India Leads Global AI Adoption: 79% of Companies to Increase AI Spending in 2025

61% of Desk Workers in India now use AI in their jobs, says new Slack Workforce Index

94% of Indian desk workers feel the urgency to master AI, yet 40% have spent less than 5 hours learning itResearch reveals a ripe opportunity for AI agents to address key blockers and help accelerate AI adoption among workers AI adoption is on the rise in India with 61% of Indian desk workers using AI in their jobs and 80% excited about the prospect of AI replacing some tasks, according to Slack's new Workforce Index. India's progress in AI adoption underscores the growing prioritization of AI among its executives and reflects a heightened sense of urgency among business leaders to unlock its transformative potential. While Indian workers are leading the way on AI adoption globally, the research points to some uncertainty and discomfort around AI usage. 21% of Indian workers report feeling uncomfortable admitting AI use to their managers for fear they might be seen as incompetent, lazy, or cheating. Why it matters: According to McKinsey, AI could increase corporate profits by $4.4 trillion a year, and Salesforce research finds that sales teams using AI are 1.3x more likely to see revenue increase than those who don't use it. To realize the benefits of AI, however, employers need to encourage employees to use the technology and equip them with the training and guidance needed to work successfully in this new era. Rahul Sharma, Vice President - Sales, Salesforce India, said, "India's workforce is leading the way in AI adoption, with 61% of desk workers already integrating AI into their roles. This enthusiasm highlights the transformative potential of AI and its alignment with leadership priorities for innovation and upskilling. However, to fully harness AI's benefits, there remains uncertainty that agents can address. By introducing AI agents with clearly defined roles and guidelines, businesses can reduce worker anxiety and foster seamless integration into daily tasks." Global and India Findings: India Outpaces in AI Adoption India's focus aligns closely with leadership goals Indian workers are leveraging AI to align with leadership priorities more effectively than their global counterparts. While global executives want employees to focus on upskilling and innovation with the time saved by AI, Indian workers are already embracing these priorities. The top activities Indian employees expect to prioritize with AI-enabled time savings include: Learning and skill-buildingInnovative or creative work projectsAdvancing work on core projects India's forward-thinking approach highlights its leadership in AI adoption, with its workforce demonstrating greater alignment with executive expectations. Still, some workers hide AI use out of fear, confusion Despite the enthusiasm, some Indian workers remain hesitant to disclose their use of AI at work. About 21% of Indian desk workers said they feel uncomfortable admitting to their managers that they used AI for common workplace tasks. Key reasons for this discomfort include concerns about job security, fear of being perceived as less competent, or being seen as lazy. Workers expect AI-savvy employers Indian workers want to skill up on AI as 94% feel an urgency to become an AI expert. However, 40% of Indian workers have spent less than five hours total learning how to use AI, and 30% of global workers say they've had no AI training at all, including no self-directed learning or experimentation. Employers will need to solve for the gap in training and get clear about AI guidelines, as current employees and new professionals entering the workforce will gravitate to more supportive workplaces. Global workers with guidance to use AI saw a 13% increase in AI adoption since January, while global workers with no guidance to use AI only saw a 2% increase, from 8% to 10% since January.98% of Indian workers say that a prospective employer's ability to provide and enable workers on AI tools is a factor in their job search.Nearly 2 in 5 workers, globally, say they'd prefer working for companies that provide AI tools and enable their use.Globally, people in their first job are 1.8x times more likely to say AI enablement is a "very important factor" in their job search. More information: Dig deeper into the Slack Workforce Index results and learn how leaders can encourage employee adoptionRead about the five distinct AI personas that employers need to understandFind more stats and data on worker AI adoption in the Salesforce stat libraryGet more insights on AI agent trends Methodology: The India surveys were conducted online and in English, which has a significant representation of tech workers - the percentage of Indian respondents working in the tech industry is three times the global average. The India sample included 1,029 desk workers. Overall, the survey covered 17,372 workers from Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the U.K., and the U.S., and was conducted between August 2 and August 30, 2024. The survey was administered by Qualtrics and did not target Slack or Salesforce employees or customers. Respondents were all desk workers, defined as employed full-time (30 or more hours per week) and either having one of the roles listed below or saying they "work with data, analyse information or think creatively": executive management (e.g. president/partner, CEO, CFO, C-suite), senior management (e.g. executive VP, senior VP), middle management (e.g. department/group manager, VP), junior management (e.g. manager, team leader), senior staff (i.e. non-management), skilled office worker (e.g. analyst, graphic designer).

79% of Indian companies plan to increase AI spending in 2025: Freshworks' AI Workplace Report

