India Drives AI Readiness Beyond Coding to Core Business Functions

AI readiness is shifting from a narrow focus on model building to a broader workplace capability. In India, the AI market is projected to reach $17‑22 billion by 2027 and demand for AI‑related talent could exceed 1.25 million professionals. Around half of AI job postings now lie outside traditional IT roles, and generative‑AI positions in non‑tech sectors have risen 800 % since 2022. The shift emphasizes AI literacy, data literacy and responsible use across marketing, HR, finance, operations and other functions.

At the same time, experts argue that organisational readiness is not a checklist of governance and funding but a shared‑understanding challenge. AI can accelerate genuine readiness when it supports clear objectives, ethical data handling and human judgement, but it cannot replace the need for clear decision‑making structures. The discussion underscores that AI is a tool for readiness, not a shortcut.