Congress MPs urge Centre to invest in upgrading skills to counter AI impact

Bhuvanagiri Congress MP Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy said it is high time for the Union government to invest more in upgrading skills to compete with Artificial Intelligence and support workers, especially those in vulnerable positions.

He, along with Warangal MP Kadiyam Kavya and Narayanpet MLA Chittem Parnika Reddy, along with several leaders from CPI, CPM and Congress, attended a roundtable conference organised by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) on “Artificial Intelligence and its Impact on Jobs and Gender Bias” in Goa on Saturday.

Addressing the participants, Mr. Kiran Kumar Reddy stressed that collaboration between industry, government and educational institutions is vital to ensure a smooth transition and minimize job displacement effects. “Social security frameworks and formalization of informal employment are important to protect vulnerable workers during this transition,” he added.

Meanwhile, MP Kadiyam Kavya emphasised how digital inequities disproportionately affect women in low- and middle-income countries, urging targeted interventions for inclusive growth. Presenting startling statistics from recent surveys on the digital gender gap, she noted that only 75% of women own mobile phones compared to 85% of men, with smartphone ownership among women at a mere 35% in India.

Shifting to women’s advancement, Ms. Kavya said the Chief Minister Revanth Reddy-led Telangana government is implementing pioneering initiatives like the Indira Mahila Shakti programme, which are transforming lives. The Lok Sabha member called for bridging the digital divide through affordability measures, skills training and infrastructure development, particularly for underserved women.