Even as the year approaches its conclusion, the technology sector is witnessing remarkable advancements and innovation. This year has been particularly notable, with artificial intelligence (AI) taking center stage in discussions surrounding technology. AI has not only become more sophisticated but has also become more integrated into both new and traditional work processes. However, the technological landscape encompasses much more than just AI. A comprehensive examination of various sectors reveals additional trends and developments.
From Generative to Agentic
Generative AI has significantly changed the way we engage with the digital world. This year, the technology has evolved further, giving rise to Agentic AI—highly advanced versions of existing chatbots capable of executing basic commands autonomously. These systems can handle numerous tasks with little to no human involvement. In 2023, numerous businesses across various sectors began adopting AI agents to streamline their operations, a trend expected to persist into the next year. On the regulatory front, India has initiated conversations about AI with the aim of fostering a more inclusive and sovereign technological environment. “If 2025 taught leaders anything, it’s this: AI didn’t fail. Our expectations did. Last year was a carnival of copilots, dashboards, and demos. Almost every enterprise did something with AI. Few can honestly say they run better because of it. Costs didn’t come down in a lasting way. Customer experience didn’t stabilize. Controls didn’t simplify. Teams, if anything, became busier—pulled between experimentation and delivery. The gap wasn’t technology. It was execution. And beneath that, a deeper one: belief. Three truths cut through the noise. First, visibility beats intelligence. AI can’t fix what leaders can’t see. Most organizations still lack a shared, end-to-end view of how work behaves—where effort piles up, where rework loops form, where timing quietly kills otherwise good decisions,” remarked Shammik Gupta, Founder & CEO of 3Cubed. “Second, data exhaust isn’t an operational truth. Dashboards tell you what happened. Logs tell you where. Neither explains why. Without causality, AI just optimizes noise—faster. Third, automation without context breeds fragility. Many organizations automated steps only to add more reviews, exceptions, and controls later. Costs came back. Risk rose. Trust fell. The lesson wasn’t that AI needs better models. It was that enterprises need better operational understanding—a clearer picture of how their own systems think, move, and decide,” he added. “As we step into 2026, the highest transformation will show up in how AI is used – it feels less like a tool and more like a teammate. Effectively, it reshapes engineering and the way organizations build. Human–machine interaction is set to be significantly elevated by humanoids and intelligent agents. On the other hand, smaller, faster, and more cost-efficient models push intelligence to the edge, making scalability a matter of ROI rather than raw compute.”
“The evolution of Generative AI infrastructure is driving AI-native organizations beyond mere proofs of concept to real-world adoption and deployment. AI is becoming increasingly integrated throughout the software development lifecycle, enhancing innovation and productivity. However, the true measure of success lies in trust. Organizations must ensure reliable integration, transparent and observable agents, robust safety measures, a strong stance on cybersecurity, and clear distinctions between machine decisions and human confirmations. As machines continue to learn at a rapid pace, the growing use of digital twins is increasingly influencing tangible outcomes,” stated Pankaj Vyas, CEO and Managing Director of Siemens. “As organizations facilitate this technological shift, it is essential to empower individuals to learn confidently, collaboratively, and continuously, because the real breakthrough is not merely intelligence everywhere, but trustworthy intelligence that enhances human precision, creativity, and capability.”
Cryptocurrency & Web3
Despite the government’s hesitance to formally recognize conventional cryptocurrencies, significant strides are being made to explore alternatives. For example, the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) initiative is advancing from retail applications to business-to-business (B2B) ‘Deposit Tokenization,’ aimed at facilitating seamless, instantaneous, and programmable cross-border payments for smaller enterprises. B2B platforms are progressively implementing blockchain technology for the tokenization of invoices, supply chain assets, and more. Regarding safety and governance, compliance with the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) guidelines for all Virtual Digital Asset (VDA) providers is widely perceived as a measure to stabilize the market. “As we move into 2026, the cryptocurrency sector is entering a phase of strategic consolidation. The sharp volatility of late 2025 underscored the market’s sensitivity to global macroeconomic shifts. In the coming year, regulatory clarity will serve as a crucial catalyst, with initiatives such as the SEC’s proposed ‘innovation exemption’ likely affecting how digital asset firms operate and grow. Concurrently, alterations in monetary policy across major economies will influence liquidity conditions and risk appetite. Although market sentiment has improved since the extreme fear of November, traders remain cautious, as evidenced by elevated futures open interest indicating a preference for shorter, tactical positions. Nonetheless, increased institutional involvement and clearer compliance frameworks present a constructive long-term outlook, making 2026 a year that could reward disciplined conviction,” said Vikas Gupta, Country Manager for India at Bybit. Nischal Shetty, Founder of WazirX, reflected: “Looking back at 2025, the crypto industry presents a mixed yet optimistic narrative. On one front, we witnessed genuine advancements: growth in decentralized finance (DeFi) projects, the expansion of stablecoins, new CBDC infrastructure pilot programs, and a surge in developer activity across Asia-Pacific and globally, with millions dedicating their efforts to coding on-chain. However, the sharp correction in October served as a reminder that sentiment remains precarious, and that exuberance without tangible results can negatively impact the industry. Nevertheless, institutional shifts and regulatory signals provided meaningful momentum. Vanguard’s reversal of its long-standing crypto prohibition, enabling its platform to include Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and Solana ETFs, sparked increased mainstream adoption. The CFTC’s approval of spot crypto ETFs contributed further, reflecting a steady movement towards offering traditional financial investors regulated exposure to cryptocurrencies. Companies like BlackRock continued their methodical investment approach into digital assets. Looking ahead to 2026, there are reasons to be hopeful. In India, the groundwork for the CBDC project may soon be laid. The Reserve Bank of India has announced a hackathon aimed at fostering tech talent in emerging technologies, encouraging more Indians to view such fields as promising career opportunities. A clearer regulatory framework for VDAs, potentially combined with favorable tax policies, support for stablecoin initiatives, and CBDC measures, could unlock practical blockchain applications from Indian innovators and stimulate on-chain growth within the country. Thus, while 2025 did not mark a straightforward breakout year, it undeniably represented a transformative phase. Infrastructure matured, institutional engagement broadened, and policy discussions intensified worldwide. In 2026, the global appetite for regulated digital asset products is expected to rise, driving capital inflows and contributing to market stability. Concurrently, domestic policies will play a crucial role in shaping investor sentiment in different countries.”
