AI Will Redefine Work Faster Than the Industrial Age, Says Automation Anywhere CEO Mihir Shukla
‘Seismic Change’ Underway Across Industries
New Delhi: Artificial Intelligence is poised to fundamentally redefine what work means across nearly every role, especially for knowledge workers, and the pace of transformation is far faster than the industrial age, Mihir Shukla, Co-Founder, CEO and Chairman of US-based Automation Anywhere, has said.
In an exclusive interaction, Shukla described the ongoing AI revolution as a “seismic change” comparable to the Industrial Age, but unfolding at unprecedented speed.
“Unlike the industrial age that evolved over decades, the AI transformation is happening simultaneously across countries and industries,” Shukla said, emphasising that organisations worldwide are witnessing real, measurable impact from AI-driven automation.
According to him, AI is no longer experimental. Enterprises are moving from pilot projects to scaled deployments that are reshaping workflows, decision-making processes and operational efficiency.
Knowledge Workers at the Centre of AI Disruption
Shukla noted that the most significant impact will be felt by knowledge workers — professionals whose roles involve analysis, compliance, communication and decision-making.
“AI will reshape what work means across nearly every function,” he said, adding that traditional job descriptions are already evolving as automation platforms become more intelligent and agent-driven.
Automation Anywhere’s agentic process automation platform, he explained, is enabling enterprises to automate end-to-end business-critical processes rather than isolated tasks. Companies using predefined agentic solutions are seeing immediate gains in efficiency and speed of decision-making.
This shift, he suggested, is not about replacing people but augmenting them with intelligent systems that reduce repetitive workloads and enhance productivity.
India Business Quadruples in Two Years
Highlighting India’s growing role in the AI ecosystem, Shukla revealed that Automation Anywhere’s business in India has quadrupled over the past two years.
The expansion has been driven by increased AI talent hiring and large-scale enterprise deployments across sectors.
He reiterated the company’s support for the “Made in India, Made for the World” vision, stating that projects executed locally are increasingly being scaled for global markets.
India, he indicated, is not just a consumer of AI solutions but a key innovation hub contributing to global AI transformation.
Why Many AI Pilots Are Failing
While optimistic about AI’s potential, Shukla also issued a clear warning: many AI pilots are failing because organisations are rushing into adoption without proper governance and orchestration.
“Organisations often focus too much on the technology itself instead of the outcomes they want to achieve,” he said.
He stressed that successful enterprises prioritise strong governance frameworks and carefully integrate AI into existing workflows rather than deploying it in isolation.
Without structured oversight, companies risk fragmented systems, compliance challenges and underutilised AI investments.
Banking Example: AI and RBI Compliance
Illustrating real-world applications, Shukla cited a large bank that has automated more than 200 processes using AI.
In one deployment, every employee has access to a chatbot designed to check whether a particular action complies with Reserve Bank of India (RBI) regulations.
“This helps employees take faster decisions while reducing risks and improving efficiency,” he explained.
Such applications demonstrate how AI is not merely a productivity tool but also a compliance and risk-management enabler.
Agentic Automation Across Sectors
Automation Anywhere’s offerings include ready-to-deploy agentic solutions across sectors such as IT service management, finance, healthcare and banking.
These platforms enable enterprises to orchestrate multiple AI agents that work collaboratively to automate complex, cross-functional workflows.
According to Shukla, this next generation of automation goes beyond robotic process automation (RPA) by incorporating reasoning capabilities, contextual understanding and dynamic decision-making.
The result is what he describes as “end-to-end automation of business-critical processes” rather than simple task automation.
The Bigger Picture
Shukla’s comments come at a time when global conversations around AI governance, ethical deployment and workforce transformation are intensifying.
He framed AI not as a gradual technological shift but as a structural redefinition of work itself — one that is unfolding globally and in parallel.
Unlike previous industrial revolutions that spread incrementally, the AI transformation is synchronised across economies.
Companies that adopt AI strategically, he suggested, will gain measurable advantages in agility, compliance and productivity.
Those that fail to establish governance and integration frameworks may struggle to realise tangible returns.
Our Final Thoughts
Mihir Shukla’s assessment underscores a critical reality: AI is no longer a futuristic concept but an operational reality reshaping global enterprises.
India’s rapid growth in AI deployments reflects both opportunity and responsibility. As businesses scale automation, governance and structured integration will determine whether AI becomes a competitive advantage or a costly experiment.
The transformation may be inevitable — but its success will depend on disciplined execution.