“The real question is not whether intelligent machines can think, but whether humans can learn to think intelligently about machines.” - Garry Kasparov, AI strategist
Mounting challenges in ai adoption
As artificial intelligence becomes central to digital transformation, technology companies in India are finding the journey far from smooth. According to a joint report by Deloitte India and Nasscom, over 31 percent of organizations cite a lack of internal AI expertise as their top challenge, leading to a critical skills gap that hinders integration efforts.
Cost and resistance concerns
High implementation and maintenance costs remain a key obstacle, with 27 percent of respondents pointing to financial constraints despite widespread interest in AI. Additionally, 23 percent of employees resist change, making workforce engagement and change management crucial for successful adoption.
Early stages of AI leadership
AI leadership remains in its infancy, the survey notes. About 37 percent of companies are proactively integrating AI into workforce planning, signaling a move toward enterprise-wide alignment. Meanwhile, 26 percent have established structured AI roadmaps backed by budgets and executive commitment.
Retention and workforce strategies
To address talent shortages and attrition, firms are focusing on incentives, with ‘Compensation Correction’ (21 percent) and ‘Job Rotation Opportunities’ (20 percent) emerging as common strategies. Kamal Karanth of Xpheno observes that organizations still underutilize automation for efficiency gains, citing resistance to change as a persistent barrier.
The road ahead
Experts believe that newer paradigms like GenAI and Agentic AI could overcome historical resistance, paving the way for smoother enterprise adoption. The industry’s readiness to reskill and reorganize will determine the pace of AI’s true transformation in the workplace.
Summary
Indian tech firms face significant barriers to AI rollout, including lack of expertise, high costs, and workforce resistance. However, gradual leadership development, structured AI roadmaps, and evolving retention strategies suggest steady progress toward enterprise-wide AI integration.
Food for thought
If employee resistance is the biggest barrier, is the future of AI adoption more about technology or psychology?
AI concept to learn: change management in AI adoption
Change management in AI adoption involves preparing and guiding employees to embrace new technologies. It focuses on communication, training, and motivation to minimize resistance and maximize productivity during technological transformation.
[The Billion Hopes Research Team shares the latest AI updates for learning and awareness. Various sources are used. All copyrights acknowledged. This is not a professional, financial, personal or medical advice. Please consult domain experts before making decisions. Feedback welcome!]
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