Artificial intelligence is entering a new phase in enterprise technology. Infosys CEO and Managing Director Salil Parekh has highlighted how rapidly AI services are expanding, suggesting that they could account for nearly half of the company's work within the next two to three years.

The statement reflects a major shift in the global IT services industry. Companies are increasingly using artificial intelligence not only to generate content or answer questions, but also to develop software, modernize legacy systems, automate workflows, and build intelligent AI agents.

Salil Parekh's Vision for the AI-Powered IT Industry

Speaking at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum 2026 in New Delhi on October 13, Parekh discussed the growing demand for AI-related services and their potential to reshape the technology business.

According to reporting by Moneycontrol, AI services accounted for more than 8% of Infosys's revenue in the previous quarter and were growing at a double-digit rate sequentially.

Parekh indicated that, if the current growth trajectory continues, AI services could represent 20–30% of the company's work within a few quarters and approach half of its work within two to three years.

These figures are forward-looking expectations expressed by the CEO, not guaranteed future results.

What Is Driving the Growth of AI Services?

The growth is being driven by businesses looking for practical ways to use AI to improve productivity, modernize technology, and reduce operational complexity.

AI Agents: Businesses are exploring intelligent agents that can plan tasks, use software tools, retrieve information, and complete multi-step workflows.
AI-Powered Software Development: AI coding tools can assist developers with writing, testing, reviewing, and maintaining software.
Legacy System Modernization: AI can help organizations understand older applications, analyze existing code, and support the migration of legacy technology to modern platforms.
Enterprise Automation: Organizations are applying AI to customer service, business operations, data analysis, and internal processes.
Technology Consulting: Businesses need support to select suitable AI tools, integrate them with existing systems, manage risks, and measure business outcomes.

Infosys Is Preparing Its Workforce for the AI Transition

The expansion of AI services also requires employees who understand how to implement and manage AI technologies in real business environments.

According to the reported remarks, Infosys hired 20,000 college graduates in the previous financial year and planned to hire another 20,000 during the current financial year. The company is training graduates in AI-related capabilities to support client implementations and technology transformation.

Parekh also indicated that approximately 80,000 employees were already working with AI coding tools on client engagements and internal projects.

These developments demonstrate the importance of workforce reskilling as enterprises adopt new technologies. Employees will increasingly need a combination of technical knowledge, business understanding, analytical thinking, and the ability to work effectively with AI systems.

Will AI Replace Traditional IT Services?

The expansion of AI raises important questions about the future of software development and IT consulting. If AI can automate parts of coding, testing, documentation, and system maintenance, the traditional model of delivering projects primarily through manual effort may change.

However, enterprise AI adoption involves more than deploying a model. Organizations still need professionals to understand business requirements, verify outputs, manage security, integrate systems, and ensure that technology delivers measurable value.

This creates opportunities for technology professionals who can combine AI capabilities with software engineering, consulting, cybersecurity, data analytics, and industry knowledge.

What Does This Mean for India's IT Industry?

India's IT services sector has traditionally supported global businesses through software development, outsourcing, consulting, and technology management. AI is creating a new opportunity for these companies to provide higher-value services focused on intelligent automation and enterprise transformation.

Technology service providers can help clients identify suitable AI use cases, build AI-powered applications, modernize existing systems, and introduce governance frameworks.

At the same time, companies must address challenges such as data privacy, security, computing costs, accuracy, and the need to retrain employees. The long-term impact will depend on how effectively organizations convert AI capabilities into sustainable business results.

Career Opportunities in the AI Economy

The shift toward AI-driven services is relevant not only to software engineers but also to graduates pursuing business, finance, marketing, and management careers.

AI Business Analyst: Identifies business problems and translates them into suitable AI use cases.
AI Product Manager: Coordinates product strategy, customer needs, development priorities, and business outcomes.
AI Consultant: Helps organizations evaluate, implement, and manage AI solutions.
Data Analyst: Uses data analysis and visualization to support decisions and measure AI performance.
AI Marketing Specialist: Applies AI tools to customer insights, campaign planning, personalization, and marketing analytics.
AI Project Manager: Coordinates teams, timelines, budgets, risks, and implementation activities for AI projects.

For students and early-career professionals, developing AI literacy alongside communication, analytical thinking, and business problem-solving skills can help prepare them for changing job requirements.

The Bigger Picture: From AI Tools to AI-Driven Business

Salil Parekh's remarks highlight a broader transformation taking place across the technology industry. Businesses are moving beyond isolated AI experiments toward integrating AI into everyday operations and major technology projects.

The next stage will depend on whether organizations can implement AI responsibly, train their workforce, protect sensitive information, and demonstrate measurable returns on their investments.

The key takeaway is clear: AI is becoming an increasingly important part of how technology services are designed and delivered. Companies and professionals that combine AI capabilities with strong business understanding will be better positioned to adapt to this transition.

Conclusion

Infosys's AI ambitions illustrate how quickly enterprise technology priorities are changing. While the prediction that AI services could drive nearly half of the company's work within two to three years remains a forward-looking estimate, the growing demand for AI agents, coding tools, and modernization services signals a significant industry transition.

For businesses, the priority is to identify valuable use cases and implement AI responsibly. For professionals, the opportunity lies in developing the skills needed to work alongside intelligent systems and solve real business problems.