Artificial intelligence is now performing 37 per cent of entry-level tasks across Indian organisations, surpassing the global average of 33 per cent and marking a faster AI-led transformation of workplace roles than many international markets. The finding comes from a joint study by Cognizant and Pearson released on June 18, 2026, titled The AI Workforce Pulse: The Adaptability Imperative, which surveyed 750 HR leaders across India, the United States and the United Kingdom.
The headline figure carries sharper implications beneath it: 18 per cent of HR leaders in India reported that AI now handles half or more of entry-level work within their organisations, signalling accelerated disruption moving from experimentation to mainstream adoption. Rather than eliminating entry-level jobs, employers are redesigning roles around human-AI collaboration, with employees expected to validate AI outputs, interpret results, apply human judgment and focus on higher-value responsibilities.
Entry-Level Roles Are Evolving Into AI Supervisory Positions
Nearly all HR leaders surveyed—96 per cent—expect entry-level roles to evolve into positions where employees supervise, manage or work alongside AI systems within the next five years. Additionally, 94 per cent believe AI will create entirely new entry-level positions that do not exist today.
The shift is prompting employers to fundamentally rethink what constitutes job-ready talent. 98 per cent of HR professionals are increasing their focus on AI skills, including for non-technical roles. In India specifically, 91 per cent of organisations place greater value on AI capabilities among employees outside traditional technology functions.
Soft Skills and Interdisciplinary Backgrounds Gain Priority
As AI automates routine work, human-centric skills have become more valuable. 97 per cent of HR leaders said soft skills such as problem-solving, adaptability and judgment now matter more than ever. Two-thirds of respondents value liberal arts degrees more than before the rise of AI, while 69 per cent indicated that broad, interdisciplinary educational backgrounds are becoming more valuable than narrowly specialised degrees.
India is witnessing a broader democratisation of AI talent. According to Scaler’s India AI Workforce Report 2026, nearly 25 per cent of AI learners come from non-technical backgrounds, while almost half of AI-enabled career outcomes emerge outside traditional engineering roles, including consulting, human resources, marketing, finance and leadership functions. One in five AI learners comes from Tier-II cities, with Bengaluru remaining India’s largest AI talent hub at 19 per cent.
Organisations Face Training Gaps Despite Stronger Investment
Despite heightened demand for AI skills, companies struggle with workforce preparation. 91 per cent of HR professionals reported increased employee demand for AI training over the past year, yet 60 per cent said their learning and development programs cannot keep pace with the rate of change.
India is making comparatively stronger investments in workforce preparation. 63 per cent of organisations in India have dedicated time for AI training, compared with 49 per cent in the United States. However, 61 per cent of Indian organisations also reported difficulties finding talent with the required skills.
Middle managers play a critical link in successful AI adoption. 95 per cent of HR leaders said middle managers are essential for ensuring employees use AI effectively, while 92 per cent said they redefine jobs and workflows as AI changes daily operations.
“India is at the forefront of how AI is transforming entry-level work, with organisations already embedding AI into day-to-day operations at scale,” said Rajesh Varrier, Chairman and Managing Director of Cognizant India. “We are seeing a fundamental redesign of roles, where early-career talent is expected to work alongside AI and focus on higher-value outcomes”.
