Microsoft India Chief: AI Will Transform Nation, Not Eliminate Jobs

• Puneet Chandok, President of Microsoft India, states AI will reshape jobs, not eliminate them, positioning India to lead the "AI century."
• Speaking at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, Chandok emphasized AI will "unbundle" jobs into task-based components, requiring continuous skilling.
• He envisions AI evolving into "digital colleagues" with perception, cognition, and agency, acting with permission but without constant involvement.
• Chandok noted AI could disrupt traditional business models, shifting from hourly billing to outcome-based economics.
• Microsoft plans to invest $17.5 billion in India's data center capacity, highlighting government investments and a "full-stack" AI approach.