C-suite leaders remain bullish on AI investments in 2026, despite grappling with shortages of skilled talent that’s risking their ability to scale and realise ROI, finds a new survey.
Accenture's Pulse of Change survey of 3,650 C-suite leaders and 3,350 non-C-suite employees from the world’s largest organisations across 20 industries and 20 countries including India finds that as AI becomes an essential tool for businesses to navigate always-on global uncertainty, there is an urgent warning for leaders’ future AI implementation plans, with the view from the top not matching the reality on the ground.
Nearly nine in 10 (88%) C-suite leaders in India plan to increase their AI investments in 2026, with 69% viewing AI as more beneficial for revenue growth than for cost reduction. However, 27% of executives in India report a shortage of skilled talent is the top factor limiting their ability to realise value from AI.
Despite this, only 24% of organisations in India have embedded continuous learning related to AI, and fewer than one in 10 are redesigning job roles to support AI adoption.
“Business leaders in India are doubling down on AI with conviction, but the path from early wins to long-term value continues to anchor on skilled talent,” said Saurabh Kumar Sahu, MD and lead for India business at Accenture. “The biggest barrier is no longer technology, it is ensuring employees feel equipped, included and confident as AI reshapes how work gets done. This is the moment for leaders to pair bold AI ambition with an equal commitment to skilling for sustained value creation."
Even with fears of a potential ‘AI bubble’ looming, most would stay the course. More than half (60%) of C-suite leaders in India would continue to increase their AI investments and 50% would increase hiring if an AI bubble were to burst. And despite 76% of executives in India expecting more change in 2026 than in 2025, 79% plan to increase overall hiring and 76% anticipate faster revenue growth.
AI adoption is rapidly maturing, with 41% of organisations in India now actively deploying AI agents across multiple functions. A fourth (24%) of businesses in India are redesigning end-to-end processes with AI at the core, and more than one-third (39%) of C-suite leaders now use generative AI tools daily.
While executives agree that shortage of skilled talent is a concern, almost all (99%) in India believe their organisation’s workforce has the foundational training needed to use AI efficiently. According to the survey, 89% of employees agree with this point; 47% of employees are using AI tools for efficiency gains, and 83% see greater potential for business impact.
Leaders in India feel most prepared for technological disruption (58%) and turn to AI to navigate it—with 64% in India prioritising investments in AI and digital technologies to combat the acceleration of change they are experiencing. There is less confidence for environmental (43%) and geopolitical (46%) disruptions.
Accenture's Pulse of Change survey of 3,650 C-suite leaders and 3,350 non-C-suite employees from the world’s largest organisations across 20 industries and 20 countries including India finds that as AI becomes an essential tool for businesses to navigate always-on global uncertainty, there is an urgent warning for leaders’ future AI implementation plans, with the view from the top not matching the reality on the ground.
Nearly nine in 10 (88%) C-suite leaders in India plan to increase their AI investments in 2026, with 69% viewing AI as more beneficial for revenue growth than for cost reduction. However, 27% of executives in India report a shortage of skilled talent is the top factor limiting their ability to realise value from AI.
Despite this, only 24% of organisations in India have embedded continuous learning related to AI, and fewer than one in 10 are redesigning job roles to support AI adoption.
“Business leaders in India are doubling down on AI with conviction, but the path from early wins to long-term value continues to anchor on skilled talent,” said Saurabh Kumar Sahu, MD and lead for India business at Accenture. “The biggest barrier is no longer technology, it is ensuring employees feel equipped, included and confident as AI reshapes how work gets done. This is the moment for leaders to pair bold AI ambition with an equal commitment to skilling for sustained value creation."
Even with fears of a potential ‘AI bubble’ looming, most would stay the course. More than half (60%) of C-suite leaders in India would continue to increase their AI investments and 50% would increase hiring if an AI bubble were to burst. And despite 76% of executives in India expecting more change in 2026 than in 2025, 79% plan to increase overall hiring and 76% anticipate faster revenue growth.
AI adoption is rapidly maturing, with 41% of organisations in India now actively deploying AI agents across multiple functions. A fourth (24%) of businesses in India are redesigning end-to-end processes with AI at the core, and more than one-third (39%) of C-suite leaders now use generative AI tools daily.
While executives agree that shortage of skilled talent is a concern, almost all (99%) in India believe their organisation’s workforce has the foundational training needed to use AI efficiently. According to the survey, 89% of employees agree with this point; 47% of employees are using AI tools for efficiency gains, and 83% see greater potential for business impact.
Leaders in India feel most prepared for technological disruption (58%) and turn to AI to navigate it—with 64% in India prioritising investments in AI and digital technologies to combat the acceleration of change they are experiencing. There is less confidence for environmental (43%) and geopolitical (46%) disruptions.
