India’s C-suite bets big on AI in 2026, but talent gaps threaten returns: Accenture survey

Accenture’s Pulse of Change survey finds Indian enterprises pressing ahead with higher AI investments in 2026, even as shortages of skilled talent and slow workforce transformation risk limiting their ability to scale AI and deliver sustained business value.

Indian business leaders are planning to significantly ramp up investments in artificial intelligence in 2026, viewing the technology as a key driver of future growth, according to Accenture’s latest Pulse of Change survey. However, the research also highlights a growing disconnect between leadership ambition and on-ground readiness, particularly around skilled talent.

The survey, which covered 3,650 C-suite leaders and 3,350 non-C-suite employees across 20 industries and 20 countries including India, shows that nearly nine in ten (88%) Indian C-suite leaders intend to increase AI spending next year. More than two-thirds see AI as more critical for revenue growth than cost reduction, underlining its strategic importance as enterprises navigate global uncertainty.

AI ambitions clash with talent constraints

Despite strong optimism, talent shortages are emerging as a major obstacle. About 27% of Indian executives cited the lack of skilled talent as the top factor limiting their ability to realise value from AI initiatives. Yet only 24% of organisations have embedded continuous AI-related learning, and fewer than one in ten are redesigning job roles to support AI-led transformation.

Even concerns about a potential “AI bubble” are not dampening sentiment. Sixty per cent of Indian C-suite leaders said they would continue increasing AI investments even if the bubble were to burst, while half would still step up hiring. Looking ahead, 79% plan to increase overall hiring in 2026, and 76% expect faster revenue growth, despite anticipating greater disruption than in 2025.

From pilots to enterprise-wide deployment

The survey also suggests that AI adoption in India is maturing. Around 41% of organisations are actively deploying AI agents across multiple business functions, while 24% are redesigning end-to-end processes with AI at the core. Daily use of generative AI tools has become common at the leadership level, with 39% of Indian C-suite executives using them regularly.

Interestingly, confidence levels between leaders and employees appear closely aligned. Almost all executives (99%) believe their workforce has the foundational training needed to use AI efficiently, a view shared by 89% of employees. Nearly half of employees report using AI tools to improve efficiency, and 83% see strong potential for business impact.

Indian leaders feel most prepared for technological disruption, with 64% prioritising AI and digital investments to manage rapid change, although confidence is lower around environmental and geopolitical risks.

Saurabh Kumar Sahu, MD and Lead for India Business at Accenture, said, “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. This is the moment for leaders to pair bold AI ambition with an equal commitment to skilling for sustained value creation.”