Indian tech leaders say engineers must guide AI's future

Indian technology executives are using National Engineers' Day to highlight the changing role of engineers in an era of artificial intelligence and automation. Their comments point to a growing industry focus on judgement, ethics and local context in technology development.

Leaders from Magellanic Cloud, Orient Technologies and Blue Cloud Softech Solutions describe engineers as decision-makers in how AI, deep tech and digital infrastructure evolve. They link engineering to problem selection, social impact and national technology priorities, not just technical execution.

At Magellanic Cloud, the focus is on engineering as the bridge between emerging tools and large-scale deployment. The company operates in areas including AI, drones and the Internet of Things, and sees engineers as central to turning these technologies into solutions for industries and public infrastructure.

"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," said Joseph Sudheer Reddy Thumma, Chairman & Managing Director, Magellanic Cloud Limited.

The remarks reflect a wider shift across Indian technology companies. Engineering is increasingly framed as a discipline of continuous learning, where experimentation and applied innovation sit alongside delivery and compliance.

Orient Technologies makes a similar distinction between technical skill and strategic judgement. Its leadership argues that as AI automates more execution work, engineers must decide which problems deserve attention.

"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," said Ridhima Sawant, Chief Transformation Officer, Orient Technologies Limited.

Her comments underscore how expectations of engineering teams are broadening. Strategic thinking, ethical awareness and the ability to challenge established assumptions are becoming core parts of engineering roles at large technology suppliers.

Blue Cloud Softech Solutions ties the discussion directly to Indian conditions and regulation. It argues that AI systems must reflect domestic data, infrastructure and oversight if they are to serve local priorities.

"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," said Tejesh Kodali, Group Chairman, Blue Cloud Softech Solutions Limited.

Together, the comments present National Engineers' Day as a moment to reflect on how India's engineering workforce will work alongside AI rather than compete with it. They also highlight a shared expectation that human judgement will remain above automated systems in critical decision-making.