India a rising AI powerhouse, talent retention growing: Report

NEW DELHI: Highlighting the critical role of artificial intelligence in shaping the future, the 2025 Human Development Report cites India as a rising "AI powerhouse" with the highest self-reported AI skills penetration and growing domestic retention of talent.

The report, released by UNDP on Tuesday, states that 20% of Indian AI researchers now remain in the country as against zero in 2019.

While global trends reflect that human development progress has slowed to an unprecedented 35-year low, the HDR - titled "A Matter of Choice: People and Possibilities in the Age of AI" - highlighted that AI could reignite development. The report also includes a survey on AI and human development, which gathered views of 21,000 people from 21 countries, including India, from Nov 2024 to Jan 2025. It showed that 70% of people expected AI to boost productivity and 64% believed it would create new jobs - with optimism highest among the youth. It also found that AI use was substantial for about 20% of the respondents. "But even more stunning, at least two-thirds of respondents in low, medium and high Human Development Index countries expect to use AI in education, health and work- the three HDI dimensions - within one year," the survey found.

The HDR states that India is leveraging AI to deliver inclusive growth. From agriculture to healthcare, AI is being deployed to solve complex challenges at scale.