While artificial intelligence is a hot topic on social media, the reality in India tells a different story. A recent joint survey by Google and Kantar India revealed that over 60% of Indians are still unfamiliar with AI, and only about 31% have tried any generative AI tools. Despite being a nation known for its innovation, these findings highlight the significant potential yet to be realized.
The survey, which included 8,000 participants from Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities between the ages of 18 and 44, was unveiled during Google’s first-ever Gemini Day in India. The event showcased various advancements in Google’s Gemini ecosystem, including Veo 2 (a powerful text-to-video generator), Gemini Live with Video, Gemini Canvas, Deep Research, and Audio Overviews.
Gemini AI Leading the Way
A major highlight of the event was a presentation by Manish Gupta, Senior Director at Google DeepMind, who discussed the growing linguistic capabilities of Gemini. He noted that Gemini Live already supports nine Indian languages, with plans to expand this to over 100 Indian languages. According to Gupta, “Gemini is leading the pack across 29 Indian languages, and it’s truly the best in class.”
Gupta also highlighted the advancements of Gemini 2.5, particularly its ability to handle long context windows. This upgrade enables the AI to process complex tasks, such as analyzing lengthy video files, large codebases, and multi-volume books. “It’s designed to retain intricate details across expansive content, making it an ideal assistant for real-world complexity,” Gupta explained.
Shekar Khosla, Vice President of Marketing at Google India, reinforced the vision behind Gemini, emphasizing that Google’s goal is to create a personalized, highly useful AI assistant. “We’re excited to see it cater to diverse needs, across various cities, languages, and age groups,” Khosla said.
The Study Highlights India’s Growing Relationship with AI
The survey was conducted in two phases. The first phase focused on understanding AI awareness and adoption across 5,133 respondents, while the second phase looked into the tangible impact of Gemini on a separate group of 3,415 individuals. The data was collected just before the full rollout of Gemini 2.5, offering a timely snapshot of AI’s presence in India.
The results were telling: 93% of Gemini users reported increased productivity, and 95% said the AI helped boost their creativity. Additionally, 80% of users credited Gemini with improving decision-making and providing expert-level guidance, while 69% found it valuable for skill development. Moreover, 77% of respondents said the tool helped unlock new professional or creative opportunities.
Although the report didn’t specify the number of active Gemini users in India, recent global data suggests the AI chatbot is rapidly growing, with its user base surpassing 350 million worldwide.
A Turning Point for AI in India
For India, these findings are more than just numbers—they mark a pivotal moment in the country’s AI journey. With the infrastructure being built, tools becoming more accessible, and awareness growing, the key challenge now is to build trust. The path is set for India to embrace AI, and the real question is how quickly the country will adopt and integrate these technologies into everyday life.
