India Better Positioned Than the US to Benefit From AI, Says Neelkanth Mishra

India may be in a stronger position than many assume as artificial intelligence reshapes global industries, according to Neelkanth Mishra, Executive Director at the World Bank and a member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council.

Speaking on Groww’s The India Opportunity podcast, Mishra challenged the idea that India is particularly vulnerable to AI-driven disruption. He said that higher-cost labour markets, including the United States, face greater risks as AI becomes capable of performing tasks currently handled by highly paid professionals.

Mishra suggested that if AI significantly lowers the cost of software development and related work, the initial impact could be felt more strongly in developed economies. He added that India’s technology sector could remain competitive by combining AI tools with human oversight, helping ensure quality and reliability.

He also pointed to India’s employment structure, noting that a large share of the workforce is engaged in agriculture, construction, retail, wholesale trade, and transportation. According to him, many of these sectors are less susceptible to immediate disruption from AI technologies.

Rather than leading to widespread job losses, Mishra said AI could help address challenges in areas such as education, training, and workforce development. He maintained that the perception of India as a major loser in the AI transition does not reflect the country’s broader economic realities.