Chennai: Artificial Intelligence (AI) will not eliminate jobs, but the lack of AI knowledge will leave professionals at a disadvantage, IIT Madras Director V. Kamakoti said on Sunday.
Addressing the Dakshinapatha Summit 2025 on the institute’s campus, in the presence of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Kamakoti emphasised that AI education is now critical to staying employable.
“To continue in jobs, AI is a must. Knowing AI will help people stay relevant,” he said, adding that AI is fast becoming central to sectors ranging from healthcare to agriculture.
He highlighted that IIT Madras has already established three Centres of Excellence dedicated to AI applications in agriculture, sustainability and health. The Ministry of Education, he noted, is supporting broader access to AI education through multi-level initiatives.
Kamakoti outlined upcoming interdisciplinary programmes, including a combined MD in medicine and PhD in technology under the National Education Policy, and stressed India’s ambition to become both a product and start-up hub by 2047.
During the summit, Minister Pradhan launched the National Internship, Placement, Training and Assessment (NIPTA) portal to connect engineering graduates with industry through structured training and evaluation. IIT Madras also signed three MoUs, with Think India, Chettinad Hospital and Risk Financing, to drive research, innovation and entrepreneurship.
