According to a report by white-collar hiring platform Naukri.com released on Wednesday, 40% of those earning ₹15 lakh per annum and above said AI could reduce creativity in their work. This concern is most acute in creative fields—54% of animation and VFX professionals, 43% in film and music and 41% in advertising and marketing flagged fears over diminishing originality.
The report, titled AI: Friend, Foe or Frenemy, is based on a survey of over 60,000 job seekers, alongside insights from recruiter data and job listings across Naukri’s platform.
The broader sentiment, however, remains largely positive, with 86% of Indian job seekers viewing AI as a “friend” rather than a threat, challenging the global narrative of AI-led job destruction.
“AI-linked roles are growing faster, salaries are higher and demand is rising across industries—not just in IT,” said Pawan Goyal, chief business officer, Naukri.com. “Freshers remain anxious, but AI job growth for entry-level roles is up 34%, while senior professionals are seeing the biggest salary premiums. The gap is clear: those with AI skills are moving ahead faster than those in traditional tech roles.”
Between April and June 2025, more than 35,000 AI/ML jobs were posted on the platform, marking a 38% year-on-year increase, while non-AI tech jobs rose by just 8%.Even beyond metro areas, cities like Indore, Coimbatore, Kochi and Ahmedabad accounted for over 1,500 AI job listings, challenging the idea that AI is a metro-only story.The salary upside for AI-skilled talent is substantial. The report found that median salaries in AI roles are 53% higher than in non-AI roles. Freshers saw up to 56% salary premiums, while professionals with 13-16 years of experience earned 32% more when equipped with AI expertise.
AI hiring is no longer confined to IT, which still accounts for 53% of AI jobs. Banking saw a 48% growth in AI jobs, while BPO and ITES grew 39%, despite lingering fears of automation-driven displacement in those sectors. Accounting and KPO segments reported AI hiring jumps of 49% to 56% respectively, underlining how AI demand is spreading across functions.
The report also highlighted rising expectations among job seekers: 36% want free AI courses from employers and one in three IT professionals are seeking hands-on project exposure over theoretical training. Upskilling demands are intensifying across industries like FMCG, hospitality, retail, education and BPO.