Indian women are emerging as global leaders in artificial intelligence (AI) skill adoption, according to the latest AI Index 2026 released by the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence.
The report found that Indian women recorded a relative AI skill penetration rate of 1.9, meaning AI-related skills appear on their LinkedIn profiles at nearly twice the global average. The figure marks a significant rise from 1.61 in the previous year, highlighting the rapid growth of AI expertise among women in India.
At 1.9, Indian women outperform their counterparts in countries traditionally regarded as technology leaders, including the United States (1.71), Canada (0.97), and the United Kingdom (0.90).
The findings are supported by separate LinkedIn data, which shows Indian women are also more confident in using AI at work than men.
Around 90% of Indian women reported feeling confident using AI tools in the workplace, compared with 86% of men. Additionally, 35% of women said they are actively learning AI skills to improve their job prospects, compared with 29% of men.
Career optimism is also stronger among women. Nearly 71% of Indian women believe AI can help them secure the right job, compared with 63% of men, reversing a global trend where AI adoption has traditionally been male-dominated.
Experts attribute this progress to India’s large engineering talent pool, which includes a growing number of women, as well as the rise of flexible online learning platforms that make AI education more accessible.
Data from College Vidya further highlights this trend, revealing that women’s enrolment in AI and machine learning programmes increased fourfold, from 5% in 2024 to 20% in 2025.
The report also underscores India’s broader AI strengths. India ranks first globally in relative AI skill penetration, with AI skills appearing on LinkedIn profiles at three times the global average, and second worldwide in the number of AI authors and inventors, behind only the United States.
Despite these gains, challenges remain. A joint report by Nasscom and Boston Consulting Group found a 64% gender gap in AI leadership roles in India. Women continue to be underrepresented in areas such as AI product management, governance, ethics, and foundational research, where strategic decisions are made.
The overall gender gap in AI skills also persists. Indian men recorded a relative AI skill penetration rate of 2.38, significantly higher than women’s 1.9, indicating that further efforts are needed to achieve gender parity.
Nevertheless, the trend remains strongly positive. As India advances its ambitions to become a global AI hub through the government-backed India AI Mission, supported by an investment of ₹10,300 crore over five years, attention is increasingly shifting from AI skill development to ensuring women have equal opportunities to move into leadership positions within the sector.