According to a recent survey by OECD and Cisco, India — along with several other emerging‑economy countries — has emerged as a world‑leader in active generative‑AI usage. The study, based on responses from over 14,600 people across 14 countries, found that a remarkable 66.4 % of Indian respondents are active AI users — placing India at the top among the surveyed nations. Notably, the bulk of adoption comes from younger adults (under 35), over half of whom report using AI regularly and finding it helpful in everyday tasks.
Within India, generational trends are stark: while younger adults enthusiastically embrace AI tools, older age groups remain significantly more hesitant. Most individuals over 45 claim they do not use AI at all, and among those above 55, more than half express uncertainty or distrust about AI. This suggests that the adoption wave is driven primarily by a younger, digitally native population — underscoring a widening generational divide in AI familiarity and usage.
The survey also sheds light on related lifestyle and social‑wellbeing patterns. Many users in India (and in other high‑adoption countries like Brazil, Mexico, and South Africa) report high daily screen time: a substantial fraction spend several hours daily on recreational screen-based activities. While increased AI adoption is lauded for improving convenience and access, the study flags potential downsides — including concerns about digital well‑being, mental health, and the long-term effects of high screen usage.
Finally, as AI becomes more widely used, the findings highlight the need for policies and efforts to ensure inclusive access, digital literacy, and responsible usage — across age groups and socio‑economic segments. With India’s youth driving AI engagement, there's also an opportunity (and a challenge) to bridge the trust and skill gap among older citizens, and to balance AI’s benefits with attention to social and psychological well‑being.
