AI casts shadow over India's multinational tech job machine

India's technology industry is facing a difficult question: will artificial intelligence (AI) reduce the number of jobs it creates? For decades, global companies have hired hundreds of thousands of Indian workers to write software, manage computer systems, and handle customer support. This business, known as IT services, became the backbone of India's economy. Now, AI tools can write code, answer customer questions, and complete routine tasks in seconds. Work that once required large teams may soon need far fewer people. Industry experts say the impact is already beginning. Some companies are slowing hiring for entry-level roles — the jobs that have traditionally opened the door for young graduates. India produces more than one million engineering graduates every year. Many of them depend on these entry-level positions to start their careers. The country's largest IT firms have not announced mass layoffs. However, several have reduced hiring targets and are retraining staff to work alongside AI systems. Analysts warn that the shift could affect millions of workers in the coming years. Others argue that AI will create new kinds of jobs, just as earlier technologies did. What is clear is that India's tech job machine is changing. The question is whether it can change fast enough.