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Indian leaders are rapidly adopting AI, with 93% planning to use AI agents within 18 months, per Microsoft’s 2025 Work Trend Index.
News18
The age of AI has begun, and Indian leaders are aggressive in embedding the breakthrough technology in their organizations, according to Microsoft’s 2025 Work Trend Index (WTI). In the next 12-18 months, 93% of executives are intending to use AI agents to extend workforce capabilities, it said.
The report highlighted that India’s most progressive companies—termed Frontier Firms by Microsoft—are leading the charge by redesigning operations around human-AI collaboration. Already, 59% of leaders are using AI agents to automate workflows and business processes across teams, signalling a clear shift from rigid hierarchies to more adaptive structures.
“This transformation is enabling organisations to scale with agility, speed, and purpose,” Microsoft said.
Puneet Chandok, President of Microsoft India and South Asia, described India as being in its “AI-first era.” He noted that the workforce is embedding AI into daily tasks, using its speed, precision, and availability to fuel creativity, fast-track decisions, and reshape collaboration.
The global WTI survey covered 31,000 participants across 31 countries.
AI-powered systems are becoming increasingly capable of performing tasks previously done by humans, especially in areas like data entry, customer service, and manufacturing. Major tech companies like Microsoft, IBM, and Google have already initiated layoffs in 2025, citing AI as a contributing factor.
In 2025, the tech industry has continued to experience significant layoffs, with over 96,000 jobs cut across 413 companies by mid-August, according to TrueUp’s layoff tracker. Major players like Intel, Microsoft, and Meta have led the charge, with Intel announcing plans to reduce its workforce by up to 24,000 employees (about 20% of its global staff) to streamline operations and focus on AI-driven initiatives. Microsoft has cut over 15,000 jobs across multiple rounds, targeting management layers and non-technical roles to prioritize AI integration and engineering.
Other companies, such as Amazon, Google, and TCS, have also reduced headcounts, citing economic uncertainty, high interest rates, and the need to reallocate resources for AI and automation as key drivers. These layoffs reflect a broader trend of restructuring to adapt to a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
Varun Yadav is a Sub Editor at News18 Business Digital. He writes articles on markets, personal finance, technology, and more. He completed his post-graduation diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Inst…Read More
Varun Yadav is a Sub Editor at News18 Business Digital. He writes articles on markets, personal finance, technology, and more. He completed his post-graduation diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Inst… Read More
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