Nearly half of Indian enterprises polled embedded AI into biz strategies: Study

According to a recent report, a significant 48% of Indian enterprises have integrated artificial intelligence into their IT and business strategies, marking one of the highest adoption rates worldwide. This study, conducted by OpenText and the Ponemon Institute, highlights both the rapid advancement in AI adoption and the potential obstacles that may hinder further progress. While Indian firms are quickly embracing Generative AI, the report points out that gaps in data readiness could impede their ability to secure, govern, and scale AI initiatives effectively. The survey, which included nearly 1,900 senior IT and security leaders globally—with 337 from India—revealed that only 15% of Indian enterprises feel confident in measuring the return on investment related to their AI initiatives. Interestingly, Indian organizations are leading the way in prioritizing digital transformation, with 54% of them focusing on this area compared to 44% of their global counterparts. This proactive approach signifies their commitment to leveraging AI for future growth. However, challenges such as information complexity, arising from unstructured data, security vulnerabilities, and insufficient governance frameworks, pose significant barriers to scaling AI responsibly within these enterprises. Saurabh Saxena, Regional Vice President of OpenText India, remarked on India's burgeoning status as a global leader in AI, noting the enthusiasm among businesses. He mentioned that 59% of Indian CEOs and board members consider AI to be extremely important—an assessment that surpasses that of their peers in the UK and France. This ambition presents a unique opportunity for India to outpace other nations by improving information readiness. Moreover, the report indicates that Indian businesses are notably more aware of AI-related risks than many of their global counterparts. For instance, 46% of Indian respondents identified bias in AI models as a major concern, compared to just 32% globally. Additionally, privacy issues were flagged by nearly half of the Indian leaders surveyed, underscoring the heightened awareness of potential pitfalls in AI deployment.