92% of knowledge workers in India use AI at work as compared to the global figure of 75%.

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India Inc, not just IT, dangles big bucks for AI specialists. But is it all hype? Moreover, AI proficiency has emerged as a top priority in India Inc.'s hiring strategy, with 75% of employers emphasizing the importance of AI skills for new hires, surpassing the global average of 66%. Interestingly, there is a clear preference for AI skills over experience, with 80% of the leaders in India preferring less experienced candidates with AI skills over seasoned candidates lacking such skills, the study revealed.

"The burden of work during the times of covid to where we are now hasn't gone down. In fact, it has been going up...(companies) want to ensure productivity levels go up," Irina Ghose, managing director, Microsoft India and South Asia, told Mint. Also This: Why IT firms are treating AI as a poisoned chalice According to Ghose, the surge in AI usage stemmed from the realization that the workload was not decreasing, prompting companies to invest heavily in AI.

"This probably led to the surge in the number of cases from India using AI," Ghose said, explaining why Indian firms outperformed global counterparts. The report also highlighted the gap between a willingness and the clarity in businesses on how they can use AI for their benefit. "91% percent of leaders in India also believe their companies need to adopt AI to stay competitive, 54% worry their organization lacks a plan and vision for implementation," said the study.

Interestingly, the drivers of AI adoption are not solely multinationals. A growing number of promoter-driven firms, including small and medium businesses, are also embracing AI. These companies are "very curious and committed," and they are already witnessing "tangible differences" by using AI-led tools,