Indian companies are pressing ahead with artificial intelligence (AI )investment plans for 2026, but a shortage of skilled talent is coming to the fore as the biggest threat to scaling the technology and delivering returns, according to an Accenture survey released on Thursday.
Nearly 88 per cent of C-suite leaders in India plan to increase spending on AI next year, positioning the technology as a key driver of future revenue growth. Yet 27 per cent of executives said a lack of skilled talent is the top factor limiting their ability to extract value from AI, pointing to a growing disconnect between strategy and execution.
The findings show that while enthusiasm for AI remains strong, workforce readiness is lagging. Only 24 per cent of organisations in India have embedded continuous learning programmes focused on AI, and fewer than one in ten are redesigning job roles to support the technology’s adoption at scale.
“Business leaders in India are doubling down on AI with conviction, but the path from early wins to long term value continues to anchor on skilled talent. The biggest barrier is no longer the technology, it is ensuring employees feel equipped, included and confident as AI reshapes how work gets done,” said Saurabh Kumar Sahu, Managing Director and India Business Lead at Accenture.
Despite fears of a potential AI investment bubble, Indian executives said they would stay the course. About 60 per cent said they would continue increasing AI investments even if the market were to cool, while half said they would step up hiring. Nearly four in five executives expect to expand their workforce in 2026, alongside faster revenue growth.
AI adoption in India is moving beyond experimentation, with 41 per cent of organisations deploying AI agents across multiple functions and 24 per cent reworking end-to-end processes with AI at the core. More than a third of Indian C-suite leaders now use generative AI tools on a daily basis.
While executives cite talent shortages as a concern, most remain confident in their workforce’s basic AI readiness. Almost all Indian leaders believe employees have the foundational training needed to use AI efficiently, a view largely shared by staff, many of whom are already using AI tools to improve productivity. |
