New Delhi: A statement by entrepreneur and Shark Tank India investor Anupam Mittal has ignited a major debate about the future of work. In a recent social media post, Mittal argued that managers—not software developers—could be among the first professionals significantly disrupted by artificial intelligence, prompting widespread reactions from business leaders, startup founders and employees.
The comment challenges a common assumption that coding and technical jobs face the greatest automation risk. Instead, Mittal suggested that many managerial functions, including reporting, scheduling, coordination, performance tracking and decision support, can increasingly be handled by AI-powered systems.
The discussion arrives at a time when companies worldwide are accelerating AI adoption. Businesses are deploying generative AI tools to automate documentation, customer interactions, workflow management and data analysis. According to multiple global studies, AI could automate portions of millions of existing jobs while simultaneously creating entirely new categories of employment.
Supporters of Mittal’s view argue that middle-management roles are particularly vulnerable because many responsibilities involve information processing and coordination. Modern AI platforms can already summarize meetings, prepare reports, track project timelines and generate strategic recommendations in seconds.
Examples are emerging across industries. Large corporations are experimenting with AI copilots that assist managers in evaluating performance metrics, forecasting business outcomes and allocating resources. Startups are increasingly relying on smaller teams empowered by AI-driven productivity tools.
However, critics believe the prediction oversimplifies the role of managers. Leadership experts argue that effective management requires emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, mentorship and organizational culture building, areas where human judgment remains essential.
