AI challenges traditional notions of literacy: HUL Chairman

For centuries, the ability to read and write has been the non-negotiable gateway to knowledge, opportunity, and meaningful participation in society. It has been the bedrock of progress, the foundation upon which economies and civilisations have been built. However, according to Nitin Paranjpe, Chairman of Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL), this century-old assumption is being rapidly overturned by the rise of artificial intelligence. Speaking at the 44th Palkhivala Memorial Lecture in Chennai, Paranjpe declared that AI is driving a "silent revolution" that is fundamentally redefining what it means to be literate in the 21st century. The Voice-First Revolution. 

At the heart of this paradigm shift is the decoupling of knowledge from text. For the first time in human history, accessing information and acquiring skills no longer require the ability to decode written symbols. Paranjpe highlighted that this transformation is being powered by the convergence of conversational AI with India's diverse linguistic landscape. “For the first time, you do not need to read and write to be able to ask questions or learn a skill,” Paranjpe stated, emphasising that access to knowledge can now begin with voice rather than text. This is particularly transformative for a country like India, where literacy rates, while improving, still leave a significant portion of the population unable to engage with text-based information. AI-powered interfaces allow a farmer in rural Maharashtra or an artisan in a small town to interact with complex datasets, ask questions, and receive expert advice in their mother tongue, bypassing the traditional barrier of written language entirely. Paranjpe illustrated this point with a tangible example of AI’s grassroots impact. He cited the case of farmers in Maharashtra who are leveraging Possible spelling mistake found., an AI-based advisory platform. 

Through this tool, farmers can interact in regional languages to get real-time advice on optimal crop practices, sowing seasons, and other critical agricultural requirements. The platform, which Paranjpe noted is "showing great results," democratizes access to agricultural science, empowering farmers with knowledge that was previously locked away in manuals or accessible only through extension officers. The success of such initiatives has been recognised at the highest level, with the Union Budget 2026 announcing the expansion of this model across the country under the name Bharat Vistaar.

Redefining Participation and Human Equity: This technological shift is about more than just convenience; it is about inclusion. Paranjpe argued that AI’s true significance lies in its potential to fundamentally change what it means to participate in society. It begins to dismantle the long-held assumption that the inability to read and write is an automatic disqualification from economic activity and progress. This challenges policymakers and businesses alike to examine whether AI is enhancing what Paranjpe calls "human equity" or quietly shrinking it. For India to ensure it is the former, he proposed a distinct national strategy. Unlike many Western nations, where AI development is often text-and-English-centric, India’s ambition must be different. Paranjpe urged that India’s AI focus should be firmly centred on voice over text, local languages over English, and large-scale skill-building that begins early and reaches the widest possible audience. He advocated for treating AI not merely as a private commodity but as a form of public infrastructure, prioritising applications that serve the public good in areas like agriculture, healthcare, and legal access. 

The AI Paradox: Awe and Anxiety. While championing AI's potential for inclusion, Paranjpe was careful to acknowledge the profound challenges that accompany this technological leap. He described the "AI paradox," noting that the technology sparks two sharply contrasting emotions: awe and anxiety. On one hand, AI systems possess the astonishing capability to compose poetry, help cure rare diseases, and manage large-scale logistical tasks. On the other hand, they simultaneously pose the risk of displacing thousands of jobs, concentrating power in the hands of a few, and spreading falsehoods at an unprecedented scale. He listed key risks, including "digital colonisation," the risk of deception and distortion at scale, and the "illusion of choice" created by algorithms that can drive a narrow worldview. The anxiety surrounding job losses, particularly, is real and legitimate. However, Paranjpe offered a crucial reframing of this concern. He argued that the real threat to livelihoods is not AI itself but exclusion from AI.

 This perspective shifts the focus from resisting automation to ensuring widespread access to AI tools and the skills to use them, thereby preventing a new form of digital divide. The Road Ahead: An Intelligent Enterprise HUL itself is navigating this new reality by transforming into an "intelligent enterprise." Paranjpe has previously outlined how the company is leveraging data, technology, and analytics at its core to move from a traditional linear value chain to a non-linear ecosystem. From using social listening and a People Data Centre to capture consumer insights, to digitising general trade through apps like Shikhar, HUL is embedding AI across its operations. Finally, Nitin Paranjpe's remarks serve as a powerful call to action for India. As AI dismantles the traditional gates of literacy, the country stands at a crossroads. By consciously choosing to build a voice-first, language-diverse, and publicly accessible AI ecosystem, India can harness this silent revolution to create a society where opportunity is no longer dependent on the ability to read and write, but on the capacity to ask, learn, and adapt in a new, intelligent world.