TLDR: Kalyan Kumar, Chief Product Officer at HCL Software, a subsidiary of HCLTech, has raised concerns about ‘AI washing’ within the technology sector, emphasizing the need for clear outcomes over mere tool adoption in the burgeoning field of Agentic AI. This comes as HCLTech aggressively expands its AI capabilities, aiming to integrate AI services into 100 clients by FY26 and launching new Agentic AI solutions in partnership with Google Cloud.
In a recent discussion, Kalyan Kumar, Chief Product Officer at HCL Software, a key entity within the HCLTech ecosystem, highlighted a growing concern within the technology industry: ‘AI washing.’ Kumar stressed the importance of focusing on tangible end outcomes rather than simply adopting AI tools without a clear strategic vision. He pointed out that while there is significant excitement around Agentic AI, a pragmatic approach is crucial to avoid superficial implementation.
Kumar introduced HCL Software’s pragmatic blueprint, XDO (Experience, Data, and Operations), as a framework to guide businesses in leveraging AI effectively to improve customer and employee experiences. He underscored that the adoption of AI, particularly Agentic AI, is not merely an IT department’s responsibility but represents a fundamental shift in an organization’s operating model, requiring commitment and transformation from the CEO level.
This caution from a leading HCLTech executive comes amidst the company’s aggressive push into the generative AI space. HCLTech has set an ambitious goal to integrate AI services into 100 clients by the end of fiscal year 2026. The company’s AI Force platform has already seen adoption by over 20 clients, with plans for significant scaling in the coming years. HCLTech CEO & Managing Director Vijayakumar C has stated, ‘We have a plan to infuse AI and generative AI across all the services that we deliver, which is what we call a service transformation program. Our goal is to roll it out to 100 clients by the end of FY26.’
The viability of generative AI applications has significantly increased due to a dramatic reduction in the cost of large language models (LLMs), which have dropped by over 85% since early 2023. This cost efficiency is enabling HCLTech to deliver impactful AI solutions at scale. The company reported securing $2.1 billion in total contract value (TCV) in Q3 FY25, with a substantial portion of these deals embedding AI solutions. Notable examples include a Fortune 200 technology company selecting AI Force for its ITO program and a U.S.-based automotive client leveraging Enterprise AI Foundry to enhance aftermarket sales operations with predictive AI models.
HCLTech is actively exploring Agentic AI, which aims to empower employees and clients with intelligent, AI-driven features. The company has also recently launched a suite of Agentic AI solutions in collaboration with Google Cloud, leveraging Google Agentspace and an agentic framework to create a unified platform where AI agents can interact seamlessly with data and applications. Piyush Saxena, SVP and Global Head, Google Cloud Ecosystem, HCLTech, emphasized that their approach involves creating industry and workflow-specific AI agents designed to reduce manual intervention, enhance decision-making, proactively resolve issues, improve customer experience, and boost loyalty. HCLTech has already released 50 Agents on Google Marketplace across various industries, including IT, HR, customer relationship management, finance, and sales.
Also Read:
- HCLTech Strengthens Salesforce Partnership to Drive Enterprise Agentic AI Adoption
- SAP CTO Philipp Herzig Addresses ‘Hype’ Around Agentic AI Amidst India’s Growing Role in SAP’s AI Innovation
Furthermore, HCLTech has reinforced its leadership in multi-agent AI innovation by launching orchestration consultation and implementation services for Salesforce Agentforce, supporting the rapid adoption of enterprise-grade agentic workflows. The company leverages advanced protocols, including Agent-to-Agent (A2A) and Model Context Protocol (MCP), to streamline coordination and task tracking, driving faster and more reliable outcomes. HCLTech’s commitment to AI is further evidenced by its strategic partnerships with hyperscalers like Google, Microsoft, and AWS, as well as semiconductor vendors such as NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel, and platform ISVs including Salesforce, ServiceNow, and SAP. The company has also received significant industry recognition, being rated as a Leader in various reports, including the IDC MarketScape for Worldwide Data Modernization Services 2024 and the HFS Horizons Generative Enterprise Services 2025.
