India continues to emerge as one of the world’s fastest adopters of artificial intelligence in the workplace, with a large share of employees and employers reporting positive outcomes from its use, according to a recent global survey by EY. The findings suggest that AI, particularly generative AI, is becoming a routine part of professional life across sectors in the country.

The survey indicates that nearly two-thirds of Indian employees regularly use generative AI tools at work. A strong majority of employers and employees believe that AI improves productivity, highlighting growing confidence in digital tools to support daily tasks, workflows, and outcomes in Indian organisations.

India’s performance stands out globally, with respondents reporting higher time savings and stronger engagement with AI-driven systems than many other markets. This positions the country as a leading example of how emerging economies are integrating advanced technologies into mainstream work practices.

Strong AI Adoption

According to the report, India leads on EY’s ‘AI Advantage’ score, a metric designed to measure the real impact of AI at work, including time saved by employees. India scored 53 points on this index, significantly higher than the global average of 34 points, underlining the scale and effectiveness of AI use in Indian workplaces.

The survey draws on responses from 15,000 employees and 1,500 employers across 29 global markets. In India, insights were gathered from 800 employees and 50 employers. The results point to a supportive environment that encourages experimentation with AI while maintaining employee engagement during rapid technological change.

In addition to productivity gains, many respondents believe that AI helps improve decision-making and the overall quality of work. A large share of employees and employers say that AI tools support better outcomes by reducing routine effort and enabling more informed choices.

Talent Health Remains High

India also recorded the highest ‘Talent Health’ score among all surveyed geographies. With a score of 82 out of 100, the country performed well on measures related to workplace culture, rewards, and employee development, which together form the foundation of talent health.

Globally, the average talent health score stands at 65. The survey notes that culture contributes the largest share to this score, followed by rewards and development opportunities. India’s higher score suggests stronger employee sentiment and resilience in the face of ongoing changes driven by AI adoption.

The report also highlights relatively high confidence levels around ethical and responsible use of AI in India. Most employers and employees say they feel assured about governance frameworks and safeguards related to AI deployment at work.

Skilling Still Limited

Despite widespread agreement on the importance of learning new skills, the survey finds that actual time spent on AI-related training remains low. Many employees globally, including in India, report spending fewer than 40 hours a year on learning about AI tools and applications.

The data suggests that increased and more structured skilling could deliver long-term benefits. Employees who invest more time in AI learning tend to report lower intentions to leave their jobs and greater productivity gains through additional time saved each week.

Overall, the findings indicate that while India has made significant progress in adopting AI at work, sustained investment in training and skill development will be key to maintaining productivity, workforce stability, and long-term growth in an increasingly AI-driven economy.