Autodesk AI Pulse Report 2026 reveals India’s AI shift

India is moving beyond AI experiments and putting the technology closer to the heart of business. The Autodesk AI Pulse Report 2026 shows Indian organisations leading regional and global peers on AI investment, adoption, leadership support and market ambition.

The report found that 91% of Indian organisations increased AI investment over the past year. That compares with 85% across APAC and 81% globally. At the same time, 63% of Indian organisations are using AI assistants and chatbots, the highest adoption rate in APAC.

The shift is not only about deploying more tools. Businesses are increasingly looking for results.

India AI readiness economy gains momentum

The Autodesk AI Pulse Report 2026 shows that 88% of Indian respondents believe AI has improved productivity, while 84% report stronger innovation outcomes. Another 75% say AI is helping improve decision-making.

Generative AI remains the top investment priority, cited by 74% of respondents. Process automation follows at 58%, while 54% prioritise decision-support AI. AI agents are also moving up the agenda, with 51% of organisations prioritising investment in them and 69% expecting to adopt agentic AI within the next year.

That points to a broader change in how organisations view AI. It is increasingly being treated as a business capability rather than a standalone technology project.

Generative AI adoption in India moves toward outcomes

Confidence is also visible in how Indian businesses approach growth. According to the report, 87% of respondents are actively exploring new markets. Meanwhile, 93% believe their organisation can keep business data secure while using AI, the highest level recorded globally in the survey.

But the picture is not without challenges. Regulatory uncertainty affects 50% of respondents, while AI skills shortages concern 49%. Data quality and system integration were also cited by 45% and 47%, respectively.

These issues show that faster AI adoption does not remove the need for strong skills, governance and reliable systems.

Enterprise AI investment in India needs people too

India’s AI readiness also extends to workforce preparation. About 70% of respondents said their organisations provide sufficient AI training, ahead of the APAC average of 57% and global average of 59%.

Leadership support is another strong point, with 88% saying senior leaders actively encourage AI adoption, compared with 81% across APAC.

The Autodesk AI Pulse Report 2026 therefore presents a market moving on several fronts at once: investment is rising, adoption is spreading, and organisations are reporting business gains.

The next test will be whether this momentum can continue while companies address skills, regulation, data quality and integration. For Indian businesses, the report suggests that AI is no longer simply something to try. It is becoming part of how they plan, operate and grow.

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