Artificial intelligence could create the conditions for a fresh wave of entrepreneurship in India’s startup ecosystem, Incedo Co-founder and CEO Nitin Seth said at the AI for Bharat event in New Delhi.
Seth said the scale of disruption could also open space for companies outside established industries to build new businesses.
“When disruption is very high, incumbents run into a problem,” he said, adding that outsiders often find opportunities in such periods.
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AI Could Reshape Jobs While Opening New Startup Opportunities
Seth has estimated that 35% to 50% of jobs could disappear over the next 15 years, while 90% to 98% of existing jobs could be affected in some form. He also added that white-collar knowledge workers could face greater disruption than blue-collar workers.
The immediate impact could come as AI takes over or assists with tasks such as software development, customer support, business operations and entry-level research work, according to the BW Disrupt report.
Other researchers estimate that generative AI could transform 38 million jobs in India by 2030, adding to the debate over how the workforce will adjust as adoption expands.
For India’s AI startups, Seth sees the disruption as more than a jobs story. He has argued that the country could use AI to build businesses across healthcare, education, agriculture and financial inclusion, rather than focusing only on AI infrastructure.
India’s AI Opportunity May Be in Building New Businesses
The broader opportunity, Seth says, is to turn disruption into entrepreneurship. New products and services could emerge as AI lowers the cost and time required to build and operate businesses.
He has previously described this as a potential shift from India being a nation of job seekers to one of job creators, with AI creating new space for entrepreneurs.
For the Indian startup ecosystem, the market watch is therefore not limited to how many existing roles AI changes. The more immediate question is where new businesses emerge as companies rethink software, operations and services around AI.
Samarjit Kaur is a journalist and communications professional covering technology & emerging digital trends. With a focus on clarity and context, she reports on developments shaping industries and governance. When not reporting, she chooses to plug-in and relax on her playlists and plan her next bucket-list trips!
