India's global capability center (GCC) landscape is poised for a structural transformation as artificial intelligence (AI) moves centers from back-office functions to innovation hubs that are product-focused and governance-oriented, according to reports.

The use of AI in GCCs in India is predicted to increase the workforce by 11 percent over the next year, reaching 2.4 million, with an additional 1.3 million jobs anticipated by 2030 as AI-centric positions grow in engineering, operations, and governance.

The report indicated that 60 percent of GCCs (58 percent) have progressed past the pilot stage of AI implementation, with 31 percent expanding AI across sectors and 13 percent integrating it into business processes. This change is encouraging companies to enhance capability development and acquire essential skills internally.

Varun Sachdeva, SVP and head – APAC, NLB Services states, “The demand for quality talent in emerging skills will persist. India is establishing itself as the world's second largest hub for AI talent, following the US. The nation currently boasts approximately 600,000 AI experts, expected to grow to 1.25 million by 2027, comprising 16 percent of the world's AI workforce."

Also Read: Semicon India 2025: Designing A Self-Reliant Semiconductor Hub

Increasing wage inflation in AI and digital positions (25 percent) and a 26 percent attrition rate are escalating the need for these capability investments. GCCs are enhancing internal learning institutions, forming curriculum collaborations, and restructuring workforce frameworks to lessen reliance on external talent sources.

Also Read: The Global Fintech Fest 2025: Enabling Finance for Better World

Sachdeva stated that as GCCs expand and new technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analytics advance, a competition for talent will arise, becoming more intense due to the growth on the GCC front.

The report indicates that AI is transforming workforce structures, with new positions like AI governance architects (29 percent), prompt engineers (26 percent), and GenAI product owners (22 percent) becoming more prominent as automation speeds up.

These changes are focused on mid-level technical tiers, which the report highlights as the initial ones to be restructured as companies integrate AI more thoroughly into their operations.

Also Read: 5 AI Initiatives by the Indian Government Driving National Growth

Simultaneously, gaps are expanding in leadership pathways and AI-centric positions, with the most significant deficiencies emerging in essential operations (13 percent) and upper management (11 percent).

The report indicated that GCCs are reacting by creating multi-disciplinary fusion teams and enhancing role-specific reskilling pathways, which nearly 18 percent of centres have already implemented. Attrition and wage inflation persist in intensifying pressure, especially in AI-focused roles where demand surpasses supply.