remains at an earlier stage of AI monetisation than some of its competitors, with the company still absorbing costs associated with its investments. The key challenge will be converting these AI deals into actual revenue growth and improved margins.
Jha added that Wipro’s spending on AI training and partnerships across the technology ecosystem is broadly comparable with companies such as TCS, Infosys and HCLTech, although it remains behind its peers in terms of commercialising AI.
