{
  "id": 5461157,
  "title": "Get AI to work on your terms: Microsoft Puneet Chandok's advice to everyone in the modern tech race",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/get-ai-to-work-on-your-terms-microsoft-puneet-chandoks-advice-to",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-09-04T01:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "YourStory",
    "slug": "yourstory",
    "url": "https://yourstory.com/2026/09/get-ai-to-work-on-your-terms-microsoft-puneet-chandok"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Microsoft India & South Asia President, Puneet Chandok, warns that businesses must maintain a delicate balance between utilizing advanced AI capabilities and preserving the human analytical edge. Chandok believes that the modern workforce is entering a new era shaped by the human-AI barbell, with technical AI skills on one end and uniquely human qualities on the other.\n\nAccording to a study by Microsoft, 32% of AI users in India are 'frontier professionals', who combine agentic automation with strong human judgment, double the global average. During an event to unveil the findings of the Microsoft Work Trend Index 2026 in Bengaluru, Chandok offered a blueprint for navigating the future of work.\n\nChandok advises that with tools like Copilot becoming widespread, individuals should design their daily routines to sharpen their analytical minds. He emphasizes that using Copilot actively sharpens one's mind by allowing for unfiltered questioning and debate with the tool. However, he stresses that it is crucial to maintain balance, incorporating human qualities such as empathy, sense-making, curiosity, and emotional aspects.\n\nFor graduates entering the new tech landscape, Chandok advises mastering AI skills while continuing to build human skills like empathy and sense-making. He also recommends preparing for a dynamic portfolio career, as career paths will no longer be static. Campus hiring has evolved, focusing on proof of work and taste, judgment, and filter rather than just degrees.\n\nOrganizational operating models are shifting to focus on ROI and redesign workflows around tokens that work 24/7 without ego, breaks, or sleep. At Microsoft, the company aims to skill 20 million people in India, including 2 million teachers, to become frontier professionals and force multipliers in the world's largest classroom.",
  "summary": "Microsoft’s Puneet Chandok offers a blueprint for navigating the future of work. Young engineers must master AI skills; alongside they must nurture empathy and filter. Enterprises must look at a clear path to ROI and build a team of frontier professionals who balance automation with human judgement.",
  "key_points": [
    "Microsoft urges balance between AI capabilities and human analytical edge.",
    "32% of Indian AI users are frontier professionals combining automation with human judgment.",
    "Chandok advises mastering AI skills while building human skills like empathy and sense-making."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Businesses and individuals must balance advanced AI capabilities with human analytical skills, empathy, and sense-making to navigate the future of work, according to Microsoft India President Puneet Chandok.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}