Winning Bizness Desk
Mumbai.India's brightest artificial intelligence professionals are increasingly choosing the United States over their home country, raising concerns about a widening talent gap just as the global AI race gathers pace. Industry experts say higher salaries, access to cutting-edge research and better startup opportunities are drawing skilled engineers abroad, while fewer professionals are returning to India. The trend is also encouraging Indian founders to launch AI startups in the US instead of building them at home.
Better opportunities drive talent overseas
According to a Forbes India report, advanced AI projects and significantly higher compensation packages have become the biggest attractions for young Indian professionals. Researchers attending meetings in Silicon Valley have openly said they see little reason to return to India at present. As a result, India risks losing some of its best AI minds at a time when countries are competing aggressively to build leadership in artificial intelligence.
Key reasons behind the migration include:
- Higher salaries and faster career growth
- Access to advanced AI research programmed
- Better funding opportunities for AI startups
- A stronger innovation ecosystem in the US
Startup shift raises fresh concerns
The migration is no longer limited to individual professionals. A growing number of Indian entrepreneurs are also establishing their AI startups in the United States, where they find easier access to investors, global customers and world-class research networks. Although several experts continue to rank India as the world's second-largest hub for enterprise AI talent, the steady outflow of top professionals is slowing the country's ambitions to become a global AI powerhouse.
AI hiring rises despite slowdown
Indian IT companies have resumed hiring after a prolonged slowdown, but recruitment remains highly selective. According to the June 2026 JobSpeak report, AI-related jobs have increased by 16%, even as overall hiring has declined by 3%. Companies are focusing on recruiting specialised AI experts while simultaneously investing in upskilling and reskilling their existing workforce to meet changing technology demands.
Talent shortage expected by 2027
Industry body Nasscom estimates that India could face a shortage of more than 600,000 AI professionals by 2027. While over 90% of early-career technology professionals use AI tools, only 23% possess the technical capability to independently build and deploy AI systems. The figures underline a widening gap between AI adoption and advanced AI expertise across the workforce.
Key findings include:
- AI jobs up by 16% in June 2026
- Overall hiring down by 3%
- AI talent shortage may exceed 600,000 by 2027
- Only 23% can independently develop AI systems
Industry seeks stronger practical skills
An expert said many graduates are familiar with machine learning concepts and Python programming but lack practical industry experience. He noted that a significant gap remains between classroom learning and real-world business requirements. Other experts believe India will need stronger industry-academia collaboration, hands-on training and globally competitive research opportunities if it wants to retain top AI talent and strengthen its position in the rapidly evolving artificial intelligence landscape.
