Beyond the AI Buzz: 15 Hard Questions CIOs Should Ask Cognizant (and Any IT Vendor)

Cognizant’s CEO, Ravi Kumar S, used the recent Goldman Sachs Communicopia + Technology Conference to position the company as an AI-driven, agentic-development powerhouse. We heard about 30% of code now written by machines, billion-dollar deals, outcome-based pricing, and a future defined by “agentic capital.”

It’s an impressive narrative—but as CIOs and sourcing, you can’t just applaud the story. You need to translate it into contract terms, delivery metrics, and real savings for your enterprise.

Here are 15 hard questions to put on the table when your vendor—Cognizant or otherwise—comes in with the AI and productivity pitch.

1. AI Productivity – Where Are My Savings ?

Cognizant says 30% of its code is now machine-generated. Great—but:

1. How much of that productivity gain is reflected in my project rates or timelines?
2. Can you show me before/after delivery cycle metrics from real client engagements?
3. What are your quality safeguards to ensure AI-generated code is secure, compliant, and maintainable?

2. Pricing Models – Is It Still T&M in Disguise ?

Cognizant highlights outcome-based and transaction-based pricing. CIOs should push further:

1. Am I still paying for human hours even as machines take over a third of the coding?
2. Can we pilot outcome-based pricing tied to business results, not staff augmentation?
3. How will you price “agentic capital” versus human capital in my future deals?

3. Reliability – What Happens When Agents Fail?

Agentic development is exciting but comes with risks. Ask:

1. What percentage of your agentic pilots have scaled successfully?
2. Who supervises these systems, and who is accountable if they go wrong?
3. How do you stop shadow AI from creeping into my enterprise through your delivery teams?

4. Vendor Consolidation – Proof or Pitch?

Cognizant stresses its ability to consolidate vendors by embedding AI-powered tools. Challenge them:

1. Why are you better positioned than my other partners to take on a larger wallet share?
2. What unique IP or platforms (like FlowSource) differentiate you beyond generic coding assistants?
3. If I consolidate with you, how do you prevent vendor lock-in?

5. Future Value – Is Innovation Shared or Hoarded?

The company says AI savings are reinvested into innovation. For CIO the key is shared value:

1. How will you reinvest productivity gains into innovation for my business, not just your margin?
2. What industry-specific agentic use cases can you deliver today—beyond generic AI hype?
3. How will you help me measure ROI from agentic development beyond “faster coding”?

Why This Matters Now

Cognizant is positioning itself as back “in the winner’s circle” through AI-led productivity and agentic journeys. But as a buyer, you must ensure those wins don’t just accrue to their shareholders—they must accrue to your IT budget, your innovation agenda, and your enterprise’s resilience.

👉 Takeaway for CIOs and Sourcing Leaders:

Don’t get dazzled by percentages and patents. Translate Cognizant’s promises into tough questions, measurable baselines, and enforceable pricing models. Only then will AI-driven productivity and agentic development become more than a talking point on an investor stage.