Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is expanding its artificial intelligence business by planning to build a team of up to 8,900 forward-deployed AI engineers. The company is also exploring acquisitions in AI, data security and cybersecurity as it strengthens its AI capabilities and helps businesses adopt AI solutions.
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is planning to build a team of up to 8,900 forward-deployed AI engineers as it expands its AI business, according to a Reuters report published on Saturday. Along with this, the company is looking at acquisitions in AI, data security and cybersecurity to strengthen its technology capabilities.
TCS CEO K. Krithivasan said the company wants 1% to 1.5% of its workforce to work as forward-deployed engineers. Based on TCS’s employee count at the end of June, this would be around 5,900 to 8,900 employees. He did not say whether these roles would be filled by hiring new employees or by training existing staff.
Forward-deployed engineers work closely with clients to help them adopt AI and develop solutions that match their business needs. As more companies invest in AI, this role has become increasingly important. Companies such as OpenAI, Anthropic and Microsoft have also expanded similar teams to help businesses deploy AI tools.
The announcement comes just days after TCS announced its Q1 FY27 results on July 8. The company’s annualised AI revenue run rate rose to $2.6 billion, up from $2.3 billion in the previous quarter, a 13.6% sequential increase.
TCS reported quarterly revenue of $7.624 billion, up 2.7% from a year earlier. The company also added more than 9,300 employees during the quarter, its highest net workforce addition in recent quarters.
In June, TCS partnered with Anthropic to jointly deliver AI solutions across different industries, including highly regulated sectors. The company also said AI has become a “core theme” in discussions with its clients.
Speaking about the company’s acquisition plans, Chief Financial Officer Samir Seksaria said TCS is looking for opportunities that can strengthen its long-term strategy. “We are looking at where we can find things which will help us enable or enhance our strategic positioning,” he said.
Krithivasan said AI will create new business opportunities instead of weakening the outsourcing industry. He added that businesses will continue to need companies like TCS to integrate AI into their existing technology systems and make those solutions work effectively.
TCS acquired Salesforce consultancy Coastal Cloud for $700 million in late 2025 after relying mainly on organic growth for several years. According to an industry analysis, nearly 14 of the 16 acquisitions made by Indian IT companies in 2026 have been related to AI.
The company also invests around $1 billion every year in talent development and making AI more accessible across the organisation. This includes employee training, targeted hiring and recruitment for AI-native technologies.
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