Artificial intelligence is not a threat but a catalyst that will elevate practical skills into premium assets, offering income, dignity and transforming factory work into long-term relevance and a lucrative gold-collar profession, Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra said on Wednesday.
In his New Year message to employees, he challenged the widespread fear of disruption as AI reshapes industries.
"When technology amplifies skilled hands, those hands can become as rewarding, if not more rewarding, than traditional white-collar work. AI can turn blue collar into gold," Mahindra noted.
Addressing concerns over automation and workforce displacement, he said, "Many fear disruption. I respectfully disagree. I believe AI is an accelerator, not a threat".
Elaborating further, he added, "As intelligent systems take over routine tasks, practical skills, accelerated by AI, will become premium assets, offering income, dignity and raising blue collar work to a new level of long-term relevance".
"AI will bring about a fundamental shift in the value of 'hands-on' skills: a technician who can work confidently alongside AI, a machinist who understands digital tools, and a craftsperson whose intuition is enhanced by data will change the world of shop floor work." He predicted, "we will rediscover the value of people who can build, craft, repair, and operate real machinery of life".
Highlighting the company’s initiatives, he said, "I am proud that we are walking the talk in this domain".
Referring to his recent role as Chairman of the Board of Governors of Young India Skills University in Telangana, Mahindra said the institution is a pioneering one aimed at preparing India's youth for a future where high-tech proficiency must be paired with vocational mastery.
The group is committed to strengthening the talent pipeline that the world needs. From the Mahindra Tractors Skill Development Centres to Tech Mahindra's future-ready talent academies, he underlined the focus on practical skills.
On the year ahead, he said, "The world may be unpredictable, with technology evolving and geopolitics shifting. But uncertainty is not our enemy, it is our proving ground".
Equipped with sharper capabilities, greater skills, and an unwavering commitment to nurturing world-class talent, he said, "We will not just navigate the storm, we will chart new courses for growth".
Asserting that the future belongs to those who build it, Mahindra said, "Let's build it together".
Looking back at 2025, he described it as a year of market leadership and redefined expectations. He highlighted the group's performance across SUVs, farm equipment, electric three-wheelers, and Mahindra Finance, while Tech Mahindra focused on AI and operational excellence.
For decades, Mahindra was known for rugged dependability, he said, adding, "today, we are perceived as modern, confident and future-ready".
He credited the group’s EV venture for "not just changing the portfolio" but for changing the conversation and signalling that "Mahindra is mastering frontier technologies and shaping the future of mobility".