Harvard Business Review LogoMackenzie StrohWhen gen AI emerged, HCLTech recognized that it would fundamentally alter the economics of IT services, breaking the traditional link between revenue growth and workforce expansion. CEO C.When generative AI became widely available, in late 2022, we at HCLTech quickly recognized that it would have enormous implications for our organization and our industry. For decades IT services have operated via linear models, with staffing and revenue growing in tandem. Every major technology wave, from the internet to digitalization to the cloud, created demand for more engineers, more consultants, and larger teams. Advances in AI have changed that equation: Vast amounts of knowledge work can now be completed dramatically faster with much less human effort. The technology is not just improving productivity around the edges; it’s altering the economics of our business.