Forty Three Percent of Indian Firms Deploy AI but Lag Behind APAC Peers
A new study released by global professional services firm Aon plc in Hyderabad on 1 July 2026 revealed that 43 percent of Indian organisations have deployed artificial intelligence (AI). However, the Human Capital Trends study also showed that India lags behind the broader Asia Pacific (APAC) region in overall AI adoption and faces hurdles in translating these investments into workforce outcomes.
According to the report, an additional 20 percent of Indian organisations are currently piloting AI programmes. However, this combined total of 63 percent of organisations deploying or piloting AI falls short of the broader APAC region, where 74 percent of organisations have already deployed or are piloting AI initiatives.
Despite lagging in regional adoption rates, India stands out in its ability to attract and retain AI talent. The study found that 39 percent of Indian organisations are confident in their ability to source skilled talent, compared to just 21 percent in the APAC region and 24 percent globally.
"India is at a pivotal stage where strong talent availability and growing AI adoption are creating new opportunities for businesses. Sustained value will come from continued investment in skills development and workforce strategies that enable people to work alongside technology and drive long-term business outcomes," said Nitin Sethi, Head of Talent Solutions in India for Aon.
To support growth, organisations in India are prioritising digital transformation, workforce productivity, and organisational design.
India also leads on several workforce strategy indicators compared to its global peers. More than half of the surveyed organisations, at 55 percent, reported high HR data maturity, which improves access to workforce insights and decision-making.
Additionally, 25 percent of organisations in India have a clearly defined and well-understood employee value proposition, indicating a closer alignment between people strategies and business goals.