Article
Feb 9, 2026
India’s AI Momentum in 2026: What NRIs Should Know
India’s AI story in 2026,
is no longer about pilots or experimentation. It is about capital allocation, operating leverage, export competitiveness, and long-term value creation.
For NRIs, this shift has direct implications across investments, careers, and cross‑border business strategy.
Indian Businesses are Betting Big on AI
93% of Indian organisations believe their AI investments will deliver positive returns within three years. The highest global confidence score among surveyed countries.
Indian companies are investing around US$ 31 million per organisation in AI higher than the global average of US$ 26.7M.
Average AI ROI in 2025 was ~15%, and companies project this to grow to ~31% within two years signalling real economic impact, not just experimentation.
How AI Is Changing Indian Business Landscape
Adoption Trends
AI now supports ~23% of business tasks in Indian firms, expected to rise to ~41% by 2027.
Generative AI and automation are scaling rapidly across functions such as operations, finance, HR and customer engagement.
Most businesses expect AI to be central to core operations by 2030.
Talent and Workforce Shifts
India contributes ~16% of the global AI talent pool, one of the largest sources worldwide.
Upskilling initiatives are underway as companies recognise skill gaps and train the workforce for an AI-first environment.
Challenges Behind the Optimism
AI adoption is still uneven and siloed across organisations.
Many firms report incomplete AI training and skill shortages.
Concerns persist around shadow AI, data leakage, and compliance risks.
What This Means for NRIs: Key Takeaways
Investment Insight
Tech and AI-enabled companies in India are growing faster. Consider this when evaluating equity, startup, or tech fund investments.
Sectors like AI SaaS, cloud services, analytics, and automation are likely to outperform traditional tech spaces in ROI.
Enterprise software, automation, data platforms, and AI enabled services are gaining structural support
This strengthens the case for selective India technology exposure within global portfolios
Career & Collaboration Opportunities
NRIs can leverage global experience to support Indian companies scaling AI responsibly especially in product design, quality controls, ethical AI frameworks, and compliance.
India’s AI ecosystem is aligned with the export-oriented services space where many NRIs operate professionally.
Cross-Border Business Structuring
With Indian firms pushing AI integration into decision-making and operations, this opens avenues for international partnerships, consulting projects, and hybrid service models.
How Pivot Money Helps NRIs Navigate This Shift
• Research-led insights on how AI adoption is shaping India’s technology growth
• Portfolio perspectives on sectors positioned for sustained expansion, including SaaS, automation, and AI-enabled services
• NRI-specific guidance on taxation, repatriation, and structuring cross-border exposure to Indian technology investments
Bottom Line for NRIs
India’s AI momentum is not a short-term trend. It is a structural transformation with implications for capital, careers, and cross-border strategy. NRIs who align early selectively and thoughtfully can stand to benefit from this next phase of India’s growth story.
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