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Time of India
07-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
AI fluency is the new wealth: How mastering intelligence can rewrite your paycheque?
Emergence of skill capitalism From Python to power moves Specialists in model training and configuration Thinkers from cryptology, econometrics, and forensics Non-tech talent with translation and logic expertise Mid-level mayhem The agentic AI paradox Blueprint for doubling your worth Go beyond prompt fluency: Learn to build, not just use. Seek foundational work: Model training, guidelines, and evaluation. Join firms that train you to think like a machine: Not just use one. Pick a domain: Finance, logistics, law—depth wins over breadth. Act before agentic AI saturates the market: The window is open, but closing fast. Talent, not tenure, is the most precious currency in India's technology ecosystem. As artificial intelligence knits the very fabric of work, those fluent in language are no longer just professionals in cubicles—they are the frontrunners in a race that will determine who leads and who gets left behind. While every new invention in the domain fans the flames about whether AI will substitute jobs or leverage employees, the truth is: It is here to who learn to adapt to the guest will survive; those who shrug off its presence under the carpet will suffer. Not only are AI jobs expected to boom in the coming years, but AI specialists are also expected to secure hefty salary intelligence has penetrated almost every sphere of human existence—finance, healthcare, retail, logistics. AI skills are creating a rippling effect in the job market. Salaries are doubling, hierarchies are flattening, and the old rules of career progression are being rewritten with breathtaking is not just a buzzword, it is opening doors to skill capitalism- a system where compensation is directly intertwined with cognitive depth in machine learning, data modelling, and algorithmic reasoning. In this system, artificial intelligence is the great leveller and the great AI literacy is ubiquitous- but mastery is rare. And companies are not rewarding familiarity - they are paying a premium for those who can architect, train, and refine AI systems from the ground up. For those professionals, a 100% salary hike has become the new benchmark, not the is projected to generate 2 million AI-related job openings over the next two years according to a Bain and Company report. But even in this abundance, one element remains scarce—specialized talent. Foundational AI engineers, mathematicians, physicists, and domain-savvy coders are in dangerously short Python and AI tools are now well-learned skills among graduates. The market doesn't need prompt engineers. It needs system architects. AI familiarity is no longer a value proposition. Companies now seek: Experts in noise analysisIn short, AI has become interdisciplinary warfare, and generalists are losing Bruce Keith, Co-founder, InvestorAi, stated that 'Every graduate we meet is AI literate in terms of prompts and general use of AI tools. Add to this that Python is easy to learn, and then barriers to entry are low. If you are looking for someone to train models, set guidelines, and provide monitoring, then there are a good number of candidates. I think the issue is that firms are hiring a bunch of smart kids and expecting them to bring AI to the organisation without a proper plan - I see this across the finance sector.'The scarcity is most acute in the mid-level range. These are professionals expected to design and scale foundational models—yet this tech is so new that 'five years of experience' is often a are waiting six months or more to onboard viable candidates. During negotiation, 100% salary jumps are not just tolerated—they're often the opening candidates are seeing offers of ₹10–15 LPA—half of European standards, but still substantially above traditional Indian benchmarks. But the real prize lies in mid and senior roles, where compensation can cross into 300% premium territory for domain-specialist agentic AI—the new wave of intelligent, autonomous systems—becomes more capable, a paradox unfolds. These very systems may eventually replace the roles companies are desperately hiring for World Economic Forum (WEF) Future of Jobs 2025 report warns that up to 87% of AI-related roles could face substitution. But that isn't a death knell—it's a clarion call to mentioned, 'As agentic AI increases in adoption, there will be more capacity in the system and less need for new engineers – make sure you take the opportunities to go deep in terms of tech or domain.'So, how do you secure the 100% salary hike that's suddenly within reach?This is no longer a story of linear growth. It is a story of intellectual compounding. AI is not just a tool—it is a career catalyst. But only for those who understand that the future of work will belong to those who can build the future double your salary, you don't need to chase need to become indispensable to it.
Straits Times
06-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Solar energy the main draw for green investments in South-eas Asia in 2024: Report
SINGAPORE - Investors are most drawn to solar energy projects for green investments in South-east Asia, according to a report released on May 6. More than 30 per cent of 2024's green investments in the region were in solar energy, the South-east Asia Green Economy 2024 report found. These included solar and battery energy storage facilities, as well as manufacturing plants for solar cells and panels. A collaboration between Bain and Company, Temasek, Google GenZero and Standard Chartered, the report also showed that more than 62 per cent of green investments in South-east Asia were made in Singapore and Malaysia. Total investment in solar energy in Singapore hit US$384 million (S$497.7 million) in 2024, up from US$66 million in 2023. Overall, green investments in Singapore drew US$2.7 billion in 2024, which more than tripled from US$900 million in 2023. A total of 69 per cent of green investments in South-east Asian countries made in 2024 were by foreign investors, both within and outside the region. Singapore was the most active investor in the region, being involved in 39 per cent of deals. But while green investments may be growing, current projections show that Asia-Pacific nations are not on track to meet their 2030 targets, with the gaps between actual emissions and targets expected to widen by 2040 and 2050. The report noted that South-east Asia remains particularly vulnerable, as its emissions have yet to peak. Ms Franziska Zimmermann, managing director of sustainability at Temasek, noted that with just five years to 2030, the 'window for action' to avoid the worst effects of climate change is rapidly closing. 'We need to increase the momentum and focus on pragmatic solutions with near-term impact… Stakeholders in this region have an opportunity to drive transformative, systems-level change that can balance energy security, sustainability and economic growth,' she said. The report highlighted three 'systems-level solutions' to drive decarbonisation in South-east Asia: developing a sustainable bioeconomy with better agricultural practices and waste management; upgrading grid infrastructure to support renewable energy like solar power; and growing the electric vehicle ecosystem. The report said that if fully implemented, these solutions could generate up to US$120 billion in additional gross domestic product, create 900,000 jobs and cut the region's emissions gap by as much as 50 per cent by 2030. It said such efforts could be supported by more carbon pricing as well as targeted green and transition financing, and the use of artificial intelligence to improve waste management and farming efficiency. A looming challenge, however, is that with the rise in energy demand from AI solutions, data centres will need to turn to renewable sources, which remain costly. One proposed solution is the use of virtual power purchase agreements (VPPAs), a financial arrangement where companies that run data centres help fund renewable energy projects by paying for renewable energy certificates, even if they do not use the electricity directly or are not on the same grid. This would help firms meet their green targets in countries where renewable energy is limited or too costly to access directly. VPPAs are gaining traction as a key tool for corporates, with countries such as Singapore and Malaysia enabling their use. Mr Dale Hardcastle, partner and co-director of Bain & Company's Global Sustainability Innovation Centre, said that the current macro environment might slow progress in the green economy, but South-east Asia and the broader Asia-Pacific could still see momentum as governments, companies and investors shift priorities. 'By focusing on scalable, high impact systems-level solutions, South-east Asia can rewrite the green economy playbook and turn current challenges into opportunities,' he said. 'The need now is to drive two key outcomes in parallel – significant emissions reduction and sustained economic growth – ensuring that the region not only meets its climate goals but also builds long-term resilience and prosperity.' Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
