Introduction to 2026 Trends
Enterprise leaders are entering 2026 with a mix of volatility, optimism, and pressure to move faster on AI and quantum computing, according to a paper published by the IBM Institute for Business Value. The findings are based on more than 1,000 C-suite executives and 8,500 employees and consumers. While only around a third of executives are optimistic about the global economy, more than four in five are confident about their own organisation’s performance in the year ahead.
Trends for 2026
Executives expect to make faster decisions and are willing to redesign operating models, while employees are broadly positive about AI in their working lives. Customers, in turn, are ready to reward (or punish) brands based on how companies use their data. The trends for 2026 include the use of agentic AI, employee training and AI, customer data policies, AI and cloud provision, and planning for quantum advantage.
Trend 1: Agentic AI a Strategic Asset
Agentic AI is emerging as one of the main tools leaders expect to use in the coming year, and most execs say AI agents are already helping them. However, for agentic AI to succeed, data architecture needs to support near real-time insight, not periodic reporting. AI agents’ success will depend on access to core systems, and agentic AI shifts from experimental to operational. Leaders feel they must decide which decisions can be delegated to AI agents, which require human review, and which must remain human-led.
Trend 2: Employees Will Ask for More Training and AI is Okay
Most employees say the pace of technology change in their roles is sustainable, and that they’re confident about keeping up with new tools. Twice as many employees say they would embrace, not resist, greater use of AI in the workplace, seeing the technology as a way to remove repetitive tasks and learn new skills. Executives expect a significant re-skilling requirement from their employees, so leaders should anticipate that at least half their workforce will need some form of re-skilling by the end of 2026, thanks to AI automation.
Trend 3: Customers Will Hold Data Policies to Account
The executives surveyed agreed that consumer trust in a brand’s use of AI will define the success of new products and services. Consumers are willing to tolerate occasional errors, but not opacity. Customers want explanations of how their data is used, knowledge of when AI is involved in interactions with them, and simple ways to opt in or out. Implications for leaders include treating transparency as a product feature and selecting models that support explainability.
Trend 4: AI and Cloud Will Need Local Provision
AI sovereignty—an organisation’s ability to control and govern its AI systems, data, and infrastructure—has moved to the centre of resilience planning. Almost all executives surveyed said they will factor AI sovereignty into their 2026 strategy. In the light of concerns about data residency and cloud jurisdiction, leaders are rethinking where models run and where data lives.
Trend 5: Planning on Quantum Advantage
The report’s findings say quantum is moving towards experimentation in the near term. IBM’s own research on quantum readiness suggests that early quantum advantage is likely in targeted domains such as optimisation and materials science. The report urges the identification of small numbers of high-impact quantum uses in the enterprise, and the joining of ecosystems early.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the trends for 2026 include the use of agentic AI, employee training and AI, customer data policies, AI and cloud provision, and planning for quantum advantage. Leaders must be aware of these trends and take steps to implement them in their organisations. This includes investing in AI and quantum computing, providing training for employees, and prioritising customer data policies.
FAQs
Q: What are the trends for 2026 according to the IBM Institute for Business Value?
A: The trends for 2026 include the use of agentic AI, employee training and AI, customer data policies, AI and cloud provision, and planning for quantum advantage.
Q: What is agentic AI and how can it succeed?
A: Agentic AI is emerging as one of the main tools leaders expect to use in the coming year. For agentic AI to succeed, data architecture needs to support near real-time insight, not periodic reporting, and AI agents’ success will depend on access to core systems.
Q: How do employees feel about the use of AI in the workplace?
A: Twice as many employees say they would embrace, not resist, greater use of AI in the workplace, seeing the technology as a way to remove repetitive tasks and learn new skills.
Q: What do customers want from companies in terms of data policies?
A: Customers want explanations of how their data is used, knowledge of when AI is involved in interactions with them, and simple ways to opt in or out.
Q: What is AI sovereignty and why is it important?
A: AI sovereignty is an organisation’s ability to control and govern its AI systems, data, and infrastructure. It is important because it has moved to the centre of resilience planning and leaders are rethinking where models run and where data lives.
