In the hushed conference rooms of corporate India, a revolution is brewing—not with thunderous declarations, but with the quiet hum of algorithms and the subtle shift of workplace dynamics. Artificial intelligence, once confined to the realm of science fiction, has become an unremarkable colleague, parsing résumés, managing performance, and even reading the unspoken language of employee sentiment.
When HRKatha, in collaboration with Xoxoday, assembled a roundtable of India’s most distinguished human resources leaders, the conversation promised to be anything but ordinary. Moderated by Prajjal Saha, founder and editor-in-chief of HRKatha, the discussion would peel back the layers of a technological transformation that is reshaping work itself.
Saha began with a provocative statistic from a recent Global Workplace Skills Study: 96 per cent of Indian professionals are already leveraging AI—a penetration rate that leaves global averages far behind. By 2025, the conversation had evolved from mere generative models to what the assembled experts termed ‘Authentic AI’—systems capable of operating with minimal human intervention.
“By autonomously transcribing discussions and providing constructive input, AI fosters a culture of continuous improvement without fear of judgment.”
Tanaya Mishra, CHRO, InGlobal Solutions
The panel was a who’s who of corporate India’s HR leadership: Tanaya Mishra from InGlobal Solutions, Salil Chinchore of ElasticRun, Atul Mathur from Aditya Birla Capital, Priti Singh of Universal Sompo, Anju Jumde from Aditya Birla Money, Anil Misra, Manish Majumdar from Centum Electronics, and Kushal Agrawal, co-founder of Xoxoday—each bringing a unique lens to the AI transformation.
Navigating AI adoption: Challenges and success stories
Tanaya Mishra, CHRO, InGlobal Solutions, shared her organisation’s journey with AI adoption. She described AI as a digital companion capable of engaging in natural conversations, analysing speech patterns, and offering feedback on communication skills during meetings. “By autonomously transcribing discussions and providing constructive input, AI fosters a culture of continuous improvement without fear of judgment,” Mishra explained. She also highlighted AI’s critical role in recruitment, referencing examples from her experiences at Mastercard and Universal, where AI tools reduced bias in hiring by focusing on candidates’ skills rather than CVs. Additionally, AI-powered talent marketplaces enabled employees to showcase their skills, explore internal job rotations, and upskill through integrated learning platforms.
“We assured our employees that AI is not a replacement but an enabler.”
Priti Singh, CHRO, Universal Sompo
Priti Singh, CHRO, Universal Sompo, elaborated on AI’s impact on operational efficiency. She described an AI tool that evaluates vehicle damage during accidents, instantly calculating the extent of liability. Initially, surveyors feared redundancy, but the organisation proactively addressed these concerns through reskilling and redeployment. Employees transitioned to critical roles in claims management and sales, where their expertise remains invaluable. “We assured our employees that AI is not a replacement but an enabler,” Singh stated.
Atul Mathur, EVP HR, Aditya Birla Capital, highlighted two use cases of AI in HR. First, a chatbot, Success Bot, provides real-time responses to queries related to financial products, enhancing cross-selling opportunities and customer interactions. Second, AI-powered simulations and sentiment analysis offer personalised coaching for employees in dispersed regions, optimising training resources.
“AI-powered simulations and sentiment analysis offer personalised coaching for employees in dispersed regions, optimising training resources.”
Atul Mathur, EVP HR, Aditya Birla Capital
Salil Chinchore, CHRO, ElasticRun, shared how AI enhances salesforce optimisation in rural India’s FMCG distribution sector. AI reallocates tasks within 10 minutes if a salesperson fails to visit a retailer on time, ensuring seamless operations. Additionally, gamified sales performance management motivates employees by outlining steps to achieve rewards. “We’ve identified seven to eight strategic business problems to solve through AI-driven interventions,” Chinchore added.
Anju Jumde, CHRO, Aditya Birla Money, discussed AI’s integration into talent marketplaces. Employees can assess their skill sets against role requirements and curate personalised learning journeys. AI chatbots handle 50,000-60,000 customer queries monthly, generating reports, assisting in account openings, and automating routine tasks. “AI enables employees to focus on higher-value tasks,” Jumde noted, while future plans include voice bots and predictive auditing bots.
“We’ve identified seven to eight strategic business problems to solve through AI-driven interventions.”
Salil Chinchore, CHRO, ElasticRun
Manish Majumdar, head-HR, Centum Electronics, explained that AI adoption in manufacturing, particularly aerospace and satellite production, is slower due to stringent data-security requirements. However, AI has proven effective in recruitment, filtering and ranking CVs to streamline the hiring process. “In factory settings, human interaction remains essential, as workers value face-to-face communication for discussing concerns,” Majumdar added.
Anil Misra, senior HR leader, recalled AI implementations at Reliance Retail. AI tools optimise delivery routes for salespeople, enhance productivity, and even analyse employee facial expressions to gauge mood on the shop floor. “Understanding real-time employee sentiment through AI ensures a better workplace experience,” Misra stated.
“AI enables employees to focus on higher-value tasks.”
Anju Jumde, CHRO, Aditya Birla Money
Kushal Agrawal, founder, Xoxoday, described how AI-powered tools analyse visitor behaviour on websites, identifying areas for improvement. AI integrated into their CRM system enhances engagement through automated relationship management, ensuring warm, professional connections with clients.
The human-AI balance: A call for upskilling
A recurring theme during the discussion was that AI is not merely a tool for efficiency but a strategic enabler. However, as AI automates mundane tasks, it raises questions about skill redundancy and workforce readiness.
“In factory settings, human interaction remains essential, as workers value face-to-face communication for discussing concerns.”
Manish Majumdar, head-HR, Centum Electronics
While certain skills may become obsolete, many new ones will emerge. AI can enhance creativity, but human interpretation and oversight remain indispensable. For example, at Aditya Birla Money, AI assists in APEX council meetings by organising 400-500 employee profiles within a day, transitioning employees from makers to checkers. This shift allows them to focus on strategic decision-making.
Majumdar cited an example where a union approached Centum with an AI tool to transform manufacturing-process documents into 3D models and videos. While this innovation enhances learning, validation by humans remains crucial. “In high-precision industries, even minor errors can have disastrous consequences,” he cautioned.
“Understanding real-time employee sentiment through AI ensures a better workplace experience,”
Anil Misra, senior HR leader
A cultural shift is also underway. Employees who take pride in manual tasks often perceive AI-assisted work as inferior. This raises new questions: How do we define performance metrics in an AI-driven world? Should employees avoiding AI receive more credit for delivering the same quality of work?
All panellists agreed that AI is reshaping the workplace. However, individuals who proactively learn and adapt will continue to thrive. Organisations must take employees into confidence when implementing AI transformations. Upskilling should not be an afterthought but an integral part of the change process. By equipping employees with new capabilities and reassuring them that AI complements human expertise, organisations can create a resilient and future-ready workforce.
“AI integrated into their CRM system enhances engagement through automated relationship management, ensuring warm, professional connections with clients.”
Kushal Agrawal, founder, Xoxoday
The HRKatha roundtable underscored a pivotal truth: AI is not a replacement for human ingenuity but a catalyst for innovation. By embracing AI as an enabler and prioritising workforce adaptability, organisations can navigate the complexities of a tech-driven future while preserving the irreplaceable human touch.
As the discussion concluded, Saha summed up the sentiment: “The future of work isn’t about choosing between humans and AI. It’s about leveraging both to create a workplace where technology amplifies human potential.”
