News Delhi: A recent report by global consulting firm Protiviti and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) indicates that Artificial Intelligence (AI) enhances decision-making capabilities by 54 percent. The report suggests that the adoption of AI among Indian businesses is poised for significant acceleration, with many organizations intending to expand their AI initiatives in the near future.
Titled "AI Trends and Future Impact: Industry Adoption and Insights," the report was unveiled on Friday during the 4th edition of the CII International Conference on Artificial Intelligence - The AI India Show 2025.
The findings reveal that more than half of Indian enterprises are planning to swiftly increase their AI adoption. Specifically, 59 percent of the surveyed organizations expressed readiness for AI integration, while 38 percent are still in the initial stages of preparation.
However, AI governance poses a challenge, as only 23 percent of enterprises have established frameworks for AI ethics and governance. Additionally, over 40 percent of organizations are receptive to external audits and assessments for AI bias.
According to the survey conducted by Protiviti, 51 percent of Indian enterprises confirmed their intention to rapidly enhance AI adoption, while another 32 percent indicated plans for a more gradual approach to integration.
The Protiviti survey indicated that 59 percent of enterprises, or nearly six out of ten respondents, are either fully or moderately ready to implement AI within their organizations.
These findings are derived from data gathered from senior leaders at more than 300 companies across various sectors, including healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, automotive, transportation, telecommunications, and aviation.
The CII-Protiviti report emphasized that for Indian enterprises, the primary business objectives driving AI investments are to enhance operational efficiency, improve customer experience, and bolster decision-making capabilities.
Additionally, among the different AI technologies, Predictive AI, Chatbots, and Machine Learning have experienced the highest rates of implementation, while Generative AI and Agentic AI are the most sought-after technologies for future investment exploration.
Although enterprises acknowledge the transformative potential of AI, the survey highlights significant barriers to its broader adoption.
The report identifies the top four challenges as ethical concerns, bias, and legal compliance risks; a lack of skilled AI professionals; high costs of implementation; and issues related to data privacy and governance.
Moreover, the survey revealed that despite these challenges, 65 to 70 percent of organizations believe they are adequately prepared in terms of data, strategy, and culture to embrace AI.
Only 23 percent of organizations have established AI ethics and governance frameworks to ensure the responsible deployment of artificial intelligence.
As the adoption of AI continues to grow, effective governance remains essential. While 36 percent of survey participants advocate for a Chief AI Officer (CAIO) to spearhead AI initiatives, 18 percent prefer a collaborative approach to AI governance within their organizations.
Encouragingly, more than 40 percent of companies are receptive to external audits and bias assessments to promote accountability and ethical AI practices.
In an interview with ANI, Amit Lundia, Managing Director of Protiviti, stated, "AI is transforming the global landscape, and India is leading this evolution. With the swift adoption of digital technologies, businesses are rapidly integrating AI, which is fueling economic growth. Notably, over 74 percent of executives view Generative AI as a crucial business priority, and more than 80 percent are implementing various audit measures, including bias audits, AI governance frameworks, and explainable AI tools, reflecting their commitment to responsible AI usage."
Sandeep Gupta, Managing Director of Protiviti Member for India, remarked, "As AI becomes increasingly cost-effective, its transformative potential will revolutionize industries and drive innovation. Protiviti partnered with CII to provide valuable insights into India's AI landscape through the AI Trends and Future Impact report, which we unveiled at the 4th edition of the International Conference on Artificial Intelligence - The AI India Show 2025."
Returning to the report, the survey indicates that enhancing operational efficiency is the most significant business objective across various industries that will propel AI adoption.
One of the key goals is to enhance customer experience and refine decision-making processes. Additionally, it is anticipated that cost optimization and improved risk management will accelerate over the next five years, accompanied by a focus on innovation.
The survey reveals some intriguing insights. Between 55 and 60 percent of executives believe they are either constrained or unprepared for AI adoption in terms of infrastructure, governance, and cost. Furthermore, 74 percent of executives are actively exploring Generative AI and LLM technologies, with the financial services sector at the forefront, showing an 85 percent interest in these advancements.
