India’s booming gig economy — made up of low-skill delivery riders and warehouse workers — is under threat from rising automation. India Today highlights the story of Ankur Kumar, a Blinkit delivery partner who spends over 12 hours daily on the road, often covering 100–180 km. Meanwhile, in cities like Gurgaon and Bengaluru, drones are already doing similar delivery work for a fraction of the cost.

Experts warn AI could replace large swathes of this 12 million-strong workforce, especially as platforms scale and jobs double in number. Economists describe gig work in India as “low-skill and low-pay,” lacking social security, benefits, and long-term growth. Without reskilling, many gig workers may remain easily replaceable by machines.

Although reports show growing AI adoption in India’s IT and platform sectors — over 40% of gig workers already use AI tools — this shift is not yet matched by worker protections. As gig worker numbers are expected to more than double by 2030, the article warns of a fragile economy built on people who may soon be edged out by automation.