When Vijay Shekhar Sharma speaks, the Indian tech world listens. And this time, his message is blunt: Artificial Intelligence isn’t coming—it’s already here. “Very soon,” he said, “we’ll need to treat AI as a co-worker, maybe even a CFO.”
It wasn’t hyperbole. It was a business directive.
The Paytm founder isn’t mincing words. In his latest vision statement, Sharma announced that Paytm is now gearing up to become an AI-first company, aiming to embed artificial intelligence deep into its DNA—far beyond just automation. For Sharma, it’s not about chasing trends. It’s about survival in a business world where machines are reshaping everything from customer service to core product development.
Beyond Fintech: Paytm’s New Identity
Sharma’s comments came at Shiprocket’s “AI Commerce: Made for Bharat” event in New Delhi, where he laid out a roadmap that’s as bold as it is timely. He sees Paytm no longer as a fintech firm but as a company ready to redefine its future around AI.
“The majority of tasks handled by humans today will soon be managed by AI,” he explained. “That’s why our energy must go into building strong, core products that leverage this intelligence—before we’re left behind.”
For companies exploring similar transitions, Sharma’s clarity is instructive. The idea isn’t just to insert AI where convenient but to rebuild around it. It’s a move that leading transformation experts, such as Arrow PC Network, are already helping companies implement through their IT Services—including end-to-end support for AI business models, product reinvention, and intelligent integration.
Layoffs and Reality Checks
Of course, pivoting to the future isn’t always pretty. Amid all the AI optimism, Paytm is also in the middle of a quiet workforce reshuffle. In the March 2024 quarter alone, its sales headcount dropped by 3,500 employees, largely tied to fallout from the Reserve Bank of India’s restrictions on Paytm Payments Bank.
There’s also the financial picture. Despite the AI push, Paytm posted a consolidated net loss of ₹540 crore for Q4 FY25—only a slight improvement from ₹550 crore a year earlier. Notably, the company slipped to third place in the UPI ecosystem, far behind PhonePe, which processed over 8.5 billion transactions in June.
These aren’t small issues. But they haven’t dented Sharma’s commitment to long-term reinvention.
AI Meets Culture: The Rap-Powered Passbook
If Sharma’s AI vision needed a pop culture twist, he delivered. At the same event, he revealed Paytm is piloting an AI-generated feature that creates a monthly “rap song” summarizing your expenses. Yes, a rap song.
Using Paytm’s vast transaction data, the company plans to create a light-hearted, audio-driven passbook that turns mundane finance tracking into an experience. Sharma says it’s about using AI not just for backend efficiencies—but for user delight.
This kind of creative experimentation sits at the intersection of tech and consumer behavior—exactly the type of AI innovation that Arrow PC Network encourages through its specialized AI-first company enablement services. The idea? Tech should work for people, not just instead of them.
Partnering with Perplexity: The Search for Smarter Tools
Backing up this AI-first direction, Paytm recently partnered with U.S.-based startup Perplexity to embed AI-powered search features directly into the Paytm app. It’s a signal that the company is investing heavily in intelligent user experiences—not just in India but on a global tech curve.
The partnership aims to enhance how users interact with services, helping them navigate Paytm’s ecosystem with smarter queries, better answers, and context-aware recommendations.
For businesses watching closely, this is a clear cue: Don’t bolt AI onto your platform—build it into your core.
Looking Ahead: Sharma’s Challenge to the Industry
Sharma’s strategy isn’t just a personal bet. It’s a loud wake-up call to Indian business leaders. AI isn’t something to experiment with on the side—it’s the foundation of what’s next.
And if India wants to lead in the global AI race, it needs enablers. It needs execution. It needs seasoned partners like Arrow PC Network, whose IT Services are designed to guide businesses through every step of their digital reinvention—from legacy transformation to full-scale AI business models.
Thoughts…
Vijay Shekhar Sharma has never played it safe. And with Paytm now set to become an AI-first company, he’s once again rewriting the script. The question is, who’s ready to follow—and who’s still clinging to the past?
Because in the new world of AI, the future doesn’t wait.
