Indian companies are accelerating their adoption of artificial intelligence, with 93% of business leaders planning to deploy AI agents within the next 12 to 18 months, according to Microsoft’s 2025 Work Trend Index. This marks the highest level of confidence worldwide in the potential of AI to transform operations.
The study highlights the rise of “Frontier Firms,” where 59% of leaders are already using AI agents to automate workstreams across teams. This shift reflects a move away from rigid hierarchies toward more adaptive and collaborative models.
“India is firmly in its AI-first era, with AI agility accelerating at an unprecedented pace. Leaders are scaling operations with AI emerging as a true thought partner—fuelling creativity, fast-tracking decisions, and redefining collaboration,” said Puneet Chandok, president of Microsoft India and South Asia.
Boardrooms are undergoing what the report calls a strategic reset. Around 90% of leaders view 2025 as a pivotal year to rethink operations, with 64% prioritising productivity gains. Nearly all surveyed leaders agreed that expanding workforce capacity with digital agents is now a key priority.
The demand for new roles is also rising. Job titles such as “Agent Bosses” and “AI Workflow Designers” are starting to emerge, with 92% of leaders considering AI-specific positions. At the same time, 57% expect teams to create multi-agent systems for complex tasks.
Upskilling remains central to this transformation. More than half of leaders, or 51%, identified training as their top priority in the coming year, while 63% believe AI learning will become a core responsibility within teams over the next five years.
“Today, we’re not just leading businesses—we’re leading them with AI. This isn’t a simple tech upgrade; it’s a cultural transformation rooted in continuous learning, application, refinement, and scale,” said Himani Agrawal, chief operating officer of Microsoft India and South Asia.
Industry leaders are already reporting success. A consulting firm enabled 30,000 employees to access an AI platform, achieving 70% adoption in seven months. Another IT services firm is embedding AI into employee systems to provide digital companions, while a global technology company has pledged to build AI fluency among one million workers through its training programme.
Globally, Microsoft reported that its AI-powered apps have crossed 100 million monthly active users, with more than 3 million AI agents created by customers in FY25.
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