India is emerging as a global leader in AI-powered workplaces, with 32% of AI users classified as “Frontier Professionals” who are using AI agents to redesign how work gets done, according to Microsoft’s 2026 Work Trend Index. This is twice the global average of 16% and the highest among the 10 markets studied.
The study, based on 20,000 AI users and Microsoft 365 productivity signals, finds that 78% of Indian AI users say AI is enabling work that was not possible a year ago, compared with 58% globally.
India also places strong emphasis on human judgment. About 63% of respondents rank quality control of AI output as an important skill, while 59% highlight critical thinking. As AI takes on more execution, employees continue to remain responsible for decisions and outcomes.
Speaking at the unveiling, Puneet Chandok, President, Microsoft India & South Asia, said: “A year ago, India said it would build human-agent teams at scale. The data now says we are doing it. India is amongst the markets with the highest share of Frontier Professionals in this study. One in three Indian professionals using AI is working with agents on multi-step, real work. Globally it’s one in six. That’s not a gap, that’s a lead. And it’s showing up in what people actually produce: seventy-eight percent say they’re doing work that wasn’t possible twelve months ago. Work is changing, not ending, and India is building a blueprint the world will learn from.”
Enterprise adoption is also expanding. Infosys, TCS, Wipro and LTM have collectively signed up for more than 400,000 Microsoft 365 Copilot seats.
Balakrishna D. R., Executive Vice President and Global Services Head, AI and Industry Verticals, Infosys, said: “Building a Frontier Enterprise requires more than technology. Organizations that are realizing sustainable value from AI are those that combine leadership alignment, workforce readiness, governance, and intelligence embedded across the business. At Infosys, our experience shows that enterprise-wide AI adoption can help accelerate innovation, strengthen decision-making, and drive measurable business outcomes. The opportunity now is to move beyond experimentation and scale AI responsibly across the enterprise.”
