Bengaluru: In a time when global tech firms are replacing employees with AI and automation, Cognizant Technology Solutions is taking an unconventional approach to hiring and workforce development. CEO Ravi Kumar S, a former Nvidia engineer leading a company of around 350,000 employees, believes AI is not a threat but a tool to amplify human potential, particularly for entry-level workers and non-technical graduates.
Unlike many tech companies focusing exclusively on STEM talent, Cognizant is now hiring graduates from liberal arts schools and community colleges. “AI is not about replacing humans; it’s about helping them do more,” Kumar told Fortune. He emphasised that even school graduates can perform complex tasks when provided with AI-based tools, making the workforce more versatile and capable.
A new approach to entry-level talent
Kumar explained that AI enables employees to solve problems creatively, allowing non-STEM graduates to contribute meaningfully. Departments that were traditionally dominated by technical professionals now include anthropologists, sociologists, psychologists, and journalists, who bring insights into human behaviour, problem-finding, and creativity. “When machines assist with problem-solving, companies can achieve a more balanced mix of problem solvers and problem finders,” he said.
Cognizant’s hiring strategy focuses on school graduates and early-career talent, giving them the tools to succeed in roles that previously required extensive technical knowledge. The company has also introduced apprenticeship programs under a “work, earn, and learn” model, partnering with universities and initiatives such as Merit America, which enables employees to upskill without leaving their jobs.
Mid-career shifts and AI integration
Beyond entry-level hiring, Cognizant is leveraging AI to facilitate mid-career role transitions. Employees can now move into hybrid roles that combine technology and business operations, even if they lack deep technical expertise. Kumar highlighted the company’s dual “technology swim lanes”: one for deep technical roles and another for roles that apply technology to business processes. This approach allows mid-career professionals to transition smoothly without starting from scratch.
AI is also being used internally to connect insights across disciplines, allowing leaders to make faster and more informed decisions. Kumar emphasised that modern leadership is about integration and recalibration, especially in a workforce spanning four generations, each with unique needs. He added, “Enterprises today are not just workplaces; they are platforms for societal change.”
AI as an amplifier, not a displacement tool
Kumar argues that the fear of AI replacing humans arises from a narrow focus on automation rather than augmentation. “If it’s a productivity bump, it will create a more equitable distribution of wages, provided it’s not concentrated in the hands of a few,” he said. He reiterated that AI amplifies human potential, allowing individuals to achieve more than they could alone, rather than replacing them.
Cognizant’s strategy represents a paradigm shift in workforce planning, blending technology, creativity, and human insight to prepare for the AI-driven future. By hiring non-STEM graduates and reimagining career paths, the company is demonstrating how AI can empower humans, rather than making them redundant.