Indian companies are being urged to accelerate AI fluency across their workforce as organisations begin to formally evaluate employees on their usage of artificial intelligence tools. Industry leaders say this marks a significant turning point in how talent, performance and productivity will be measured in the coming decade.

Across sectors including IT services, financial institutions, manufacturing, healthcare and media, AI literacy is rapidly moving from an optional skill to a core work requirement. Companies are beginning to embed AI usage benchmarks within appraisal systems, job descriptions and learning pathways, creating a new baseline for what it means to be an effective contributor in a modern workplace.

Business leaders note that this shift is not simply about adopting advanced technology but reframing how work is done. Tasks ranging from analytics and customer engagement to content creation, workflow optimisation and decision support are now increasingly mediated by AI systems. Employees who can partner with these tools are demonstrating sharper efficiency, faster output and higher-quality insights compared to traditional methods.

Early adopters within Indian enterprises are already reporting productivity gains of up to several hours per employee each week. Organisations introducing structured AI training programmes, role-specific playbooks and continuous experimentation frameworks are finding that employees become more confident, more strategic and more innovative in their daily responsibilities.

At the same time, the move places fresh responsibility on companies to build inclusive learning ecosystems. Leaders caution that AI fluency should not create a new divide between early adopters and those still developing digital confidence. Firms are being encouraged to invest in accessible upskilling initiatives, hands-on practice environments and supportive change management to ensure the transformation lifts the entire workforce.

Analysts observe that India, with its young talent pool and large enterprise landscape, is positioned to become one of the world’s most AI-empowered workforces if companies act with both ambition and intent. As global organisations increasingly expect employees to demonstrate AI competency, India’s early emphasis on workplace readiness could offer a competitive advantage in global talent markets.

The message from industry experts is clear: AI literacy is no longer a specialist asset but a foundational workplace capability. Companies that build collective AI fluency today will shape faster, more resilient and more future-ready organisations tomorrow.