Leadership positions in the field of artificial intelligence, AI grew significantly in FY25, rising between 40% and 60% compared to the previous fiscal year, according to data sourced from leading staffing firms. Industry experts anticipate that this upward trend in demand will remain strong in the coming years.

The surge in AI leadership hiring is being driven by a broad spectrum of sectors, including IT services, consulting, global capability centers (GCCs), financial services, healthcare, and a growing number of startups across fintech, healthtech, and ecommerce. Many of these organizations are now establishing dedicated AI business units and specialist teams. Demand is also rising from deeptech and generative AI (GenAI)-focused startups, as well as multinational corporations setting up AI development hubs in India.

Some of the key leadership roles currently in demand include: –Chief AI Officer, Head of AI/ML, Vice President – AI Engineering, VP – AI Strategy/Innovation, VP – Machine Learning or GenAI, Director – Applied AI or Innovation, Director – GenAI Applications, Director – Data Science, AI Product Head, AI Solutions Architect

Staffing firms report that the most significant spike in hiring for these positions has occurred in the last two to three quarters. Companies such as Accenture, LTIMindtree, IBM, Deloitte, and Wipro are among the top recruiters in this space, according to Ciel HR.

Notably, compensation for AI leadership roles is increasingly being linked to business impact, and top professionals are seeing faster progression into CXO and senior management positions.

LTIMindtree’s recent appointment of Nachiket Deshpande as President – Global AI Services, Strategic Deals, and Partnerships, illustrates this strategic focus. The company stated that the move reinforces its commitment to agility and leadership in emerging AI trends.

Outlook for FY26 and Beyond
Experts predict that demand for AI leadership talent will continue to grow at a double-digit rate in FY26 and beyond, as AI becomes even more central to business strategy.

The rollout of enterprise-grade GenAI solutions and evolving regulatory frameworks focused on responsible AI are increasing the need for experienced leaders who can guide organizations on strategy, governance, and innovation.

“Organisations are no longer experimenting—they are scaling,” said Kapil Joshi, CEO of Quess IT Staffing. “This shift calls for seasoned AI professionals who can bring a balanced approach to innovation and ethical leadership.”

According to data from Quess, compensation for AI leadership roles is substantial:

Chief AI Officers: ₹1.2–2.5 crore per annum

Heads of AI/ML: ₹80 lakh–₹1.5 crore

VPs – GenAI/ML: ₹70 lakh–₹1.2 crore

Directors – AI Innovation: ₹80 lakh–₹1 crore

Salary growth in these roles is expected to continue at 15–20% annually, particularly in areas linked to responsible AI frameworks and GenAI deployment.

Challenges in Talent Availability
Despite the strong demand, companies continue to face challenges related to talent scarcity, domain-specific expertise, and retention of experienced leaders ad with demand currently outpacing supply, pushing organizations to offer premium compensation to attract younger AI professionals.

“In some cases, we’ve seen the Head of AI role commanding an entry-level salary of ₹36 lakh for professionals with just four years of experience, which underscores the high value placed on AI capabilities,” Mishra noted.

As India cements its position as a global hub for AI talent, the demand for skilled leadership in this domain is expected to intensify, driven by both domestic innovation and international interest.

China’s AI-Powered Humanoid Robots Set to Redefine Global Manufacturing
Meanwhile, in China, humanoid robots are being trained to carry out a range of everyday tasks, from folding T-shirts, preparing sandwiches, and opening doors, repeatedly for hours.

Operating 17 hours a day, the facility is run by Chinese robotics startup AgiBot, whose goal is to generate extensive datasets to train next-generation AI-powered humanoid robots that could revolutionize how humans live, work, and interact with machines.

“Imagine a future where robots in our factory are assembling themselves,” said Yao Maoqing, a partner at AgiBot, envisioning a self-sustaining robotics ecosystem.

Strategic Importance Amid Economic Headwinds
The development of humanoid robots has taken on strategic significance for Beijing. As the country grapples with slowing economic growth, an aging population, and ongoing trade tensions with the United States, robotics has emerged as a pillar of its future industrial strategy.

Chinese President Xi Jinping stated the importance of the sector during a recent visit to AgiBot’s facility in Shanghai, where he observed the robots in action and even joked that they might someday form a football team. Earlier this year, another robotics startup, Unitree, was invited to a meeting Xi hosted for private companies, where he called upon entrepreneurs to support China’s economic modernization.

