San Francisco-based AI unicorn Motive, valued at $2.85 billion during its last funding round, has announced plans to more than double its India headcount by hiring 300 engineers and designers over the next two years. The expansion will strengthen its product, engineering, and R&D teams, particularly at its Bengaluru development center. Motive's CEO, Shoaib Makani, highlighted India's AI talent density, especially in Bengaluru, as a key factor in the decision. The company serves over 1,500 clients globally, including FedEx Freight and Halliburton. Motive's hiring initiative is part of a broader trend of AI startups and Big Tech companies expanding operations in India to tap into its growing AI talent pool. Companies such as Abbyy, Glean Technologies, and Norway's Cognite have also recently set up or expanded their presence in India. A report by Bain & Company warns of a significant AI talent shortage in India, projecting a gap of one million skilled workers by 2027. While the AI sector is expected to generate 2.3 million job openings by then, the talent pool is estimated to grow to only 1.2 million. The report also notes that AI job postings have increased by 21% annually since 2019, with salaries growing at an annual rate of 11%, highlighting the urgent need for reskilling and upskilling initiatives.