India Inc. Leads Global AI Adoption, Despite Skills Gap, 40% Have Fully Deployed AI: Report

Deloitte's State of AI in the Enterprise 2026 Report Reveals Rapid Adoption in Indian Enterprises

Key Findings:

• Indian enterprises are outpacing global peers in large-scale adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), with most organisations expecting to boost AI spending over the next year.
• 62% of Indian companies have deployed AI at-scale in Product Development, while 56% have done so in Strategy and Operations, and 55% in Marketing & Sales.

AI Deployment and Adoption:

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• Indian organisations are operationalising AI to deliver tangible productivity gains and business outcomes, with 40% of respondents reporting significant or full AI usage, compared to a global average of 28%.
• The report highlights a significant skills gap, with only 0-4% of Indian firms possessing high levels of AI expertise, compared to a global average of 2-8%.

Future Outlook and Challenges:

• 94% of Indian organisations expect their AI budgets to grow over the next year.
• Regulatory and compliance requirements are the top barrier to AI adoption ( 39% ), followed by resistance to change within organisations ( 34% ).
• Governance readiness and operating-model transformation are the primary constraints on scaling AI in India.

Expert Insights:

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• According to S Anjani Kumar, Partner, Deloitte India, Indian enterprises are entering a defining phase in their AI journey, where ambition is translating into enterprise-wide execution.
• Kumar added that organisations that invest in trust and skills today will be better positioned to convert early gains into sustained advantage.