India’s Global Capabilities Centres emerge as strategic engines amid global AI talent crunch

As the global economy grapples with a severe shortage of Artificial Intelligence (AI) talent, India’s Global Capability Centres (GCCs) are rapidly transforming from mere support hubs into strategic engines driving AI innovation and product development for multinational corporations. This shift underscores India’s pivotal role in addressing the worldwide demand for AI expertise.

The landscape of Indian GCCs has undergone a dramatic evolution. From conventional operational support, these centers are now top strategic innovation, product development, and execution of AI initiatives. With over 1,800 GCCs, generating substantial revenue, the focus has moved beyond simply building headcount to rapidly developing secure and production-ready AI capabilities. Firms are leveraging these centers to transition from manual to intelligent operations in weeks, not months, solving complex business problems with scalable AI agents.

The timing of this transformation is critical. Western markets face acute AI talent shortages, making India’s vast technical workforce an attractive solution. The nation offers a unique combination of favorable time zones for global collaboration, strong English proficiency, and a deep engineering talent pool that can be rapidly upskilled for specialized AI roles. While challenges like skill mismatches and talent attrition exist, top firms are proactively addressing them through systematic operational transformations in India.

This includes creating AI-specific organizational structures, implementing targeted upskilling programs, and delegating strategic responsibilities to India-based teams. The GCCs of the future are embracing “product thinking,” owning outcomes from AI model design to deployment. This isn’t just a technological shift; it’s a reimagining of how global enterprises can leverage India’s talent ecosystem for strategic AI initiatives, significantly accelerating AI development timelines and delivering substantial cost savings.

The demand for generative AI skills within Indian GCCs has seen an impressive 32% annual increase, particularly in sectors like BFSI and retail. This has prompted significant investment in upskilling and reskilling initiatives to bridge the talent gap. India is projected to have over 2.3 million AI job openings by 2027, highlighting the urgent need for focused training and development.

By strengthening their AI capabilities within these centers, global firms are not only tackling the pressing talent deficit but also fostering significant innovation and securing a distinct competitive advantage. India’s unparalleled capacity to merge extensive technical expertise with advanced operational models and a commitment to outcome-oriented delivery positions its GCCs as a crucial player in shaping the future of the AI economy. The Indian GCC market is expected to expand significantly by 2030, further cementing India’s status as a global AI leader.