Nearly 92% of knowledge workers in India use AI at work: Study

A staggering 92% of knowledge workers in India are using artificial intelligence (AI) at work, compared to the global average of 75%, according to the 2024 Work Trend Index released on Thursday by Microsoft and LinkedIn. 

The report, titled “AI at Work is Here… Now Comes the Hard Part,” included 31,000 people across 31 countries, including India. It also found that 91% of Indian leaders believe they need to adopt AI to stay competitive. However, 54% worry that their organization lacks a clear plan and vision for AI implementation. Despite this, employees are eagerly embracing AI tools, with 72% of Indian AI users bringing their own AI tools to work (BYOAI).

“Data from the Work Trend Index shows that AI is now a reality at work, with India having one of the highest AI adoption rates among knowledge workers, at 92%,” said Irina Ghose, managing director of Microsoft India and South Asia. “This AI optimism presents a tremendous opportunity for organizations to invest in the right tools and training to unlock efficiencies for employees and ultimately drive long-term business impact.”

The report also highlights the growing importance of AI skills in the job market. 75% of Indian leaders stated they wouldn’t hire someone lacking AI skills, outpacing the global average of 66%. Furthermore, 80% of leaders in India prefer to hire a less experienced candidate with AI skills over a more experienced candidate without them. LinkedIn data shows a 142x increase globally in members adding AI skills to their profiles and a 160% increase in non-technical professionals taking AI courses.

The study identified four types of AI users, ranging from sceptics to power users. AI power users in India are fundamentally reorienting their workdays, with 90% beginning their day with AI and 91% relying on it to prepare for the next day. They are also more likely to receive AI training and communication from senior leadership compared to other employees.

“AI is transforming the world of work, reshaping the talent landscape, and nudging both individuals and organizations to embrace change,” said Ruchee Anand, head of Talent & Learning Solutions at LinkedIn. “As the workforce looks to tap into the benefits of AI, it’s crucial for leaders to boost their organization’s AI capabilities through thoughtful investment in both technology and talent.”

Other recent studies have shown a lot of enthusiasm among business users in terms of AI adoption. A Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) study published earlier this week showed that 86% of senior business leaders have already deployed AI to boost revenue, suggesting AI’s increased use for innovation and revenue generation, rather than just cost-cutting.

Another report released by Deloitte India on Thursday showed that 83% of employees actively engaging with the technology. India ranks first in the adoption of GenAI across Asia-Pacific, even though only 50% of these employees believe their managers know they use this technology. The report also noted that over the next five years, an increase of a whopping 182% is anticipated in the daily usage of GenAI.