Roshni Nadar Malhotra, Chairperson of HCLTech and HCL Group, has articulated an expansive vision for India’s technological future, positioning artificial intelligence and semiconductors as twin pillars of the country’s next phase of growth while warning that AI will fundamentally reshape how societies, organisations and individuals operate.
She was speaking on the sidelines of the groundbreaking ceremony of the HCL-Foxconn semiconductor unit in Uttar Pradesh, where she underscored that artificial intelligence is not simply another technology cycle but a structural shift that will redefine productivity, employment and leadership itself.
“AI will expose who we are,” Nadar said, describing the technology as a mirror reflecting institutional intent and human values as much as technical capability. According to her, AI is rapidly evolving into an ever-present system, acting as “an assistant, a guide, a teacher, sometimes even a companion”, fundamentally altering how knowledge is created, accessed and consumed.
Her remarks come at a time when HCL is accelerating investments beyond traditional IT services into semiconductor manufacturing and talent development, signalling a strategic transition toward deeper participation in India’s emerging technology infrastructure.
A central element of this strategy is HCL’s partnership with Taiwanese electronics major Foxconn to strengthen India’s semiconductor ecosystem. The collaboration places strong emphasis on developing specialised engineering talent required for advanced chip manufacturing.
“What we plan to do over the next few years is actually build and train some of the talent,” Nadar said, noting that Foxconn’s decades-long engineering expertise will play a critical role in shaping India’s semiconductor capabilities.
The upcoming outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) facility in Greater Noida is expected to require hundreds of highly skilled engineers, highlighting the urgent need for industry-aligned training programmes. HCL plans to work closely with academic institutions, including Shiv Nadar University, to create a sustainable pipeline of semiconductor professionals.
The initiative aligns with India’s broader ambition to reduce dependence on imported electronics components and build domestic resilience in critical technologies.
Alongside talent development, HCL is targeting a meaningful share of India’s semiconductor market. The company aims to supply nearly 25 per cent of India’s display driver chips within the next two years, a move that could significantly reshape domestic electronics supply chains.
“We do see that the maximum demand will come from India itself,” Nadar said, pointing to rising consumption driven by smartphones, consumer electronics, automobiles and connected devices.
A large portion of production is expected to cater to domestic manufacturers, with exports emerging as a secondary growth avenue. The investment marks a return to HCL’s hardware heritage even as the company continues expanding its global software and digital engineering operations.
Industry observers view the initiative as strategically important, given that display driver chips remain foundational components across modern electronic devices and are currently heavily import-dependent.
While semiconductors represent a long-term manufacturing bet, Nadar believes artificial intelligence will have a more immediate and profound impact on organisations and the workforce.
She noted that AI will reshape entry-level roles across industries while significantly improving productivity per employee. Rather than eliminating jobs outright, AI is expected to transform how work is structured, pushing companies toward higher-value problem solving and innovation.
AI, she said, should be understood as a “force multiplier” capable of augmenting human capability rather than replacing it.
The transition, however, will require companies to rethink talent strategies, reskilling frameworks and career pathways, particularly for younger professionals entering an AI-augmented workplace.
Taken together, Nadar’s comments signal a broader evolution underway at HCL. The company is increasingly positioning itself not only as a global IT services provider but as a contributor to nation-scale technology capability.
Semiconductor investments address supply-chain security and manufacturing depth, while AI initiatives focus on productivity transformation and intellectual leadership. Talent development acts as the connective tissue between the two ambitions.
For Nadar, this convergence reflects a larger geopolitical and economic reality: countries that control critical technologies will shape the future global order.
As India seeks to emerge as a technology powerhouse, she argues that success will depend on combining engineering talent with domestic capability creation, enabling the country to move from being primarily a technology consumer to becoming a technology creator.
In that transformation, AI may be the catalyst, but human intent will ultimately determine the outcome.
“AI will expose who we are,” she said, a reminder that the future of technology will be defined as much by values as by innovation. |
