Nearly all manufacturing companies in India are now either actively investing in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) or have plans to do so, according to Rockwell Automation India. The company's Managing Director, Dilip Sawhney, stated that the latest industry survey shows AI integration reaching an all-time high of 99 per cent across firms.

Sharing insights from the annual smart manufacturing survey, Sawhney told PTI that the trend has accelerated sharply over recent years. “Two years ago, around two-thirds of organisations had either already invested in AI or planned to do so within the following 12 months. Last year, that figure rose past 90 per cent,” he said. “This year, it is as high as you can imagine—virtually 99 per cent. Every company is either deploying AI or planning to, signalling a transformative shift in Indian manufacturing.”

He also noted that a decade ago, most Indian manufacturers were still exploring what Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing meant. Today, they are increasingly driven by the tangible value these technologies offer—such as operational efficiency, predictive maintenance, cost reduction, and better decision-making capabilities.

The rapid adoption of AI and ML reflects India’s growing commitment to digital transformation in industry and its ambition to strengthen its global competitiveness through smart, sustainable manufacturing.