India has only 4.5% of the world's AI professionals; AI talent crunch will get more acute: IIMA-BCG study

BCG X, the AI, and Digital Transformation unit of the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and The Brij Disa Centre for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (CDSA) at the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) have collaborated to release a report titled "AI in India: A Strategic Necessity" on the AI readiness levels of Indian businesses.

Key Highlights:

1. Select companies in the BFSI, CG, and IG sectors have achieved high AI maturity, positioning themselves at par with global benchmarks
2. A Significant Leap: 10% of organisations have transformed their AI capabilities in the last 3 years, and they come from across sizes
3. Data mindset in Leadership is the Key: Top 500 Indian companies require 1 Million hours of training in upskilling mid and senior-level management on the business aspects of AI, digital transformation, Agile ways of working and more
4. Most MSMEs are now able to leverage AI because of on-demand access to business software and the availability of services like digital payment gateways, fraud detection systems and CRM.
5. The dearth of Data scientists with domain expertise: Need for 25,000 to 30,000 advanced practitioners of AIML expected in Top 500 Companies in the next 3-5 years
6. India has only around 4.5% of the world’s AI professionals, and the talent crunch will get more acute.
7. Benefits of AI: Rs 1.5-2.5 Trillion incremental pre-tax profit for the top 500 Indian companies in the next 5 years

The report findings are based on the study of 130 companies from the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI), Consumer Goods (CG), and Industrial Goods (IG) sectors along with extensive interviews and surveys conducted on CXOs of large-sized, medium, and small organisations. The study objectively and wholistically measures the ability of a company to leverage AI to drive its strategic objectives and enhance its financial and operational performance.

The study reveals that select Indian BFSI companies (particularly banks and new-age NBFCs) have very high AI Maturity, on par with global frontrunners. It divides companies into four groups based on their maturity level— Leaders, Steady Followers, Leapfroggers and Laggards. 11% of companies in the set were adjudged Leaders, that now face a stiff challenge from the Leapfroggers (9% of the companies) who started their AI-driven transformation journey late but have improved sharply in AI Maturity in the last three years, converging with the Leaders on most aspects of AI Maturity. However, the concern emerged with Laggards, about 2/3rds of the companies, that have some exposure and investment in AI in their Technology, Data and Analytical capabilities.

The report offers actionable guidance for companies with mid-level AI maturity to progress towards global best-in-class AI maturity levels. For leaders in AI adoption, the report focuses on exploring the next frontiers of AI excellence. Research shows that AI investments augmenting end-user value and topline growth could drive significant economic and wage expansion. The opportunity is India’s for the taking—the challenge is now to turn the enormous potential of AI into reality.

Releasing the study, Professor Bharat Bhasker, Director of IIMA, said, "India is poised to enter into a digital revolution where successful AI adoption by our industry can be a crucial determinant of India’s competitiveness globally. Successful adoption of AI could add up to 1.4 percentage points annually to the real GDP growth of India. From the perspective of corporates, the successful adoption of AI is expected to add over a five-year period, INR 1.5-2.5 trillion in incremental pre-tax profit for the top 500 Indian companies alone. This presents an incredible opportunity for the Indian industry and our companies can leverage the widespread internet access and cost-effective labour to move ahead and align themselves to the global AI maturity standards.”

The report emphasises the significance of achieving an advanced level of AI maturity for success in today's business landscape.

Sumit Sarawgi, Managing Director and Senior Partner, BCG, commented, “Investments into AI could deliver extraordinary returns but success hinges on deploying AI at scale. An organisation-wide commitment is required for the successful AI-driven transformation of the organisation. The reason being the success of AI adoption, algorithms drive approximately 10% of the success, while data and technology infrastructure add a further 20%. The remaining 70% hinges on people, processes, and business transformation.”

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