TCS Plans to Build the World’s Largest AI-Native Workforce
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), India’s largest software exporter, has launched an aggressive internal transformation programme titled “TCS to the Power AI” (tcsAI).
This initiative transforms the entire workforce of over 600,000 employees from being merely “AI-aware.”
It ensures every staff member becomes a certified AI practitioner.
Announced by COO Aarthi Subramanian in late December 2025, the move signals a historic pivot from the traditional IT services model toward an “AI-led” technology services paradigm.
TCS aims to become the world’s largest AI-ready workforce, positioning its internal operations as a “live reference case” for the very transformation it sells to global clients.
From Awareness to Action: The TCS Practitioner Model
Unlike standard corporate training, the “TCS to the Power AI” programme focuses on hands-on deployment.
The company has already doubled its count of advanced AI specialists to 180,000 over the past year.
The goal for 2026 is to ensure that every associate—regardless of their department—can meaningfully integrate AI into their daily work.
To facilitate this, TCS has implemented several high-engagement initiatives:
- Weekly AI Fridays: Cross-functional teams gather at physical AI labs across TCS campuses for time-bound “sprints” to build specific solutions.
- World’s Largest AI Hackathon: A record-breaking event where 281,000 employees participated, generating over 500,000 unique builds and ideas.
- AI Experience Zones:Immersive environments where staff can experiment with Large Language Models (LLMs) from partners like NVIDIA, Microsoft, Google, and AWS.
The “Autonomy Framework” and Internal Reset
TCS is not just training its people; it is redesigning its core business functions.
The company has introduced a five-level autonomy framework to guide its internal IT, HR, finance, and legal teams.
This system helps these departments transition from simple automation toward full AI autonomy.
This internal “reboot” proves to clients that TCS can effectively manage the “AI Paradox.”
It aims to increase productivity and revenue while simultaneously optimizing the company’s headcount.
In a strategic shift, the firm is utilizing its proprietary TCS AI WisdomNext™ platform to compare and deploy different AI models for specific industry use cases.
This approach ensures that its practitioners remain platform-agnostic while delivering tailored solutions.
Strategic Partnerships: The NVIDIA and Microsoft Edge
The upskilling drive is heavily supported by “diamond-level” partnerships with NVIDIA and Microsoft.
TCS associates now have access to specialized NVIDIA AI Factories and Microsoft’s Azure AI Foundry.
These tools allow TCS practitioners to move beyond chatbots and focus on “Agentic AI.”
These autonomous agents can sense, decide, and act within complex industrial environments like smart factories and pharmaceutical labs.
“TCS must look and feel like the future we are selling to customers,” said COO Aarthi Subramanian, highlighting that the programme is designed to flatten hierarchies and accelerate learning at an unprecedented scale.
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