Semiconductor
Following the successful push for self-sufficiency in the smartphone sector, India is now aiming to achieve similar independence in the semiconductor industry. This focus is increasingly vital due to rising domestic demand and emerging opportunities, particularly in AI. Semiconductors are crucial to India’s ambition to establish itself as a manufacturing and innovation hub rather than merely a large consumer market. Significant strides are being made in this area, from indigenous chip designs to initiatives that encourage local production. Last month, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that India’s chipmaking capabilities are on track to be on par with those of the US, China, and other leading producers by 2032. The India Semiconductor Mission, which boasts a $10 billion budget, aims to bolster local manufacturing, design, and talent. Electronics and IT Secretary S. Krishnan confirmed that the central government has already allocated approximately INR 629 billion (US$7.17 billion)—around 97% of the INR 650 billion (US$7.41 billion) set aside as incentives for semiconductor production under this mission. The remaining funds will accommodate only a handful of smaller projects. The designated budget includes INR 100 billion (US$1.14 billion) for upgrading the Semiconductor Laboratory in Mohali, Punjab, and INR 10 billion (US$114 million) for the design-linked incentive scheme.
B2B SaaS
This year saw the B2B Software as a Service (SaaS) sector become increasingly specialized and localized, while also adapting to the challenges posed by AI. There have been concerted efforts to create frameworks that grasp local contexts, and the implementation of the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act has prompted SaaS providers to rethink their architectures with design as a core aspect, alongside the development of B2B privacy technology tools. “While 2025 was a year of intense AI experimentation, much of that value remained isolated to specific use cases rather than being fully integrated into enterprise decision-making. As we approach 2026, Indian enterprises must evolve past fragmented pilot programs and embed AI into the very fabric of their operational workflows. The traditional trade-off between rigid central control and unguided self-service is no longer viable,” stated Maurizio Garavello, SVP for the APAC Region at Qlik. “To thrive in this next phase, organizations must embrace a model of governed flexibility, where data integrity, security, and accountability are non-negotiable, yet teams closest to the business are empowered to innovate swiftly. At Qlik, we believe that for AI to scale effectively within India’s rapidly growing economy, innovation must be rooted in a foundation of reliable data and a culture of collective responsibility,” he added.
India’s GCC Turning Point
This year marked a significant strengthening of India’s Global Capability Centers (GCC) as the world transitioned to newer technologies, including AI. As previously noted, the rise of agentic AI has revitalized India’s role as a key support center for tech firms seeking talent and related infrastructure. Furthermore, the GCC landscape in India is becoming increasingly decentralized, with cities such as Coimbatore, Kochi, and Ahmedabad emerging as attractive locales for smaller GCCs. “2025 has been a pivotal year for India’s GCC narrative. We have moved well beyond the traditional ‘back office’ perception. The most compelling work we observe now involves product, data, and AI being managed within Indian teams that are accountable for real outcomes—not just volume. Concurrently, external factors have shifted. Stricter U.S. visa regulations, including changes to the H-1B program and the HIRE Act, have created uncertainty for both companies and Indian professionals abroad. Many firms now regard India as a primary location for development rather than a backup, which is reflected in the growing inbound interest. This year has focused on solidifying the fundamentals: managerial depth, security standards, and streamlined operations across hybrid teams. GCCs that have invested in these essentials are already undertaking more strategic initiatives,” said Piyush Kedia, CEO and founder of Incommon. “Looking ahead to 2026, I foresee three distinct trends. First, an increasing number of mid-market and private equity-backed companies will establish ‘India-first’ teams for AI, data, and platform development. Second, hub-and-spoke models will evolve, with Tier-2 cities becoming integral to talent strategies rather than mere cost centers. Third, boards will increasingly evaluate GCCs based on business impact—revenue, reliability, and innovation—rather than solely headcount. At Incommon, we believe that the next phase will belong to organizations that treat India as an extension of their headquarters, maintaining the same standards for leadership, security, and execution. If India can successfully pair capability with predictability, the future of GCC 2.0 will be built here,” Kedia added.
