The findings are part of the Ayre Index, launched at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda. India scored 60.6 out of 100, exceeding the study's readiness benchmark of 53. Only 15 Commonwealth countries met or exceeded this threshold, while 41 fell below it.
India's position is significant given the size of its young population. According to the study, approximately 382 million Indians are aged between 15 and 29, accounting for more than half of the 732 million young people across the Commonwealth.
Research by the Ayre Think Tank, founded by Antiguan-Canadian philanthropist Calvin Ayre, also points to strong interest in AI among young Indians. A survey found that 88.8% of respondents expected to use AI for education or work within the following year, while 60.1% expressed confidence in their ability to control their interactions with the technology.
India's digital infrastructure, including widespread 4G coverage and relatively low mobile data costs, provides a foundation for wider AI adoption. However, the study found that only 66.5% of young people owned a mobile phone, highlighting the gap between network availability and individual access to digital devices.
Employment opportunities remain another challenge. The research found that 30.4% of young people were not in employment, education or training, while 85.8% of young workers were employed in the informal sector.
The study estimates that AI could increase India's GDP by US$79.121 billion over ten years under its moderate scenario, based on scenarios developed by the International Monetary Fund. The estimated gain stands at US$39.561 billion under the conservative scenario and could reach US$118.682 billion under the optimistic scenario.
Calvin Ayre, founder of the Ayre Think Tank, said: “I’ve spent my life in businesses where new technology changes everything, and I know you can’t stand still. AI is going to change how we work, how we do business and how wealth is created. But this is not a race that only the biggest or richest countries can win. What matters is giving young people the skills and the chance to get ahead – whether to start businesses, find jobs or build something for themselves. Some Commonwealth countries are ahead, others have catching up to do. Nobody can afford to be complacent. That’s why we created this Index. It shows countries where they stand, what they’re getting right and where they need to do better. Governments now have to decide what they’re going to do about it.”
India is already taking major steps to turn its technological strengths into employment opportunities. In August 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced plans to train ten million young people in AI skills within a year. The following month, the government launched new AI training programmes with Intel India to equip young people with practical skills for the emerging jobs market. These initiatives demonstrate how India is working to turn its enormous enthusiasm for AI into new employment opportunities, stronger businesses and economic growth.
The White Paper identifies five priorities: affordable and reliable access to technology; education that develops practical skills; stronger routes from training into employment and enterprise; AI tools suited to local languages and needs; and safeguards that enable young people to question automated decisions.
It calls on governments, educators and development partners to examine the particular barriers young people face in each country before deciding where investment could make the greatest difference.
Professor C. Justin Robinson, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal of the University of the West Indies, Five Islands Campus, said: “We need to make sure that the next generation will be able to do more than just consume AI products made elsewhere. Access must come with its own agency and a real equitable stake in how these systems are governed. Young people should be equipped to question these new tools, to improve them and to be supported in building alternatives suited to their own needs. Whether that happens, however, will depend on choices made now. This index gives us a clearer view of where those choices are most urgent. We should use it.”
