India is rapidly embracing artificial intelligence (AI) in software development, with 75% of companies adopting AI for testing and quality assurance and 70% using it for security vulnerability detection. A survey of 555 software executives found that 75% have seen up to a 50% reduction in development time by implementing AI and automation technologies. Alankar Saxena, Co-Founder and CTO of Mudrex, stated, “75% of software executives report up to a 50% reduction in development time thanks to AI and automation.” However, finding and retaining skilled professionals who can effectively design, develop, and implement AI solutions remains a significant challenge for Indian companies.
Despite these hurdles, Indian tech giants such as Infosys, Wipro, and TCS are at the forefront, investing heavily in AI research and development to enhance their software solutions. Startups like Niramai and Uniphore are also innovating in this space, focusing on niche areas such as AI-driven quality assurance and automated customer interactions. Generative AI is significantly transforming software development by automating many routine coding tasks, allowing developers to focus on more complex problem-solving and creative aspects of their projects.
As a result, 91% of leaders in India now consider AI a crucial tool to maintain competitiveness. While traditional skills in languages like SQL, Java, and JavaScript remain essential, engineers are increasingly expected to have AI expertise and soft skills.
India adopting AI for development
Analytical thinking, communication, and problem-solving are now critical as engineers collaborate across teams and explain AI-driven insights. Women’s representation in STEM fields has shown growth over the past few years. Data from LinkedIn reveals that the share of AI talent in India who are women increased from 20% in 2016 to 26% in 2023.
However, men still dominate the AI workforce. LinkedIn is committed to enhancing Developer Experience (DevEx) and Developer Productivity (Prod) through AI advancements. The company has created the LinkedIn Generative AI Playground, a platform for engineers to experiment with data using advanced generative AI models from OpenAI and in-house models.
Nearly all respondents (93%) are planning to increase their investment in AI-augmented tools over the next two years, with 71% planning to incorporate AI into application development and SDLC management workflows. However, organizations should embrace generative AI with care, as the recommendations surfaced are probabilistic and may not always be accurate.
