Truth that Matters. Stories that Impact

Truth that Matters. Stories that Impact

Business

Indian Businesses Accelerate AI Spending and Adoption Ahead of Global Peers, Survey Shows

A large majority of Indian enterprises are expanding their artificial intelligence investments and embedding automated systems directly into their day-to-day operations, according to data from a multi-country industry study. The findings show that 91 percent of surveyed Indian organisations raised their AI expenditure over the past year, moving ahead of regional and worldwide averages as businesses report measurable improvements in operational efficiency and output.

What Happened

A study conducted by Statista Plus Research across January and February 2026 evaluated artificial intelligence integration across major sectors, including architecture, engineering, construction, and operations (AECO), design and manufacturing (D&M), and media and entertainment (M&E). The research covered 2,500 industry leaders and professionals globally across countries such as India, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, China, Japan, Australia, Canada, Brazil, Italy, Mexico, South Korea, Spain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the Nordic nations.

The study found that every surveyed organisation in India now operates with some form of AI tool, with 63 percent deploying AI assistants and chatbots—the highest rate recorded across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) territory. Furthermore, 91 percent of Indian firms increased their AI capital commitments over the previous 12 months, compared with an APAC benchmark of 85 percent and a global average of 81 percent.

Key Highlights

  • Widespread Tool Usage: None of the surveyed Indian businesses reported functioning without AI tools, and 63 percent use AI assistants or chatbots.
  • Productivity and Innovation Gains: Nearly 88 percent of Indian participants stated that AI has lifted productivity, 84 percent cited improved innovation outcomes, and 75 percent reported enhancements in decision-making.
  • Targeted Investment Areas: Generative AI remains the primary investment target at 74 percent, followed by process automation at 58 percent, decision-support AI at 54 percent, and AI agents at 51 percent.
  • Upcoming Shift to Agentic AI: About 69 percent of surveyed Indian businesses plan to deploy agentic AI within the coming year.
  • Workforce Support and Leadership: Approximately 70 percent of respondents indicated that their workplaces provide sufficient AI training, surpassing the APAC figure of 57 percent and the global average of 59 percent. In addition, 88 percent affirmed that senior leadership actively promotes AI adoption, compared to 81 percent across APAC.
  • Persistent Headwinds: Implementation obstacles include regulatory uncertainty (50 percent), shortages of AI-skilled personnel (49 percent), system integration complexities (47 percent), and data quality concerns (45 percent).

Why This Matters

The survey data highlights a transition from experimental technology testing to strategic operational deployment within Indian enterprises. Business leaders are linking technology deployment to concrete organisational metrics, with high percentages of respondents confirming direct impacts on overall workplace speed, creative problem-solving, and managerial decisions.

Haresh Khoobchandani, Vice President for APAC and Japan at Autodesk, noted that the discussion in India has shifted from whether companies should use AI to identifying where it can generate the greatest value. Khoobchandani pointed out that future competitive advantages will emerge from industry-tailored AI capable of navigating complex workflows, augmenting human skills, and assisting teams with faster, informed choices.

Additionally, the survey suggests a deliberate internal focus on workforce preparedness. With 70 percent of Indian companies offering dedicated AI training programs, organisations appear to be addressing talent requirements internally, supported by strong engagement from corporate leadership.

What to Watch Next

Over the next 12 months, the primary development to observe will be the rollout of agentic AI, which 69 percent of surveyed Indian businesses intend to implement. Observers will also track how enterprises address ongoing hurdles identified in the report, notably managing regulatory uncertainty, resolving integration issues across existing systems, securing technical talent, and improving underlying data quality.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does India’s AI investment growth compare to international benchmarks?

According to the survey, 91 percent of Indian organisations increased AI investment over the past year. This pace exceeds both the Asia-Pacific regional average of 85 percent and the worldwide average of 81 percent.

What types of AI technologies are Indian companies funding the most?

Generative AI leads capital allocations at 74 percent, followed by process automation at 58 percent, decision-support systems at 54 percent, and AI agents at 51 percent.

What are the primary challenges facing Indian organisations adopting AI?

The top challenges cited by survey participants include regulatory uncertainty (50 percent), AI skills shortages (49 percent), system integration hurdles (47 percent), and data quality issues (45 percent).

Who conducted the research and which industries were surveyed?

The study was conducted by Statista Plus Research between January and February 2026. It gathered responses from 2,500 industry leaders across key global markets within the architecture, engineering, construction, and operations (AECO), design and manufacturing (D&M), and media and entertainment (M&E) sectors.

Source: Business Today report based on survey research conducted by Statista Plus Research for Autodesk.