Capability Gap: Only 0 to 4% of Indian firms possess a high level of AI expertise, behind the global average of 2 to 8%.
Indian enterprises are outpacing their global counterparts in large-scale adoption of artificial intelligence. Most organisations in India now expect to increase their artificial intelligence spending in the next year. This is according to the State of AI in the Enterprise 2026 report published by Deloitte, one of the world’s largest professional services firms.
The report surveyed over 3,235 senior leaders across 24 countries between August and September 2025, including more than 200 business and technology leaders from India. The findings show that India is moving faster than most countries in deploying artificial intelligence at scale, but the country lags significantly behind in building the skills needed to sustain that growth.
Key Numbers From the India Report
94%
Indian organisations expect AI budgets to increase next year
40%
Indian respondents report significant or full AI use vs 28% global average
0 to 4%
Indian companies with high AI expertise vs 2 to 8% globally
Where Indian Firms Are Deploying AI at Scale
The Deloitte report confirms that Indian companies have moved past small trials and are now running artificial intelligence across core business functions. This places India ahead of many global peers when it comes to deployment at scale.
The report shows at-scale deployment figures across major business areas:
- Product Development: 62 per cent of Indian firms are using AI at scale in this area, the highest of all functions.
- Strategy and Operations: 56 per cent of firms report full or significant deployment.
- Marketing and Sales: 55 per cent of firms are using AI at a meaningful level.
- Supply Chain: 48 per cent report active and operational use of AI tools.
These numbers are well above the global average of approximately 28% for significant or full AI use across enterprise functions. Deloitte notes that Indian organisations are not just experimenting with artificial intelligence. They are operationalising it to unlock near-term productivity and business outcomes.
“The next chapter will be shaped less by access to technology and more by the ability to build institutional capability, strengthen governance, and align people with new ways of working.”
S Anjani Kumar, Partner, Deloitte India
The Expertise Gap That Puts Growth at Risk
Despite leading in adoption, India faces a serious problem. The country has a very low level of deep AI expertise compared to the global average. Deloitte found that only 0 to 4 per cent of Indian companies possess a high level of AI expertise. The global average sits between 2 and 8 per cent.
This means Indian companies are deploying artificial intelligence aggressively, but fewer people within those organisations have the advanced skills needed to build, manage, and govern these systems properly. Experts call this the capability gap, and it is widening as deployment speeds up.
This disconnect is a risk. When organisations scale AI faster than they build skills, they create systems that are difficult to audit, correct, or improve over time.
What Is Blocking AI Growth in India
The Deloitte report identifies the biggest obstacles Indian organisations face when integrating AI into their businesses. The barriers are not primarily about technology or money. They are about rules, people, and process.
| Barrier to AI Integration | Percentage of Firms Reporting |
|---|---|
| Regulatory and compliance demands | 39% |
| Resistance to change within the organisation | 34% |
| Cost and budget pressures | 12% |
| Infrastructure limitations | 5% |
The low figures for cost and infrastructure show that money and technology are not the main problems. The bigger challenge is governance readiness and getting people within organisations to adopt new ways of working. Deloitte concludes that these human and regulatory factors are the more immediate limiting factors for AI at scale in India.
Global Picture: Adoption Is Accelerating Everywhere
The India findings are part of a broader global report that paints a similar picture worldwide. Deloitte surveyed 3,235 senior leaders across 24 countries and found that access to AI tools has grown by 50 per cent in one year. Around 60 per cent of workers now have access to approved AI tools, compared to fewer than 40 per cent the previous year.
However, adoption at the tool level has not translated into deep business transformation. Only 34 per cent of global companies report that they are using AI to deeply transform their business. The rest are either making minor changes or simply laying AI tools on top of existing systems without structural change.
On agentic AI, which refers to AI systems that can take actions and complete tasks independently, 23 per cent of global companies are currently using it at least moderately. That number is expected to grow to 74 per cent within two years.
What This Report Means in Simple Terms
- India is deploying AI faster than most countries in the world.
- But Indian companies have very few people with deep AI skills to manage these systems well.
- Rules and regulations are the biggest obstacle, not cost or technology.
- 94 per cent of Indian firms plan to spend more on AI in the next 12 months.
- The real challenge now is building skills and governance, not just buying more tools.
What Comes Next for Indian Enterprises
Deloitte’s recommendation is clear. Indian organisations need to invest in building institutional capability alongside their technology rollouts. Organisations that invest in trust and skills today will be better positioned to convert early gains into sustained advantage, according to S Anjani Kumar, Partner at Deloitte India.
The report signals that the next phase of AI in India will not be decided by who deploys the most tools. It will be decided by who builds the governance structures, skilled teams, and operating models needed to make those tools deliver real and lasting business value.
Source: Deloitte State of AI in the Enterprise 2026. Survey conducted August to September 2025 across 3,235 leaders in 24 countries. India edition captures responses from over 200 business and technology leaders.
Reviewed & Edited By
Aman Vaths
Founder of Nadcab Labs
Aman Vaths is the Founder & CTO of Nadcab Labs, a global digital engineering company delivering enterprise-grade solutions across AI, Web3, Blockchain, Big Data, Cloud, Cybersecurity, and Modern Application Development. With deep technical leadership and product innovation experience, Aman has positioned Nadcab Labs as one of the most advanced engineering companies driving the next era of intelligent, secure, and scalable software systems. Under his leadership, Nadcab Labs has built 2,000+ global projects across sectors including fintech, banking, healthcare, real estate, logistics, gaming, manufacturing, and next-generation DePIN networks. Aman’s strength lies in architecting high-performance systems, end-to-end platform engineering, and designing enterprise solutions that operate at global scale.
