The integration of AI and cloud computing is transforming industries and our daily lives. This shift highlights a new era where data and intelligence drive decision-making across various sectors, enabling businesses to operate more efficiently. However, the need for skills spanning from cloud computing to quantum computing, and from traditional AI to agentic AI is crucial, says Sandhya Arun, CTO, Wipro. In this interview, she speaks to Sudhir Chowdhary on how some of these nextgen technologies will empower businesses to innovate and remain competitive. Excerpts:
How do you see AI agents benefiting businesses?
As agentic AI technology progresses, agents will become more reliable and autonomous. Enhanced reasoning abilities will enable agents to address complex problems, while improved multimodal capabilities will facilitate more intuitive human-agent interactions. Both technical and non-technical users will have tools for building, deploying, and managing agents, expediting their adoption.
Enterprises will use AI agents extensively to streamline IT and business processes, optimise value chains, and automate tasks. Agents will enhance operational efficiency, service quality, and human experiences. Employees’ roles will evolve to include training AI, overseeing, and validating work performed by AI agents. Employees will be able to make strategic contributions with the assistance of specialised agents in problem-solving, goal achievement, and decision-making.
To gain a competitive advantage, it is important for enterprises to begin their agentic AI roadmap early. Enterprises should adopt a people-centric approach to agentic AI adoption.
There is a lot of interest and innovation around XR too…
Extended reality (XR) technologies, combined with spatial computing, data analytics, and multi-modal AI, are transforming user experiences across digital and physical worlds. Rising customer expectations are prompting enterprises to design more integrated customer journeys. IoT data helps in personalising connected customer journeys across different touchpoints. XR tech like smart glasses and smart phones, allows customers to visualise products at home and access interactive product information in the stores. XR supports virtual showrooms, immersive learning, quality inspection, entertainment, and healthcare. A frontier tech integration partner would help enterprises in designing, deploying and supporting integrated solutions in this space.
How will cloud computing support quantum computing?
Cloud computing is an essential foundation for frontier tech like AI and quantum computing. The prominent cloud computing capabilities include data platform, machine learning, and generative AI and industry solutions. Industry cloud solutions for AI aim to catalyse innovation through the integration of industry specific data.
Many hyperscalers and cloud services providers are offering quantum computing as a service to support users explore and prepare for quantum computing. They provide tools, SDKs and learning content for solution design, resource estimation and for experimentation with quantum algorithms. Enterprises must develop a robust cloud strategy that addresses their the current and future needs to prepare for early value realisation frontier technologies.
Beyond the hype, how can enterprises derive value from GenAI?
There are five strategic levers that enable enterprises to achieve sustainable ROI from AI:
An enterprise AI strategy aligned with the business strategy to envision profitable growth based on an AI-powered future.
An AI-first approach to transforming day-to-day operations in core business and enablement functions set up for early wins and continuous improvement.
An IT modernisation roadmap to ensure that investments in cloud and data infrastructure allow future growth and frontier tech.
A human-centric approach to change management, focusing on empathy and fostering a culture of learning.
Training of all employees on responsible use and role-based AI training for new ways of working. This will shine the light on job enrichment instead and reduce anxiety of job loss.
Additionally, as enterprises embark on their AI transformation journey, they must look beyond siloed use cases and consider full value streams and domains, for impactful outcomes.
What are the key skills needed for professionals to stay relevant?
One of the most critical skills for professionals today is, “Learning how to learn.” Mastering areas like cloud computing, AI, and cybersecurity are essential. Conventional skills in architecture, design, software engineering, and data science will remain foundational for deep tech careers. Industry and functional domain expertise will provide an advantage. In the AI era, social skills like empathy, communication and collaboration are important. Additionally, understanding the broader context, regardless of seniority or role, leads to growth.
