Is ChatGPT the secret behind Infosys founder’s 5x productivity boost?

Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy has revealed that he now uses ChatGPT to prepare for his lectures and speeches—drastically reducing his preparation time from nearly 30 hours to just five.

In an interview with Moneycontrol, the tech veteran said the AI tool has helped him become far more efficient, calling it a fivefold boost in productivity.

Murthy said he previously spent 25 to 30 hours preparing for each talk, carefully crafting the theme, sub-themes, and final message.

“Earlier, I used to take about 25–30 hours to prepare a lecture because I take these things very seriously,” he told Moneycontrol. “There must be a theme, a sub-theme; they must be interrelated. At the end, there must be a strong message.”

But things changed after his son, Rohan Murty, encouraged him to try ChatGPT. “In a matter of five hours, I could improve the draft. I improved my own productivity by as much as five times,” Murthy said.

Murthy believes AI should be embraced as a tool to enhance productivity—not a replacement for human effort.

“The smartness is in defining the requirement well,” he said. “That’s what my son told me—unless you ask the right question, you won’t get the right output.”

He emphasised that AI's usefulness depends on how well a user defines their needs and queries. Murthy has long advocated for AI’s potential to support work, rather than displace workers.

Murthy said Indian IT companies can leverage AI to speed up software development, reduce errors, and tackle more complex challenges.

With AI handling repetitive tasks, he believes engineers can focus on strategic problem-solving. “It’s a chance to move up the value chain,” he said. 

Drawing parallels to the computerisation of UK banks in the 1970s, Murthy said AI will likely follow the same trajectory—from resistance to widespread acceptance.

“Back then, machines were opposed by unions, but later they helped improve productivity and enabled employees to go home by 5 PM to spend time with their families,” he recalled. 

Murthy sees AI as an augmentative force. He believes it will create new opportunities by helping professionals become better at framing problems and defining tasks.

His comments add to the growing chorus of industry leaders advocating for the responsible use of generative AI to boost efficiency and creativity across sectors.

Murthy shared his AI experience while launching a new scholarship at IIM Ahmedabad through his family’s investment firm, Catamaran.

The scholarship will fund the top MBA student every year for 20 years. It will be backed by a mix of equity and fixed income investments, and will be adjusted for inflation.