Globally, 26% of workers say they use AI every day while India is nearly double at 45% with 85% leaders reporting improved ROI from AI investments Companies in India believe AI is essential for business success in 2025, showcasing the highest sentiment globally, according to the Freshworks' AI Workplace Report. With 79% of organizations planning to increase AI budgets and an anticipated 41% average rise in spending from 2024 -- the largest globally -- India is setting new benchmarks in AI integration and innovation, driven by confidence in its ROI. The Freshworks' AI Workplace Report surveyed 4,000 professionals, including C-suite executives, globally across HR, IT, customer services and support, finance and accounting, sales, marketing, and legal departments. Some key observations on how India is leading the race to use AI: India Leads Global AI Adoption and Trust The report finds India at the forefront of AI adoption, with an exceptional level of expertise and confidence in AI-powered software that sets it apart globally. Globally, just 26% of workers say they use AI every day. In India, that figure is nearly double, with 45% saying they use it daily. 74% of Indian professionals consider themselves knowledgeable or expert in AI, well above the global average of 55%. This is reflected in their comfort and trust, with 91% of employees in India feeling at ease using AI tools (67% globally) and 90% trusting AI to enhance their work processes (66% globally). A key driver of this progress is that India has the highest percentage of employees stating mandatory AI-use policies within their workplaces, with 65% saying they are required to use AI within all or part of their workload, the highest percentage globally. This is particularly evident in IT and Marketing, where employees were quick to point out that AI is both powerful, quick to show results, and even "necessary" to some employees. In fact, 88% of Indian workers use AI-powered software weekly, a rate that outpaces all other regions, including the US, UK, and Europe. As a result, 85% leaders of organizations in India report improved ROI from their AI investments, with IT and Marketing departments seeing the most notable returns. Investment in Workforce Upskilling In India, businesses are prioritizing workforce readiness, with 90% saying AI solutions are necessary to drive business success by 2025. A significant 88% of these businesses are focusing on AI training to future-proof their workforce, the highest among global counterparts like the UK (66%), Australia (62%), and Europe (67%). These initiatives are heavily focused on ongoing security training (50%), along with upfront onboarding for AI tools (40%), reflecting the nation's advanced AI adoption rate. Marketing (84%) and IT (81%) teams in India lead the race when it comes to implementation of training the workforce on AI. AI as a Catalyst for Career Growth Over two-thirds (67%) of Indian workers report career advancements tied to AI adoption, significantly higher than the US (34%) and UK (35%), where AI's impact on career growth is comparatively nascent. Commenting on the report, Shelton Rego, Vice President of Freshworks India, said, "This report provides a fascinating overview of AI adoption globally, with India standing out with exceptional levels of usage and expertise. The combination of mandatory AI integration and workforce upskilling initiatives is driving India's productivity and innovation to new heights." AI Chatbots Revolutionizing Customer Service and Employee Service Among all workplace functions, India's customer service teams are witnessing a transformative shift driven by AI chatbots. Majority (88%) of IT service and customer service professionals in India consider AI chatbots essential to ease their workloads. These tools streamline operations, enhance service quality, and allow employees to focus on strategic initiatives. Furthermore, 84% of customer service teams utilize AI for critical tasks, such as managing online self-service portals and monitoring customer interactions for quality assurance. The widespread adoption of AI tools has resulted in 48% of employees noting improved client experiences. Rego added, "AI agents will increasingly be an integral part of how businesses approach delivering experiences to their customers while making lives easier for their employees. We have been empowering this change for businesses and the data now shows the large scale impact AI has for these high volume, high performance business functions." In conclusion, India's confidence in AI, coupled with its widespread adoption and high levels of trust, places the country firmly ahead of global counterparts in AI-driven workplace success. This growing integration not only promises enhanced productivity but solidifies India's position as a leader in the next wave of technological evolution. About Freshworks: Freshworks Inc. (NASDAQ: FRSH) provides people-first AI service software that organizations use to deliver exceptional customer and employee experiences. More than 68,000 companies, including American Express, Bridgestone, Databricks, Fila, Nucor, and Sony choose Freshworks' uncomplicated solutions to increase efficiency and loyalty. For the latest company news and customer stories, visit www.freshworks.com and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and X.

Eight in 10 Indian companies plan to increase AI spending in 2025: Report

Indian companies are leading global AI adoption, with 79% planning budget increases and 45% of employees using AI daily. High confidence in AI's ROI fuels this growth, alongside mandatory AI-use policies and extensive employee training programs, driving career advancements for two-thirds of Indian workers.Companies in India believe AI is essential for business success in 2025, showcasing the highest sentiment globally, according to a new report. The AI Workplace report by Freshworks shows that 79% of organisations planning to increase AI budgets and an anticipated 41% average rise in spending from 2024 -- the largest globally -- demonstrating that India is setting new benchmarks in AI integration and innovation, driven by confidence in its ROI. Globally, just 26% of workers say they use AI every day. In India, that figure is nearly double, with 45% saying they use it daily. 74% of Indian professionals consider themselves knowledgeable or expert in AI, well above the global average of 55%. This is reflected in their comfort and trust, with 91% of employees in India feeling at ease using AI tools (67% globally) and 90% trusting AI to enhance their work processes (66% globally). A key driver of this progress is that India has the highest percentage of employees stating mandatory AI-use policies within their workplaces, with 65% saying they are required to use AI within all or part of their workload, the highest percentage globally. This is particularly evident in IT and marketing, where employees were quick to point out that AI is both powerful, quick to show results, and even "necessary" to some employees. "This report provides an overview of AI adoption globally, with India standing out with exceptional levels of usage and expertise. The combination of mandatory AI integration and workforce upskilling initiatives is driving India's productivity and innovation to new heights," said Shelton Rego, vice-president of Freshworks India. The report surveyed 4,000 professionals, including C-suite executives, globally across HR, IT, customer services and support, finance and accounting, sales, marketing, and legal departments. In India, businesses are prioritising workforce readiness, with 90% saying AI solutions are necessary to drive business success by 2025. A significant 88% of these businesses are focusing on AI training to future-proof their workforce, the highest among global counterparts like the UK (66%), Australia (62%), and Europe (67%). These initiatives are heavily focused on ongoing security training (50%), along with upfront onboarding for AI tools (40%), reflecting the nation's advanced AI adoption rate. Marketing (84%) and IT (81%) teams in India lead the race when it comes to implementation of training the workforce on AI. The survey also finds that over two-thirds (67%) of Indian workers report career advancements tied to AI adoption, significantly higher than the US (34%) and UK (35%), where AI's impact on career growth is comparatively nascent.