Indian IT leaders are increasingly prioritizing agentic AI to drive business growth, setting them apart from their Western counterparts who are more focused on traditional efficiency enhancements. A recent survey by technology consultancy firm Thoughtworks indicates that Indian enterprises are actively preparing for AI-led business models, with a strong emphasis on leveraging AI to augment existing talent rather than replace it.
Agentic AI, an autonomous form of artificial intelligence, is seen as a key technology for enhancing skills and accelerating operational speeds within Indian IT companies. The survey highlights that Indian IT leaders anticipate significant revenue growth within the next five years as a direct result of implementing AI solutions. This optimism is further supported by findings that a majority of Indian executives believe agentic AI will enhance decision-making processes.
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has also highlighted the ambitious embrace of AI by corporate India. A study of 200 Indian enterprises revealed that 76% of business leaders believe generative AI will have a significant business impact. While some companies are in the early stages of AI adoption, nearly half have already implemented multiple AI use cases in live production environments. The speed of deployment is a critical factor, with 91% of respondents citing it as the biggest driver in their purchasing decisions.
Furthermore, the survey underlines that AI is not just limited to customer service and marketing, but is also being integrated into mid and back-office functions like operations and supply chain, signaling a broader move towards an agentic approach to implementation.
Supporting this trend, Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella announced strategic partnerships with major Indian IT firms like Cognizant, Infosys, TCS, and Wipro to accelerate the adoption of agentic AI during his visit to India in December 2025. These companies are set to deploy over 50,000 Microsoft Copilot licenses, collectively exceeding 200,000 licenses, which establishes a new benchmark for enterprise-scale AI adoption. This announcement came alongside Microsoft's plan to invest US$17.5 billion in cloud and AI infrastructure, skilling, and ongoing operations in India over the next four years.
India's growing prominence in the AI landscape is further evidenced by its rise to third place in Stanford's 2025 Global AI Vibrancy Tool, a significant jump from seventh place the previous year. This leap is attributed to a thriving startup ecosystem, the rapid expansion of AI talent, improvements in research output, strengthened infrastructure, and strategic government initiatives aimed at fostering innovation and responsible AI adoption. The IndiaAI mission, launched in 2024, is a key government initiative that has boosted the country's AI ranking by offering access to over 38,000 GPUs, supporting AI talent development, and fostering indigenous AI capabilities.
