India is making impressive strides in adopting Generative AI (GenAI) technologies, with a report revealing that 86% of Indian businesses already have a strategy in place. This far exceeds the global average of 55% and the Asia-Pacific-Japan (APJ) average of 60%, placing India in a strong position to lead AI adoption worldwide.
The report, from Nutanix’s seventh annual Enterprise Cloud Index (ECI) survey, highlights how Indian enterprises are not only catching up with global AI trends but are also investing heavily in cloud technologies and workforce training to build robust GenAI systems. While GenAI has been making waves globally, India’s approach to AI integration is remarkably fast and focused.
India’s Generative AI Strategy
Prasanna Ranade, Senior Director at Nutanix India, explained that India’s rapid embrace of GenAI signals a transformative leap in innovation. The country’s focus on AI technologies is seen as a way to unlock business potential. The emphasis on containerisation, security, and upskilling talent are key factors that will allow businesses to scale GenAI models effectively.
Despite facing challenges, such as scaling GenAI workloads from development to production, the majority of Indian enterprises remain optimistic about the future. Around 75% of Indian businesses expect to see a return on investment within one to three years, despite anticipating a rise in IT costs due to GenAI adoption.
Infrastructure and Talent Gaps
While India is leading in GenAI strategy adoption, the journey is not without its hurdles. A major challenge highlighted in the report is the integration of GenAI systems with existing IT infrastructure. Around 98% of Indian enterprises face difficulties in scaling these workloads, making infrastructure modernization the top priority for Indian businesses.
Additionally, the country’s enterprises recognize the importance of a skilled workforce. More than half of the Indian businesses surveyed plan to invest in IT training, while nearly 50% are looking to hire new talent to support GenAI initiatives.
A Privacy-First Approach to Generative AI
Security and privacy are also high on the agenda. With nearly 90% of Indian businesses prioritizing data privacy, there’s a growing awareness of the need to secure GenAI applications. 95% of businesses agree that more needs to be done to enhance the security of these models. This shows that while GenAI has immense potential to drive productivity and innovation, safeguarding data privacy remains a critical issue that businesses must address
Key Findings for India:
- 86% of Indian businesses already have a GenAI strategy, surpassing the global and APJ averages.
- 99% are in the process of containerizing their applications.
- 90% expect IT costs to rise due to GenAI, but 75% expect a positive return on investment within 1-3 years.
- 80% use GenAI for cybersecurity, fraud detection, and loss prevention.
- 52% of businesses plan to invest in IT training, while 48% plan to hire new talent for GenAI.
India’s push to adopt GenAI is setting a strong example globally, demonstrating that with the right investments in technology and workforce, the country can continue to lead in the AI space. However, the path ahead will require careful attention to infrastructure, talent development, and data privacy to ensure sustainable success.
India’s early and aggressive adoption of GenAI is a testament to its commitment to harnessing the power of artificial intelligence. By focusing on security, scalability, and upskilling, Indian enterprises are positioning themselves as key players in the global AI ecosystem. As the AI landscape continues to evolve, India’s ability to balance innovation with privacy will determine its future success in the industry.
