CIOInsider India Magazine

2026 The AI Tipping Point

AI, one of recent time’s most disruptive tech trends, is no longer a buzzword. It has transitioned into becoming a business necessity in today’s day and age. Understanding the potential that AI holds in terms of impacting various sectors, governments and businesses worldwide are dedicating considerable resources and efforts to support its comprehensive application.

India is not lagging behind. With a strong pool of IT talent, India has embarked on numerous ambitious projects to harness AI as a digital tool for national growth, particularly emphasizing health, education, and governance. According to data by Statista, India’s AI market is poised for significant growth, and is expected to reach $7.27 billion in 2026.

The Year Of Deepening AI Expertise - 2026

2025 was a watershed year in terms of AI adoption. In 2025, AI transitioned from being a strategic advantage to a fundamental business imperative across industries. From established technology titans to agile startups and region-specific innovators, companies embraced AI to drive opera -tional efficiency, unlock new revenue streams, and fuel competitive differentiation.
On March 18th 2025, the US-India Artificial Intelligence initiative was introduced by IUSSTF to foster a robust platform aimed at advancing AI through the exchange of ideas, exploring research and development opportunities, and enhancing collaborative prospects between the two nations.
We saw major companies such as RIL make major AI strides. In order to facilitate India's upcoming major progress in AI, Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) announced the expansion of its strategic partnership with Google Cloud. This collaboration aims to deliver advanced, secure, and sustainable AI infrastructure, enabling businesses, startups, and public sector organizations to innovate on a larger scale. Tech giant Infosys set up a Centre for Advanced AI, Cybersecurity, and Space Technology at its Development Centre (DC) located in Hubballi, Karnataka.
Such developments were seen everywhere. The message is clear: 2025 was the year of AI adoption; 2026 is slated to bring deepened AI expertise.
Join us as we recap India’s 2025 AI journey and see the outlook for 2026.