LTM, formerly LTIMindtree, has launched a workforce transformation initiative aimed at creating more than 1,000 AI-certified engineers, betting on rising enterprise demand for professionals who can help deploy and scale artificial intelligence projects beyond pilot stages.
The programme, called AI 1000, will be anchored by a dedicated centre of excellence and focus on developing forward-deployed engineers (FDEs), a role that is gaining prominence as enterprises seek talent capable of combining AI expertise with business and domain knowledge.
The move reflects a broader shift underway in the technology services industry, where companies are increasingly investing in specialised AI talent as clients move from experimentation to large-scale deployment of generative AI and agentic AI applications.
According to LTM, FDEs serve as a bridge between AI technologies and business operations, helping organisations convert AI initiatives into measurable business outcomes and drive user adoption. The company said the programme is designed to create a structured pipeline of such talent through training, deployment and governance frameworks.
"The role of the technology engineer is evolving rapidly. AI 1000 is built with the purpose of enhancing workforce productivity in creating tangible business outcomes," Venu Lambu, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of LTM, said in a statement.
The programme follows a four-stage model that includes identifying engineers through an internal AI readiness assessment, providing AI-focused learning programmes, validating skills through hackathons and real-world projects, and deploying qualified employees into client engagements.
A governance framework will track performance and feed insights back into the programme, the company said.
LTM said it has already accumulated more than 6.5 million learning hours related to AI, achieved a learning penetration of nearly 84%, secured over 15,000 external AI certifications and trained more than 24,000 employees in AI-related skills.
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