Sooner or Later, We’ll Have to Use AI as an Employee” Paytm Founder Launches New AI Feature, Says India can Become the AI Use Case Capital

Paytm is going all-in on artificial intelligence. 

Speaking at Shiprocket’s Shivir: AI Commerce Edition in Delhi, founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma made a bold statement: the fintech giant is now aiming to become an “AI-first” company.

“Sooner or later, we’ll have to use AI as an employee—or even as a CFO,” Sharma said, highlighting just how deeply AI will be integrated into Paytm’s operations going forward.

This comes at a time when Paytm is streamlining its workforce. The company let go of nearly 3,500 employees in the March 2024 quarter, largely in sales roles, following restrictions on Paytm Payments Bank. 

With a trimmed team and sharper focus, Sharma believes AI can now step in to fill critical operational gaps, while also unlocking smarter, faster decision-making across departments.

A Passbook That Raps? Paytm’s Fun Take on AI

To show how AI can be both functional and fun, Sharma unveiled a quirky new pilot feature: an AI-powered passbook that turns your monthly spending data into a rap song. Users can even choose the genre. Imagine your grocery runs and online shopping habits turned into catchy lyrics, delivered in a beat of your choice.

“It’s a fun way to engage users and help them make sense of their spending,” Sharma said. While it’s still being tested, he hinted that it could be available to users very soon.

This isn’t Paytm’s first AI experiment. 

The company recently partnered with Perplexity, an AI startup, to integrate smart conversational search inside the Paytm app - helping users ask questions and get instant, AI-powered answers. More features like this are expected in the coming months.

India Can Lead the World, Not in AI Models, But Use Cases

Beyond Paytm, Sharma believes India’s biggest opportunity in AI lies in application, not invention.

 “We don’t have to build the models. What we have is scale and problems that matter,” he said. “We can become the use-case capital of the world.”

With global tech companies trimming their workforces and investing in AI, Paytm’s move is both timely and strategic. Sharma’s message is clear: leaner teams, smarter systems, and a bold push into the AI-driven future.

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