Microsoft India President Puneet Chandok urges youth to ‘work out’ with AI tools: How hands-on experience is becoming the new career currency

In a world where artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping industries, career pathways, and workplace expectations, students and young professionals are facing a stark reality: Theoretical knowledge alone won’t cut it anymore. Puneet Chandok, President of Microsoft India, recently urged the youth to embrace AI fluency, not as a passive observer, but as active practitioners. “This is not something you can learn in a classroom, not theory,” Chandok told PTI. “I always joke that you can’t get fit by watching others go to the gym. You have to go to the gym yourself. Same with AI tools. You can’t learn by watching others use the tools, start using these tools.”Chandok’s analogy may sound light-hearted, but the message is serious: Hands-on experience with AI is fast becoming a critical currency for career growth.

AI fluency: The skill every professional will need

According to Chandok, fluency in AI is no longer optional. As routine, repetitive work is automated, the value of human judgment, creativity, and strategic thinking grows. AI, he said, is a booster of cognitive abilities rather than a threat, allowing professionals to focus on higher-order, value-adding work.“This is about building your own digital agents, learning to manage them, and integrating AI into your workflows. Combine that with resilience, agility, speed, and a growth mindset, and you’re future-ready,” Chandok said.Emerging roles in AI — agent managers, AI orchestrators, prompt engineers, didn’t exist just a year ago. Today, they represent new career frontiers. For students and early-career professionals, developing these skills can open doors in sectors ranging from finance and healthcare to retail and media.

India: A booming playground for AI talent

India has emerged as a global AI hub, combining a vast talent pool with a thriving digital ecosystem. According to Boston Consulting Group’s report, ‘India’s AI Leap’, the country is home to over 700 million internet users, high mobile penetration, and sturdy platforms like the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), creating a fertile ground for scalable AI innovation.India already boasts over 600,000 AI professionals, second only to the United States, and that number is expected to double to 1.25 million by 2027. With a domestic AI market projected to triple to USD 17 billion by 2027, the opportunities for young professionals to shape, build, and lead AI-driven initiatives are immense.“Unlike many past technologies, AI is as much a driver of innovation and growth as it is of enhancing performance and efficiencies, thereby unlocking entirely new growth pathways,” the report noted. From reducing underwriting time in financial services by 70% to cutting media production costs by over 80%, AI is transforming industries across the board.

Upskilling is no longer optional

Chandok emphasized that constant learning and skill-building will define success in the AI era. “As organizations, we are super agile. We are constantly readjusting based on the needs of our customers and the countries we operate in. Invest in areas where we see more demand for both skills and people,” he said.For students, this is a call to action: Don’t wait for a job to teach you AI. Start experimenting now. For early-career professionals, it’s a challenge to rethink how you work, delegate, and leverage technology to multiply impact.

Why ‘working out’ with AI matters

Chandok’s gym analogy captures the essence of the shift in workplace expectations. Just as physical fitness requires consistent effort, so does AI fluency. Observing others or completing theoretical courses is no longer enough. Real skill comes from creating, experimenting, failing, and iterating with AI tools.The takeaway is clear: In the next decade, career currency will be defined not by degrees alone, but by practical experience with AI, adaptability, and a growth mindset. For students and young professionals looking to future-proof their careers, the message is inspiring, and actionable. Start your AI workouts today.(with PTI inputs)TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here.



_{Images are for reference only.Images and contents gathered automatic from google or 3rd party sources.All rights on the images and contents are with their legal original owners.}