Indian business leaders are among the most bullish globally on artificial intelligence delivering positive returns, with 88% expressing confidence in AI’s ability to generate business value, above the 82% global average, according to Boston Consulting Group’s AI Radar 2026 report, released on Wednesday.
Confidence-Skill Paradox
However, this optimism contrasts sharply with ground realities: only 36% of India’s workforce is currently skilled in AI compared to 44% globally, highlighting an urgent capability gap that could constrain the country’s AI ambitions, the report added.
The survey of 2,360 executives across 16 markets, including 200 from India, reveals that 97% of Indian organisations will continue investing in AI even if returns don’t materialise in the next 12 months, which is among the highest commitment levels worldwide, it added.
Indian CEOs demonstrate 76% confidence in AI delivering returns, significantly higher than Western markets like the UK (44%) and US (52%), and comparable to Greater China (73%), as per the report. Approximately 90% of Indian CEOs believe AI agents will enable measurable ROI in 2026, it added.
Shifting the Agenda
Despite this optimism, Indian CEOs lag in taking direct ownership of AI strategy. Only 55% of Indian CEOs position themselves as primary AI decision makers compared to 72% globally, suggesting technology chiefs rather than business leaders are still driving AI agendas in most Indian organisations, the report suggests.
“India’s AI story is one of resilience and rising ambition. What truly stands out is the depth of commitment,” said Nipun Kalra, India Leader at BCG X. “However, AI decision-making in India remains more tech-led than business-led. This combination of strong conviction and clear headroom sets up India’s next phase of AI adoption—where shifting AI ownership to the CEO agenda and accelerating investment in talent will be critical.”
Globally, half of CEOs believe their job stability depends on getting AI strategy right, underscoring the technology’s strategic importance. Data privacy and cybersecurity remain the primary concern for 53% of respondents globally, though this has declined 12 percentage points year-on-year as organisations gain confidence in AI governance frameworks, the report added.
Globally, companies plan to double AI spending in 2026 to approximately 1.7% of revenues, more than twice the 2025 allocation, it added. All surveyed industries plan to increase AI investments in 2026. Technology companies are expected to lead at 2.1% of revenues, followed by financial institutions at 2%. Energy and utilities, insurance, and consumer sectors are expected to commit 1.9% each, while industrials and real estate are expected to allocate 0.8% of revenues on AI, the report added.