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Narayana Murthy Unveils AI’s Power: Lecture Prep Slashed by Five-Fold
NR Narayana Murthy, co-founder and chairman emeritus of Infosys, shared how ChatGPT‑4 has dramatically accelerated his lecture and speech preparation, reducing a time-intensive 25–30-hour process to just 5 hours—a staggering five‑fold boost in efficiency..
At 78, Murthy expressed his belief that AI is not a threat to human jobs but a powerful augmentation tool. He recounted diving deep into theme, sub-themes, interconnections, and meaningful conclusions—elements crucial to speech crafting. Traditionally, this took him over a day; today, ChatGPT drafts the framework rapidly, enabling him to refine it within hours.
“I used to take about 25–30 hours to prepare a lecture. Now I take just 5 hours using ChatGPT,” Murthy told.
“AI as Enhancer, Not Replacer”
Murthy’s message is clear: AI is a collaborator, not a competitor. He emphasized that AI tools like generative models can streamline repetitive tasks—such as speech drafting and code skeleton generation—allowing professionals to focus on complex, creative, and strategic thinking.
He elaborated on this collaboration:
“The smartness is in defining the requirement well. … unless you ask the right question, you won’t get the right output.”
This mirrored his view that the future tech workforce will excel not just in implementation, but in precise problem-definition and design thinking.
Historical Parallels: Computers and the Banking Boom
Murthy drew a compelling historical analogy—comparing the 1970s introduction of computers in British banking to today’s AI revolution. Back then, unions feared job loss. But as automation improved throughput and standardised operations, employees began heading home by 5 PM, contributing to a surge in jobs—40 to 50 times more—in subsequent decades.
Murthy’s point: AI, like computers before it, will redefine and expand career spaces, not diminish them.
Implications for India’s IT Sector
Murthy’s insights arrive at a critical juncture; global IT services demand is shifting, and India’s $280 billion IT industry has experienced modest growth and cautious hiring. His voice brings reassurance: AI could be the missing catalyst—enhancing productivity, reducing errors, and cutting turnaround times.
He told that Indian firms should embrace AI for tasks like coding review and debugging, freeing up talent to tackle innovation and domain-specific challenges. The call to action is resonating: Infosys is already launching AI learning platforms, and competitors like HCLTech are exploring new AI-enabled models .
Personal Adoption: Rohan Murty’s Influence
Interestingly, it was Murthy’s son, Rohan Murty, who introduced him to ChatGPT. This generational bridge highlights how digital natives can empower established leaders to adopt emergent technologies.
Murthy acknowledged this collaboration:
“In a matter of 5 hours, I could improve the draft. … I improved my own productivity by as much as five times.”
Encouraging Responsible Use
While Murthy champions AI’s promise, he also underscores responsible and ethical adoption. He advises using AI to supplement critical thinking—not supplant it—and developing a robust understanding of what gets fed into these tools .
He continues to advocate that:
- Skills like prompt design, domain expertise, and human oversight will grow in importance,
- AI-generated work must be verified and refined, and
- Education and policy frameworks should focus on human‑AI collaboration skills.
Scholarship and Societal Impact
During the conversation, Murthy also announced that his family’s investment arm, Catamaran Ventures, will back a 20‑year scholarship at IIM Ahmedabad—underscoring his broader commitment to nurturing India’s future leaders, not just driving technological efficiency.
The Road Ahead: A Balanced Outlook
Murthy’s viewpoint stands out for its optimism anchored in pragmatism:
- Efficiency gains: A 5× personal time reduction validates AI’s usefulness.
- Human-centred work: With AI handling structure, professionals can focus on conceptual depth.
- Economic growth: If history repeats itself (as it did with banking), AI could multiply job opportunities.
- Ethical stewardship: Technology thrives when paired with robust human oversight.
His perspective mirrors that of many global leaders advocating for responsible AI adoption—seeing it as a tool to elevate human potential rather than supplant it.
Final Word
Murthy, one of India’s most respected tech entrepreneurs, has delivered a simple yet powerful message: “Use AI as your ally.”
As he navigates the twilight of his career—still sharing wisdom at global forums—his embrace of ChatGPT signifies a deeper truth:
A seasoned leader can still learn from emerging tech—and an AI tool, guided by decades of human insight, becomes more than the sum of its parts.
India’s educators, innovators, and professionals would do well to follow Murthy’s example: harness AI, define our problems intelligently, and then apply our uniquely human strengths to shape solutions for tomorrow.
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