India among top 10 emerging markets in AI readiness; private AI investment triples: World Bank

The World Bank has reported that India ranks among the top 10 emerging markets with the highest artificial intelligence (AI) readiness, positioning itself well to benefit from the technology. According to the bank's latest study titled "India and Artificial Intelligence: Seizing the Development Opportunity," private AI investment in the country surged to $4.1 billion in 2025 from $1.2 billion in 2024, an impressive threefold increase.

Simultaneously, the number of professionals employed by Global Capability Centres (GCCs) climbed to 2.36 million in 2025, up from 1.9 million the previous year. Despite these advancements, the report cautions that the long-term economic and labor market effects of AI remain uncertain, urging the implementation of comprehensive policy measures to strengthen AI-enabling infrastructure, enhance the business environment, expand AI accessibility, and bolster labor capacity to ensure widespread sharing of the technology's benefits.

Paul Procé, the World Bank's Acting Country Director for India, emphasized that India could leverage AI as a development tool to significantly boost productivity and improve public services. The World Bank Group is actively investing in small AI applications tailored to local conditions through its AgriConnect initiative, aiming to broaden AI's advantages among a broader population while aiding workers during the transition.

The India Development Update, a companion to the World Bank Group's South Asia Economic Update, projects that South Asia will continue its status as the world's fastest-growing region in 2026, projecting an overall growth of 6.9 percent. The report suggests that the majority of the benefits from AI in the region will stem from adapting technology to local circumstances, including the deployment of small AI applications suited for low-resource environments.