AI as an Assistant: Flex CEO Revathi Advaithi on the Future of AI and India’s Role in Global Tech
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is set to revolutionize workspaces across industries, but its impact on employment may be more balanced than many anticipate, according to Revathi Advaithi, CEO of Flex. Speaking at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit, Advaithi shared her perspective that AI will ultimately function as an “assistant” to humans rather than a replacement, likely resulting in a net-zero effect on jobs. “There’s a lot of concern that AI and AGI (artificial general intelligence) could replace human jobs, but I believe AI will primarily boost productivity and help redistribute roles, supporting upskilling across the workforce,” she explained.
Advaithi highlighted Flex’s adoption of an in-house AI tool designed to assist employees with various tasks, including drafting emails and transcribing meetings. This tool, tailored to Flex’s vast global operations across 30 countries and 100 facilities, illustrates the company’s commitment to using AI as a “co-pilot” for enhancing human workflows.
India is uniquely positioned to advance in the AI and manufacturing domains, according to Advaithi. Infrastructure improvements, policy incentives like Digital India and the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, and a strong talent base have bolstered India’s capability in manufacturing and data centre operations. “Manufacturing iPhones in India would have been unimaginable five years ago, but India’s focus on streamlining processes and building robust ecosystems is driving impressive growth,” she noted.
Discussing India’s potential in the semiconductor industry, Advaithi acknowledged the complexity and resource demands involved. However, she believes India’s design talent and increasing emphasis on semiconductor manufacturing can play a critical role in AI development and supply chain resilience.
Advaithi also addressed the explosive growth in data centres worldwide, with a recent capital investment of approximately $300 billion committed to expanding global data capacity. Projected to grow at a 19% CAGR, data centres are essential for supporting AI advancements and digital infrastructure, though energy requirements present an ongoing challenge. As companies navigate this evolution, Advaithi stressed that sustainable manufacturing, technological innovation, and resilient supply chains remain Flex’s top priorities.
