Indian Women Lead the World in AI Skill Development, New Global Report Finds
India also ranks among the fastest-growing contributors to open-source AI projects as workplace adoption accelerates
NEW DELHI — Indian women are emerging as global leaders in artificial intelligence skill development, outperforming their counterparts in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, according to the newly released Stanford AI Index 2026.
The report found that Indian women achieved an AI skill penetration score of 1.9, the highest among major countries surveyed. The figure marks a notable increase from 1.61 in the previous year’s report and places India ahead of the United States (1.71), Canada (0.97), and the United Kingdom (0.90).
The findings underscore India’s growing role in the global AI ecosystem as the country experiences rapid adoption of artificial intelligence technologies across industries, education, and the workforce.
Beyond workforce development, India is also strengthening its position in the open-source AI community. According to the Stanford report, India accounted for 5.2 percent of AI projects receiving at least 10 stars on GitHub and similar developer platforms, reflecting the country’s increasing contribution to visible and influential AI initiatives.
While the United States continues to lead globally, accounting for 31.7 percent of highly rated AI projects in 2025, its dominance has steadily declined from nearly 80 percent in 2011 as developers from other regions expand their presence. China remains a major player, while India continues to gain ground as a growing center of AI innovation.
The report’s findings align with a separate global workplace study from ADP Research, which identified India as one of the world’s most active users of artificial intelligence tools.
According to the survey, 41 percent of Indian employees report using AI nearly every day at work, the highest rate recorded among all countries studied. Approximately 80 percent of Indian workers use AI multiple times each week, significantly above the global average, where only about half of employees report similar usage.
India’s AI adoption rate also exceeds that of other fast-growing technology markets, including Nigeria and Vietnam, which reported daily AI usage rates of 39 percent and 36 percent, respectively.
Notably, women in India are embracing AI at even higher rates than men. The ADP report found that 44 percent of Indian women use AI nearly every day in the workplace, compared with 40 percent of men.
Despite the rapid uptake of AI tools, the research also highlights emerging challenges. While daily AI users reported higher levels of workplace engagement, many also expressed concerns about productivity and recognition. Employees who used AI regularly were significantly more likely than non-users to say they felt less productive, suggesting that as technology automates routine tasks, some workers struggle to measure or demonstrate the value of their contributions.
The combined findings point to a complex but increasingly important reality: India is not only adopting artificial intelligence at one of the fastest rates in the world but is also producing a growing pool of skilled talent—particularly women—who are helping shape the future of the technology.
As governments, businesses, and educational institutions continue investing in AI capabilities, India’s expanding talent base and high adoption rates position the country as a key player in the next phase of the global AI revolution. (Source: IANS)
