Infosys is strategically leveraging its "poly-AI" or hybrid AI architecture to deliver significant manpower savings, potentially up to 35%, for its clients across various industries. This approach involves seamlessly integrating various AI solutions, fostering autonomous agents capable of handling end-to-end operations. Balakrishna DR, Executive VP and Global Services Head for AI and Industry Verticals at Infosys, noted that the savings vary based on the specific processes and industries involved, but can range from 5% to 35% depending on the business process.
Poly-AI Architecture: A Hybrid Approach
The core of Infosys' strategy is a flexible architecture ecosystem that helps businesses easily migrate AI solutions across models. This "poly-AI" or hybrid AI architecture allows enterprises to avoid being tied to a single tool or model, which is particularly important given the rapid emergence of new AI models and techniques. This architecture facilitates the transition from AI as an assistive tool to autonomous agents capable of independent reasoning, planning, execution, and action, mirroring human capabilities in completing end-to-end business operations. These agents act as "digital twins" of human workers, with a human-in-the-loop for review.
Key Benefits and Applications
The adoption of poly-AI offers several key advantages, including cost efficiency through the automation of routine tasks, 24/7 availability, and enhanced customer experience via more human-like interactions. This approach also provides valuable data-driven insights from customer interactions, aiding better decision-making.
Infosys is building an agentic AI foundry with over 200 reusable agents for enterprise-wide use, aiming to deliver scalable, outcome-driven AI solutions. Sectors currently leading in agentic AI adoption include financial services, telecommunications, manufacturing, consumer packaged goods, logistics, and services. The most significant benefits are seen in labor-intensive processes with long durations. For example, Infosys has used its AI solutions for direct and indirect procurement functions for a manufacturing client, covering sourcing, supplier management, and contract lifecycle management, resulting in savings of tens to hundreds of millions of dollars annually.
Infosys' Internal AI Transformation
Infosys is also focused on upskilling its workforce in AI to meet the growing demand for AI expertise. The company reports that approximately 90% of its employees have been skilled in AI. Infosys is building AI builders, AI masters, and AI experts, providing employees with deep capabilities, including creating foundational models from scratch, model tuning, and optimization. The company's AI-powered platform, LEX, tailors learning experiences to each employee's career path, mapping their skills and aligning them with company goals.
Addressing Challenges and Ensuring Responsible AI
Despite the potential benefits, Infosys recognizes the challenges associated with enterprise AI usage. A recent survey revealed that 95% of senior executives reported negative consequences from AI usage in their companies in the past two years. Furthermore, 78% viewed "responsible AI" as critical for enterprise AI success. Challenges include data and talent gaps. To mitigate these issues, Infosys is focusing on learnability and AI skilling, building AI builders, masters, and experts from its existing and new employees.
Infosys has identified five key categories of AI manifestation in enterprises. Poly AI architecture addresses the challenges in enterprise AI integration by managing the diversity and variability in different AI platforms. It leverages components like LLM hub, prompt management tools, evaluation chassis, caching frameworks, and AI gateways to streamline AI interactions, reduce fragmentation, and ensure consistent performance across AI models.
Strategic Implications
The move towards poly-AI and autonomous agents is particularly relevant as tech spending slows, with clients demanding better results for lower costs. Infosys' approach allows organizations to complete the same amount of work with fewer employees, boosting efficiency and lowering costs. This shift is not just about cost savings but also about enabling employees to focus on higher-value tasks, improving overall productivity and job satisfaction.
By embedding AI into every facet of its learning and development strategy, Infosys ensures its workforce remains resilient, adaptable, and primed for success in the evolving digital landscape. This includes providing employees with foundational knowledge of AI concepts and tools and equipping senior executives with the tools needed to champion AI adoption.
