Cognizant Chief Executive Officer Ravi Kumar S said 2026 will mark a major turning point in how enterprises derive value from technology, with artificial intelligence set to move the core of value creation away from traditional infrastructure and deeper into business operations. Speaking about the accelerating impact of generative AI, he said Cognizant's work with large enterprises increasingly involves integrating AI into core business workflows.
"In 2026, we are going to see the drift of value from AI infrastructure to businesses. That's what we will work with big entreprises to integrate AI," he told NDTV Profit on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Citing the United States as an example, Kumar noted that out of the country's roughly $15 trillion labour value, nearly $4 trillion is exposed to AI-driven disruption. He explained that Cognizant uses a five‑level "AI exposure score" to assess the vulnerability of different roles, adding that any job with more than 50% exposure faces an “existential challenge” due to automation.
According to Kumar, the pace of AI‑driven transformation is rising rapidly. Most jobs globally are seeing an average 7% increase in exposure to AI every year, he said, underscoring the need for companies and workers alike to adapt. “You have to look at AI as a reinvention of enterprises, as a tool to reimagine businesses,” he said, adding that organisations that embrace this shift will see meaningful productivity gains.
He noted that while early advancements in AI focused heavily on replacing human labour, the next phase will be different. The future, according to the Cognizant CEO, will revolve around using AI to amplify human potential, embedding intelligent systems into workflows to enhance capability rather than substitute it. As productivity rises through this human‑AI collaboration, he expects to see corresponding gains in wages and upward mobility.
Kumar emphasised that the coming AI wave represents more than technological adoption. It will lead to a a structural shift in how businesses operate. And for those who adapt quickly, he believes the benefits will be significant.
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