India leads global AI spending and adoption

India is setting new benchmarks in Artificial Intelligence (AI) integration, with 79% of companies planning to boost AI spending in 2025, according to Freshworks’ AI Workplace Report. The report highlights India’s leadership in AI adoption, trust, and expertise, with businesses demonstrating the highest confidence globally in AI’s return on investment (ROI).

The survey, conducted among 4,000 professionals worldwide, revealed that India is far ahead of global counterparts in daily AI usage. While 26% of global workers use AI daily, 45% of Indian employees rely on it, reflecting their comfort and trust. A striking 91% of Indian professionals are confident in using AI tools (compared to 67% globally), and 90% believe AI enhances work processes (global average: 66%).

India’s workforce is also leading in AI expertise, with 74% of professionals identifying as knowledgeable or expert in AI — well above the global average of 55%. This progress is further supported by mandatory AI-use policies, with 65% of Indian workplaces requiring AI integration in daily tasks, the highest percentage globally.

The report underscores India’s focus on workforce readiness, with 88% of businesses prioritising AI training programs, far outpacing regions like the UK (66%) and Europe (67%). Marketing and IT departments are at the forefront, with over 80% implementing workforce training initiatives.

AI is proving to be a catalyst for career growth in India, with 67% of workers reporting career advancements tied to AI, compared to 34% in the US and 35% in the UK.

Customer service and IT teams are witnessing transformative changes through AI chatbots, which streamline workflows and improve service quality.