The Indian IT sector is poised for a renewed wave of expansion in 2026, driven by deepening integration of artificial intelligence into enterprise operations, according to Umesh Sachdev, co-founder and CEO of conversational AI company Uniphore. In a recent piece titled “Indian IT Set for AI-Led Growth Spurt in 2026: Uniphore Chief Umesh Sachdeva,” published by Startup News FYI, Sachdev laid out a cautiously optimistic projection for the industry’s trajectory as businesses increasingly adopt generative AI solutions.
This forecast comes at a time when the global technology landscape is undergoing significant transformation, with AI technologies rapidly evolving from pilot stages to enterprise-wide deployments. Indian IT services firms, traditionally known for their scale and cost-efficiency, are now reportedly pivoting toward value-added AI capabilities to stay relevant in highly competitive global markets.
Sachdev, whose company has focused on using AI to enhance customer service and enterprise communication, suggested that Indian technology service providers are well positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for AI-driven solutions. He emphasized that India’s large and technically proficient workforce, coupled with rising domestic innovation, could enhance the country’s standing as a global hub for responsible and scalable AI adoption.
This anticipated rebound follows a period of uncertainty for the sector. In recent quarters, leading Indian IT firms have faced slowing revenue growth and macroeconomic pressures in key markets such as North America and Europe. According to analysts, these firms are now recalibrating their service portfolios to include AI integration consulting, machine learning applications, and proprietary generative AI platforms.
While cautioning that the benefits of AI adoption may not be evenly distributed, Sachdev highlighted the importance of upskilling and re-skilling programs to prepare the large IT workforce for more complex, AI-driven roles. He also underscored the need for ethical AI practices and strong governance frameworks in order to build trust among clients and regulators.
The Startup News FYI article also noted that rapid AI-led transformation could lead to entirely new categories of jobs and services, potentially offsetting displacement concerns. However, the pace and scope of this evolution are expected to vary across sub-sectors within the IT industry.
Sector observers suggest that companies which can rapidly integrate AI without disrupting existing core operations will be best placed to lead the next phase of global outsourcing and digital transformation. Continued investment in R&D and partnerships with AI startups are also expected to play a vital role in shaping the competitive landscape.
As Indian technology firms gear up for what could be a pivotal year, the evolving narrative points to a sector wrestling with both the promises and perils of AI, seeking new equilibrium as it enters a fundamentally altered global digital economy.
