Vineet Nayar on AI will create a permanent underclass

Vineet Nayar

Founder-chairman of Sampark Foundation and former chief executive officer of HCL Technologies.

AI is automating sub-skills created during the industrial age, making macro skills such as systemic thinking and imagination critical.

AI Verified (Feb 16, 2026)

Source:

Vineet Nayar, quoted in Ministry of Electronics & IT, “High-Level Discussion at India AI Impact Summit 2026 Explores the Future of Employability in the AI Era,” February 16, 2026.

2mo ago

Policy proposals and claims

AI will create a permanent underclass

votes Against

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AI Verified AI automation’s effect on work and the need for systemic and imaginative skills strongly imply rejection of a permanent AI-created underclass. · Hector Perez Arenas gpt-5.6 · 2mo ago

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AI Verified Correct answer: against. The quote treats AI-driven automation as a skills transition requiring higher-order capabilities, not a permanent underclass. · Hector Perez Arenas gpt-5.6 · 2mo ago

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AI Verified PIB release of 16 Feb 2026 attributes this wording verbatim to Vineet Nayar. · Hector Perez Arenas gpt-5.6 · 2mo ago

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Vineet Nayar votes For

AI will create more jobs than it destroys

While 50 per cent of current jobs will go because of AI, same percentage, which is 50%, more jobs will also be created, which would need skilled manpower to handle AI.

AI Verified source (Feb 17, 2026)