AI will not replace human jobs; instead, it will shift human roles toward more strategic and complex tasks that require intellectual interpretation and decision-making.
Group CIO
Aurobindo Pharma
In an exclusive conversation with CIO&Leader, Chitti Babu, Group CIO at Aurobindo Pharma, provided unique insights into the transformative role of AI in the pharmaceutical industry. He discussed how AI and machine learning are reshaping job roles, enhancing efficiency, and reducing errors. Importantly, he emphasized that human oversight remains crucial for maintaining quality and accuracy. Here are some key excerpts from the interview.
CIO&Leader: As AI evolves, many people fear it will take over their jobs, causing significant anxiety. How do you perceive the impact of AI and machine learning on job displacement, especially in industries like pharmaceuticals?
Chitti Babu: The introduction of AI and machine learning (ML) will not overwhelm human workers but will transform the nature of many jobs. While AI and ML-based solutions will replace some clinical and repetitive tasks prone to human error, they will not eliminate the need for human intervention. For example, in the pharmaceutical industry, automation can significantly reduce human error in data entry and analysis, which is crucial given the precision required in this field.
Manually written records in pharmaceuticals can lead to errors when data is read and entered into systems. AI and ML can automate this process, ensuring accuracy and efficiency. However, AI systems rely on statistical algorithms and probability theories, which require human intellectual interpretation to function correctly. While AI can expedite processes, human oversight remains essential to maintain quality and accuracy. The ultimate goal of AI and ML is to enhance productivity, enabling humans to focus on more strategic and complex tasks.
CIO&Leader: Can you provide specific examples of how AI and ML can reduce errors and improve efficiency in the pharmaceutical industry?
Chitti Babu: Certainly. In pharmaceuticals, errors in reading handwritten data can lead to significant discrepancies in calculations. For instance, misinterpreting a handwritten ‘9’ as a ‘4’ can seriously impact chemical formulations, directly impacting human life. AI can automate the reading and entry of such data, ensuring that values are correctly interpreted and minimizing the risk of errors.
Furthermore, in market recalls, extensive analysis of historical data is required. If records are manually written, they need to be re-entered into systems for analysis, which is time-consuming and error-prone. AI-based process analytical systems can streamline this process, ensuring data accuracy and speeding up analysis. By automating repetitive and error-prone tasks, AI allows human workers to focus on higher-level analysis and decision-making, ultimately improving efficiency and safety in the pharmaceutical industry.
CIO&Leader: Will there be a continued need for human workers in AI-driven environments?
Chitti Babu: AI will not wholly replace human jobs. Instead, it will transform the nature of work, shifting human roles towards more strategic and complex tasks that require intellectual interpretation and decision-making. AI and ML systems can process vast amounts of data and perform repetitive tasks accurately. However, they still require human oversight to ensure they function correctly and make appropriate decisions based on statistical algorithms.
The future is a collaborative one, with AI handling routine tasks and humans focusing on oversight and strategic decision-making, ensuring the quality and accuracy of the final product.
CIO&Leader: Besides AI, which upcoming technology excites you the most, and why?
Chitti Babu: Quantum computing is fascinating and has the potential to revolutionize the field of computing. Although it may still be obscure in the market, quantum computing promises to perform complex computations in fractions of a second that current technologies would take trillions of years to complete. This tremendous computational power could transform various industries, enabling new levels of efficiency and problem-solving capabilities.
While staying updated with new tools and technologies is essential, maintaining high development standards is equally important.
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