64% of Indian design and engineering firms near AI goals, Autodesk survey finds

Nearly two in three Indian design, engineering and manufacturing businesses say they are close to or have already reached their current goals for artificial intelligence, according to Autodesk's 2026 State of Design & Make report for India, released on 13 October 2026. The survey found that 64% of Indian organisations are approaching or have achieved their AI goals, 57% are building AI into design work such as generative design, simulation and content creation, and 44% are putting AI-driven automation in place. It also found that 88% believe AI will improve their industry, up from 78% in 2025, while around 40% said a lack of technical know-how is holding back their digital plans.

The businesses in this survey are the ones that design and build India's physical world: architecture and engineering firms, construction companies and manufacturers. For them, AI is not mainly about chatbots. It is about software that can suggest dozens of design options, test a structure or a product in simulation before it is built, and automate repetitive drawing and documentation work. If these tools deliver, the gains show up as faster projects, less material waste and fewer costly mistakes on site or on the factory floor.

The numbers suggest Indian firms are past the experimenting stage. More than half say AI is already part of their design work, and a growing share are confident about where it is taking their industry. The jump from 78% to 88% in the share who think AI will improve their sector, in just one year, is a sign that early results are persuading managers.

The weak spot is people. Around 40% of respondents say a lack of technical knowledge is holding them back, and while 58% are investing in AI training, only 37% are hiring for AI skills. That gap between ambition and capability is the main risk for Indian companies: buying software is easy, but getting value from it needs engineers and designers who know how to use it well and check its outputs.

For investors and business leaders, the survey points to where money is likely to flow next: training programmes, design and simulation software, and services that help mid-sized firms adopt these tools. For young engineers and architects, it is a clear signal that AI-assisted design skills are becoming part of the job.

Short-term: Firms that are already using AI in design are likely to widen it to more projects, while others face pressure to catch up. Demand for AI training and for engineers with digital design skills should rise.

Long-term: If adoption keeps growing, Indian design, construction and manufacturing firms could become faster and more competitive, including for export work. The skills gap, if not closed, could slow that progress and widen the gap between large and small firms.

Who is affected: Architecture, engineering, construction and manufacturing companies; their employees and new graduates; technology vendors and training providers; and clients who depend on faster, cheaper project delivery.

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