AI shifts technology workforce demands toward critical thinking

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence is shifting the requirements for the technology workforce in India. As AI automates routine coding and execution-heavy tasks, industry demand is moving away from simple programming proficiency toward high-level problem-solving, critical thinking, and adaptability. Vishwa Mohan, CEO of upGrad School of Technology, notes a shift from valuing code to valuing the underlying logic and thinking processes.

This evolution highlights a growing disconnect between traditional higher education and industry needs. Current examination frameworks, such as the JEE for engineering and NEET for medicine, are criticized for focusing on subject mastery in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics or Biology rather than testing the specific cognitive abilities required for modern professions. Experts suggest that for future engineers, skills in algorithms, data, simulation, and systems thinking are becoming more critical than the traditional academic formulas used for selection.