India engineers told to command AI, not compete with it

Blue Cloud Softech Solutions, Magellanic Cloud and Orient Technologies have outlined how artificial intelligence is changing engineers' roles as India marked National Engineers' Day.

All three highlighted a common theme: even as AI takes on more technical tasks, engineers will remain central in deciding which problems technology should solve.

Ridhima Sawant, Chief Transformation Officer at Orient Technologies, said the profession is moving beyond simply building systems towards deciding where technology can create lasting value.

"Engineering has never been just about building what exists; it has always been about expanding what is possible. From critical infrastructure to AI, cybersecurity, deep tech and digital innovation, engineers have continually changed the way we live, work and solve problems. Today, that role is being redefined. In an AI-driven world, technology can solve known problems faster than ever. But lasting impact will come from engineers who know which problems are worth solving, challenge assumptions and apply technology with judgement and purpose. AI can accelerate what we build, but human judgement will continue to define why we build it and the value it creates. For the next generation of engineers, preparing for this future means more than keeping pace with technology. It means staying curious, learning continuously, experimenting boldly and having the confidence to challenge conventional thinking. The real opportunity lies in turning emerging technologies into solutions that create meaningful, lasting value. Engineering today is not simply about working with the technologies shaping the future; it is about helping shape what comes next. The future of engineering will not be defined only by how quickly we adopt technology, but by how thoughtfully we use it to solve problems that matter," Sawant said.

Human judgement

Blue Cloud Softech Solutions echoed that emphasis on judgement, arguing that AI increases rather than reduces the importance of engineers in oversight and accountability.

Tejesh Kodali, Group Chairman at Blue Cloud Softech Solutions, linked the discussion to the legacy of Sir M. Visvesvaraya and said engineers now face a broader set of decisions than previous generations.

"Engineers' Day honours Sir M. Visvesvaraya, who built dams, irrigation systems and an entire industrial city with a slide rule and an iron will. A century later, India's engineers face a harder question than how to build: what to build, and for whom. Artificial intelligence now writes code, designs circuits and drafts contracts. That does not make the engineer obsolete. It makes the engineer indispensable, because someone must decide what problem is worth solving, judge whether the answer is right, and take responsibility for the outcome. Those three things, choosing, judging and owning, cannot be delegated to a machine. At Blue Cloud we are building AI that runs on Indian infrastructure, trained on Indian data, answerable to Indian institutions, and we are betting the company on the engineers who will make it trustworthy. My message to every young engineer this Engineers' Day is simple: do not learn to compete with AI. Learn to command it," Kodali said.

His remarks reflect a wider shift in the engineering labour market as automation takes over more repetitive work. In response, companies are placing greater weight on system design, validation, contextual understanding and responsibility for outcomes.

Magellanic Cloud approached the issue through the lens of applied innovation across industries, arguing that engineering remains the link between emerging technologies and practical use cases in sectors adopting AI, drones, the internet of things and digital infrastructure.

Joseph Sudheer Reddy Thumma, Chairman and Managing Director at Magellanic Cloud, said organisations need to create conditions that allow engineers to keep learning while testing and refining new ideas.

"Engineering continues to be at the heart of how new technologies move from ideas to real-world impact. On National Engineers' Day, we recognise the contribution of engineers in advancing areas such as AI, drones, IoT and digital infrastructure, while solving increasingly complex challenges across industries. At Magellanic Cloud, we believe innovation thrives when engineers are empowered to experiment, build and scale solutions with purpose. Creating an environment that encourages continuous learning, problem-solving and applied innovation will be critical to developing resilient, future-ready technologies and strengthening the country's broader technology ecosystem," Thumma said.

Skills shift

Taken together, the comments show how Indian technology companies are framing the next phase of engineering work. Technical knowledge remains essential, but executives are placing more emphasis on curiosity, experimentation and the ability to connect technical tools to commercial and social needs.

That also points to a shift in how engineering talent is assessed. Rather than focusing only on coding or design output, employers are increasingly looking for people who can question assumptions, assess the reliability of automated results and adapt quickly as tools evolve.

For younger engineers entering the sector, the message from all three companies was that AI should be treated as a tool, not a replacement for professional judgement. The recurring themes were continuous learning, careful problem selection and accountability for real-world outcomes.

Across the statements, there was little suggestion that automation will reduce the need for engineers in core decision-making roles. Instead, the argument was that the spread of AI is increasing the value of human oversight where technical choices intersect with trust, risk and purpose.