Stanford AI Index 2026: India has World's Second-Largest AI Talent Pool But Leads in Brain Drain
Stanford's AI Index 2026 ranks India second globally in AI talent but first in net outflows.
India has emerged as one of the world’s largest hubs for artificial intelligence talent, with a pool of over 50,000 professionals, but continues to face a significant net outflow of experts, according to the latest report by Stanford University. The findings are part of the AI Index 2026 released by the Stanford Institute for Human-Centred Artificial Intelligence.
The report highlights that India ranked second globally in 2025 in terms of top AI authors and inventors, with 50,460 professionals, trailing only the United States, which led with 220,520 experts. Germany followed closely behind India with 48,520 AI specialists, underscoring the growing global competition for skilled talent in the field of artificial intelligence.
Despite its strong talent base, India continues to experience a net outflow of AI professionals, indicating that many experts are moving abroad for opportunities. The report also pointed to shifting global trends, particularly in the United States, which has traditionally been a major destination for AI researchers but is now witnessing a slowdown in incoming talent.
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According to the study, the number of AI scholars relocating to the United States has dropped sharply, declining by 89 per cent since 2017 and by 80 per cent in the past year alone. This suggests a broader redistribution of global AI talent, as other countries and regions begin to attract and retain skilled professionals through increased investments and policy support.
The report also noted that private investments in artificial intelligence more than doubled in 2025, reflecting the sector’s rapid growth and increasing importance across industries. As nations compete to secure talent and innovation leadership, India’s challenge will be to retain its skilled workforce while continuing to expand its capabilities in the evolving AI landscape.
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