Infosys CEO Salil Parekh announced ambitious hiring plans during the World Economic Forum in Davos, revealing that the IT services giant will recruit 20,000 college graduates in FY27 as the company pivots toward AI-driven growth opportunities. The announcement comes as India's second-largest IT services exporter strengthens its workforce to capitalize on emerging artificial intelligence applications.

Aggressive Hiring Strategy Continues

The company's hiring momentum remains strong, with significant recruitment already underway in the current fiscal year. Parekh confirmed that from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027, the planned recruitment of 20,000 college graduates is already incorporated into the company's strategic plans.

AI Creating New Service Demand

Parekh emphasized that artificial intelligence is generating substantial opportunities across multiple service areas, even as traditional work faces some pressure. The CEO noted that growth opportunities currently outweigh compression in existing services, with AI driving demand in several key areas:

• Software Development: Increased development of AI agents on different foundation models
• Customer Service: Implementation of AI-powered service solutions
• Legacy Modernization: Upgrading old applications using AI agents

The company is witnessing client adoption moving beyond pilot projects, with AI implementations being deployed at scale. In financial services specifically, Infosys serves as the AI partner of choice for 15 out of 25 of its largest clients, representing real projects rather than proof-of-concept initiatives.

Enhanced Compensation for AI Talent

To attract digitally native talent for AI-first roles, Infosys has significantly increased entry-level compensation packages. The company now offers salaries up to ₹21.00 lakh per annum for specialized technology roles, reflecting the premium placed on AI capabilities in the current market.

Evolving Pricing Models

As AI integration advances, Infosys is adapting its pricing strategies to accommodate new delivery models that blend human teams with AI agents. Parekh acknowledged that the company is in early stages of developing pricing frameworks for AI-led delivery, with some projects already incorporating agent-based and joint human-AI team pricing structures.

Market Outlook and Growth Prospects

Regarding client technology spending, Parekh expressed optimism about large US companies' investment appetite, citing stronger GDP growth as a potential catalyst for technology investment decisions. He noted that this positive outlook applies primarily to the US market initially, with European markets showing different dynamics.

The strategic focus on AI-driven services positions Infosys to capture emerging opportunities while maintaining its competitive edge in the evolving IT services landscape.

Source: https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/information-technology/davos-2026-infosys-to-hire-20-000-graduates-in-fy27-as-ceo-parekh-flags-ai-led-growth-opportunities-13787190.html

Infosys CEO Salil Parekh delivered an optimistic outlook on artificial intelligence-driven growth opportunities at the World Economic Forum in Davos, emphasizing that AI adoption is creating significant revenue potential despite ongoing pressures in parts of the global technology services industry. Speaking to CNBC-TV18, Parekh highlighted the company's strong positioning in the AI transformation space and improving demand conditions across key sectors.

AI Adoption Driving Client Engagement

Parekh revealed impressive statistics regarding Infosys' AI engagement with clients. The company has achieved substantial penetration in AI-related projects across its client base, demonstrating the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence solutions in enterprise environments.

The CEO emphasized that AI is emerging as a significant source of incremental revenue, with some growth opportunities expected to begin contributing from the next financial year. He specifically highlighted software development and legacy system modernisation as two key areas where AI-led tools and agents are reducing time and cost for clients.

Sector-Wise Demand Recovery

Parekh expressed confidence about the outlook for the next financial year, expecting it to be better than the current one. The improvement is particularly notable in specific sectors that have shown signs of recovery.

The CEO noted that discretionary technology spending has started to return in financial services during the current year, indicating a positive trend in one of Infosys' key market segments.

AI Impact on Traditional Services

While acknowledging the transformative nature of AI adoption, Parekh provided a balanced perspective on its impact across the company's service portfolio. He recognized that AI adoption could lead to revenue compression in some traditional services but maintained an optimistic view of the overall opportunity.

The CEO explained that AI-led tools are making previously uneconomical projects viable for clients, creating new technology spending rather than merely shifting existing budgets. This dynamic is expected to generate net positive growth opportunities over the medium term, with AI-driven work growth outweighing compression in traditional services.

Market Environment and Performance

Parekh attributed the improving environment to better global economic indicators, including stronger US growth and expectations of lower interest rates, which typically support technology spending. He referenced Infosys' recent performance, noting the company reported its third consecutive quarter of better-than-expected results and raised its revenue guidance.

The CEO indicated that the company plans to provide more detailed information about specific AI revenue opportunities during its investor day scheduled for February, suggesting concrete developments in the company's AI strategy and financial projections.

Strategic Outlook

Despite acknowledging uneven demand in certain sectors, Parekh emphasized that the overall technology services environment is improving. The combination of AI-driven opportunities, sector-specific recovery, and favorable macroeconomic conditions positions Infosys for growth in the coming financial year. The company's extensive AI project portfolio and high client engagement rates in AI initiatives demonstrate its strategic positioning to capitalize on the artificial intelligence transformation across industries.