Going into the new year, market uncertainty is not holding companies back, but rather driving them to transform. To prosper, companies must take into account various technological trends, betting on those that provide speed, resilience and knowledge.
AI has gone from experimental to essential, redefining decisions, functions and customer expectations at a pace difficult to imagine just a year ago. Organizations are adopting AI-centric operating models, and soon, quantum computing will help them tackle more complex problems.
In the new report, ‘Five Trends for 2026’, the IBM Institute for Business Value identifies the trends that will redefine competitive advantage next year. From turning volatility into opportunity, to building resilience in AI or preparing for ecosystems powered by quantum computing. The message is clear, the future belongs to organizations that are able to adapt quickly.
Making quick decisions will turn disruption into opportunity, however, success will depend on AI that acts and assists.
- 95% of executives say they need to make decisions faster and faster. In turn, 96% assure that the most critical decisions they made during 2025 were the correct ones.
- 90% of executives believe they will lose advantage if they cannot operate in real time.
- One in four executives say their organization already had AI agents acting independently by 2025, and 7 in 10 expect to have that capability by the end of 2026.ยน
- However, executives say only about 40% of their agentive AI initiatives were successful in 2025, based on objective metrics.
Employees no longer fear AI. Now they want to embrace it, even if it means profound changes in their roles.
- 61% of employees expect their role to change significantly in 2026 due to new technologies, and even 81% are confident they can adapt to upcoming advances.
- Two to three times as many employees would prefer to embrace greater use of AI in their work rather than resist it by 2026.
- 63% would work with an AI agent, and almost half (48%) would feel comfortable being managed by one.
- 61% say that AI makes their work less routine and more strategic.
- To receive better training, 56% would be willing to change companies, and 42% would even accept a salary reduction.
- Although 56% of executives recognize that employees are suffering burnout due to changes in processes and responsibilities, 88% of employees who say that AI is transforming corporate culture argue that this change is positive.
Consumers accept failures, however, trust and transparency remain essential
- 56% of consumers say they are so excited about innovative AI-based services that they would accept failure.
- 89% want to know when they are interacting with AI.
- 95% of executives confirm that consumer trust in their AI will define the success of new products and services.
- 4 out of 5 customers would trust a brand less if it intentionally concealed its use of AI.
- Two-thirds would switch brands, and half would pay more, to avoid hidden AI.
Trends such as resilience and AI sovereignty will be essential to protect organizations’ computing resources
- 93% of executives believe that AI sovereignty should be part of their business strategy by 2026.
- When executives were asked if they are concerned about the over-reliance on computing resources in certain regions, without mentioning any in particular, 50% agreed.
AI powered by quantum computing will require collaboration in ecosystems, even the most prepared organizations already see competitive advantages
- Quantum-ready organizations (QROs) are three times more likely to belong to multiple ecosystems than other organizations.
- 79% of executives say ecosystem partners accelerate technology adoption, and 77% say data from ecosystem partners improves business results.
- 89% believe these partners will help reduce the impact of disruptions.
Study methodology
To identify the key trends that will define the business landscape in 2026, the IBM Institute for Business Value conducted a dual-perspective study using two large-scale surveys, one aimed at senior executives and the other at full-time employed consumers. The executive survey included 1,028 C-suite leaders from large companies across 20 industries.
AI powered by quantum computing will require greater collaboration between ecosystems
To complement this vision, the consumer survey collected responses from 8,500 employees with different levels of knowledge in AI, from basic to expert. Descriptive statistics were used to identify trends, and regression analyzes were performed on the executive data to identify factors influencing different strategic perspectives.