As the U.S. continues to reassess tariffs introduced under President Donald Trump to grow domestic manufacturing, China is countering with its own vision of a robot-driven industrial revolution, aiming to automate vast segments of its manufacturing base using humanoid technology.

From Spectacle to Skilled Workforce
China’s humanoid robots have recently demonstrated significant advancements in agility and coordination, including performing somersaults, running half-marathons, and even playing football, milestones that reflect rapid progress in both hardware and artificial intelligence capabilities.

For the first time, insights are emerging into how China’s AI breakthroughs- fueled by a combination of government support and the rise of powerful domestic firms like DeepSeek – are enabling humanoid robots to evolve from impressive prototypes to potentially cost-effective workers. Sources familiar with the matter, including investors, manufacturers, and analysts, emphasized that advancements in robot “brains” – AI models that enable decision-making, learning, and coordination – are accelerating the shift toward fully autonomous, productive robots on factory floors.

China’s strategy involves investing heavily in AI training data and the development of increasingly sophisticated large language models (LLMs) and computer vision systems to enhance humanoid functionality. DeepSeek, in particular, is seen as a major contributor to these efforts, though the company and government agencies have declined to comment publicly.

A Bid to Maintain Manufacturing Dominance
The widespread integration of humanoid robots into China’s manufacturing ecosystem would allow the country to maintain its competitive edge as a global manufacturing powerhouse. 

Fellow robotics startup MagicLab is also doubling down on the AI layer of humanoids. CEO Wu Changzheng said the company has begun deploying prototypes for use in production lines, focusing on tasks like quality inspection, material handling, and assembly.

“These breakthroughs lay the foundation for our focus in 2025 on real-world applications,” Wu explained. MagicLab has integrated AI models such as DeepSeek, Alibaba’s Qwen, and ByteDance’s Doubao, with DeepSeek contributing significantly to “task reasoning and comprehension”—a cornerstone for embodied intelligence.

China’s most compelling advantage may lie in its hardware supremacy. According to analysts and startups, the country manufactures up to 90% of the components required to build humanoid robots, drastically reducing production costs and lowering entry barriers for new players.

Surging Ahead in the Global Race
China’s control over the hardware supply chain is already reshaping the global robotics arena. As per Morgan Stanley, Chinese companies now make up the majority of manufacturers in the humanoid space and dominate the supply chain.

In 2024 alone, 31 Chinese firms unveiled 36 humanoid models, compared to just eight by U.S. firms. Some Chinese startups are pricing their robots as low as 88,000 yuan ($12,178), fueling a wave of interest and adoption.

At least six companies, including established names like Unitree and UBTech, have announced that they are either in mass production or gearing up for it this year- marking a significant shift from prototype to commercial viability.

Humanoids and the Workforce, A Looming Job Dilemma?
As China’s humanoid robot industry begins to take shape, lawmakers and experts are starting to confront a complex question: what happens to jobs?

With 123 million people employed in manufacturing, according to a 2023 survey by the National Bureau of Statistics, the potential for disruption is substantial. At this year’s National People’s Congress, Zheng Gongcheng, a prominent social security expert, cautioned that advances in AI and robotics could impact as much as 70% of China’s manufacturing sector. This, he warned, might result in a sharp drop in social security contributions—posing long-term fiscal challenges for the state.

In response, industry leaders are calling for a safety net. Liu Qingfeng, chairman of domestic AI firm iFlytek, proposed an AI unemployment insurance program, which would provide coverage for six to twelve months to workers displaced by automation.

Yet, for some, the integration of humanoid robots is less a threat than a necessary evolution. Tang Jian, CTO of the Beijing Innovation Centre of Human Robotics, said the focus is on deploying robots in areas where human labor is scarce or undesirable- tasks that are repetitive, dangerous, or physically demanding.

Addressing Labour Gaps in Elderly Care
One area where China sees humanoids as not just useful, but essential, is elderly care. With the country’s 1.4 billion population aging rapidly, labour shortages in this sector are worsening. In December, the Chinese government unveiled a national elderly-care plan encouraging the integration of AI and robotics.

Private sector firms are responding. Ant Group, the fintech arm of Alibaba, has launched a new subsidiary, Ant Lingbo Technology, to develop humanoid robots for use in elderly care and other services.

According to AgiBot’s Yao Maoqing, future humanoids could assist with everyday living tasks: “In five or ten years, robots could organise a resident’s room, pick up deliveries, or even help transfer people from a bed to a washroom.”