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‘In generic drugs and biosimilars, AI is reshaping molecule screening and formulation, while robotics and machine vision will increasingly handle synthesis and quality control’
| Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
The spectre of a world orchestrated by Artificial Intelligence (AI) looms over discussions at coffee tables, in industry, and in the corridors of power. Opinions about what the near future portends range widely. While some suggest that superintelligence is only a few years away, others say it is many years away. Questions about education too are frequent, but mostly with respect to teaching and examinations. Only a few bring up preparedness for the jobs of the near future.
The nature of work at every level is changing rapidly and unpredictably. It is not just that ‘vibe coding’ threatens to render much routine coding obsolete. With wisely configured agents and other tools, even important work can be made routine, leaving fewer employees to provide careful oversight.
The same acceleration is coming to manufacturing, and will affect every sector in which India has strengths. In generic drugs and biosimilars, AI is reshaping molecule screening and formulation, while robotics and machine vision will increasingly handle synthesis and quality control. Vaccine development and manufacture will also change visibly: AI can help design antigens and predict immune responses, while robotic bioreactors, automated fill-finish lines, and AI-managed logistics will make production faster, cleaner, and more precise.
Indian industry will no doubt pivot to meet these challenges. Companies may survive and prosper, but their employee profiles will change dramatically. Many entry-level positions will disappear, but people with deep domain expertise will still be needed, and such expertise cannot magically be acquired at the point of entry.
