‘Keep learning, keep adapting’: Priyank Kharge tells IT professionals to stay ahead of AI

If there’s one rule for surviving the AI tech shift, it’s that your learning curve can never plateau.

As artificial intelligence reshapes industries and job requirements, IT professionals must keep upgrading their skills and adapting to changing business needs, said Karnataka IT Minister Priyank Kharge on Tuesday.

Speaking at the inauguration of RSM US Integrated Services India Private Limited’s new office at Manyata Tech Park in Bengaluru on October 28, Kharge said the pace of AI adoption was creating uncertainty around future roles, making continuous learning essential for professionals.

“AI is one of the most disruptive technologies we have seen, and the speed and scale at which it is being adopted are unprecedented,” he said.

While predicting exactly how jobs and skill requirements will evolve remains difficult, Kharge said professionals must focus on building capabilities that remain relevant to industry and global markets.

“The opportunity lies in our ability to keep learning, adapt quickly and build capabilities that remain relevant to industry and global markets,” he added.

Karnataka’s talent pool keeps global businesses interested

Priyank Kharge also highlighted Karnataka’s talent pool as a key factor in attracting global businesses and Global Capability Centres (GCCs), which handle specialised business and technology operations for multinational companies.

“We have not seen a talent pool as agile as Karnataka’s, one that is ready to unlearn, relearn and be deployed at scale,” he said.

The minister credited the state’s workforce alongside its policies and infrastructure for helping attract investment. He pointed to Bengaluru’s Outer Ring Road (ORR), where approximately 800,000 people work along a 9-km stretch, describing it as one of the world’s most densely concentrated talent pools.

He added that Karnataka would continue strengthening its infrastructure while building on its workforce advantage to attract investment and support increasingly specialised, high-value work.

Nipuna Karnataka puts industry needs at the centre

To help workers prepare for evolving job requirements, Kharge highlighted Nipuna Karnataka, the state’s industry-led skilling initiative.

The programme brings industry partners into the training process, allowing companies to identify the capabilities they need and help shape relevant curricula. The government and industry then work together to prepare candidates for emerging roles.

Under the model, government support for eligible training costs is linked to employability and employment outcomes. The aim is to ensure training responds to actual hiring needs rather than leaving candidates with skills that employers may not require.

Since AI reshapes how businesses operate, the minister stressed the importance of closer industry participation in identifying emerging skill gaps and preparing the workforce accordingly.

Karnataka’s ability to stay competitive will depend on how well its workforce keeps pace with changing technology. As AI changes job roles and the skills employers look for, continuous learning could prove just as important as technical expertise in helping professionals stay relevant.