Unlocking Potential: Hodjat Reveals India’s Tech-Savvy Pool in AI Revolution | Inspiring Insights from Cognizant
India’s position in the realm of artificial intelligence (AI) is distinguished by its robust technological foundation and a vast pool of tech-savvy individuals, according to Babak Hodjat, Chief AI Officer at Cognizant. Speaking with PTI, Hodjat emphasized that while AI tools are becoming adept at generating code, the expertise of developers remains irreplaceable for constructing modular systems and assessing the quality of AI outputs. He asserted, “A coder using AI is going to be well ahead of a non-coder using AI,” underscoring the need for human oversight in the evolving tech landscape.
Hodjat expressed optimism about AI’s transformative power across various professions, noting that while technical skills are crucial, the growing involvement of AI empowers a broader range of professionals. The recent AI Impact Summit in New Delhi highlighted India’s commitment to prioritizing artificial intelligence, reinforcing its potential as a global leader in this emerging field. Hodjat stated, “India has a unique position because they have a starting point that is ahead of everyone else,” attributing this to the country’s tech-savvy populace and solid technological foundations that facilitate AI enablement.
The expert highlighted the importance of individuals familiar with systems, processes, and applications in building AI infrastructures and accelerating adoption across industries. He characterized India’s landscape as a fertile ground for AI development, citing the nation’s deep knowledge base and entrepreneurial spirit. Cognizant, having repositioned itself as an ‘AI builder’ firm, is focusing on empowering enterprises to embrace AI technologies effectively. “We own the last mile; we understand their business often better than they do,” Hodjat explained, underscoring Cognizant’s strategic advantage in the enterprise sector.
The company is also integrating AI internally, employing technologies like multi-agent systems and context engineering while meticulously tracking return on investment (ROI) ahead of client deployments. “It makes a lot of sense for us to adopt AI technology…meter it and ensure we are getting ROI, and also passing on ROI to our clients,” he noted. This approach not only enhances their operations but also exemplifies the evolving nature of the IT services landscape.
Cognizant is committed to cultivating an ‘AI-first’ culture, prioritizing upskilling among employees to leverage AI tools effectively. Hodjat revealed that the company has seen a significant rise in AI-generated code, reporting that approximately 30% of their coding output is now AI-assisted, a figure expected to climb as the technology continues to advance.
Despite the increasing capabilities of AI in software development, Hodjat reaffirmed the enduring necessity of coders. “Today we can’t survive without coders. Coders have to be on top of building programs and writing software, of course, augmented with AI,” he reiterated, highlighting the evolving but vital role of human expertise in tech development.
As India charts its course in the AI domain, the insights from Cognizant’s leadership underscore the importance of combining human skill with technological innovation, ensuring that the nation remains at the forefront of AI enablement on the global stage.
Original Source: https://www.business-standard.com/technology/tech-news/uniquely-placed-in-ai-cognizant-s-hodjat-cites-india-s-tech-savvy-pool-126031800809_1.html
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Publish Date: 2026-03-18 17:20:00
