In a First, Karnataka to Study AI’s Impact on Workforce

Karnataka government’s IT department has launched a comprehensive study to assess the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the state's workforce. 

This initiative aims to inform the upcoming IT Policy 2025 and shape strategic interventions under the government’s flagship skilling initiative NIPUNA Karnataka, said the state’s IT minister Priyank Kharge in a statement. 

The government said that it wants to focus on evidence-based policymaking to ensure inclusive and future-ready growth, as Karnataka continues to lead India’s technological journey with Bengaluru recently ranked 5th globally in AI and big data ecosystems. The state is home to over 1 lakh AI professionals, it informed. 

“Our tech workforce has crossed 1 million professionals, and Bengaluru has emerged as the undisputed AI capital of India. But as AI rapidly reshapes industries, we must ensure our people are not left behind,” Kharge said. 

“This study is a crucial step to help us understand the evolving job landscape, guide smart skilling investments under our reskilling program NIPUNA Karnataka and safeguard our most valuable asset—our talent. I urge all industry leaders to share their insights,” he said. 

The Survey

The AI Workforce Impact Survey invites responses from industry leaders, HR heads, technology practitioners and academia.

The survey, among other things, aims to understand how AI is being integrated into day-to-day operations across organisations, which business functions are seeing the biggest changes due to wider access to AI tools and which job roles are most vulnerable to automation. 

These insights will be crucial in identifying skill gaps, emerging job roles, and the nature of workforce disruptions across sectors. They will also directly help the government design practical, forward-looking policies that support innovation and workforce resilience.

The survey is open until June 27, 2025 and all responses will remain confidential and anonymous, the release said.