AI cannot replace human skills, says Infosys chairman Nandan Nilekani

Khapra is an associate professor at IIT Madras in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering.

No matter how advanced artificial intelligence becomes, it will never replace human skills like empathy, leadership, collaboration, and creativity, said Infosys chairman and co-founder Nandan Nilekani.

Nilekani said that as AI automates more tasks, these qualities will become even more valuable—and education systems must evolve to prioritise them.

“You can have all the AIs in the world, but if you can’t get five people to work together and collaborate, then you cannot go anywhere,” Nilekani said in conversation with Nalin Mehta, Managing Editor, Moneycontrol during a session at AIMA.

He believes that instead of chasing technical skills that may become obsolete, people should focus on what AI cannot replicate.

First-principles thinking—the ability to step back, question assumptions, and analyse problems from scratch—is one such skill. “AI is more mechanistic in its approach. Being able to go back to first principles and analyse something is something AI cannot do,” Nilekani said.

Creativity, too, remains uniquely human. While AI can generate content and mimic styles, it lacks the ability to conceive truly original ideas. Nilekani argues that fostering this ability should be a priority in education.

Rather than training for specific AI-related skills, he advocates a shift toward adaptability. “I would rather go there and say, ‘Learn skill A, B, C,’ because that skill may not be relevant years from now,” he said.

During the conversation, Nilekani also said that the barrier to entry of creating AI models has significantly come down, he said pointing towards the latest developments in the sector.

“The government is focused on the India AI Mission and I think we will see in the next one year, some very significant models coming from India,” Nilekani stated.

On being asked if India must spend on foundational models, Nilekani stated, “It’s really all about the price point. Would I spend a billion dollars to build a large language model (LLM)? No. But if I can deliver a LLM in $50 million, sure. The technology is moving so quickly that it’s dropping in price and becoming more efficient.”

Nilekani also weighed on whether AI will affect jobs.

"I see AI as an opportunity, though I tend to be optimistic about everything. Yes, some jobs will be affected—certain tasks will be automated—but very few jobs will be entirely eliminated. AI will make humans more productive and create new jobs we haven’t even thought of yet. India has shortages of teachers, doctors, and skilled workers. AI can amplify human capabilities, making education and healthcare more accessible. It all depends on how you architect it—AI can be extractive (where a few control all the data and profit from it) or inclusive (where it benefits everyone). DPI is fundamentally about inclusion at scale, and AI should be too," added Nilekani.