Artificial intelligence has moved from experiment to enterprise essential, and with it comes a shift in how organisations build, protect and scale technology.
That’s the message from Info-Tech Research Group’s Tech Trends 2026 report, which draws on insights from more than 700 IT leaders worldwide. The report outlines eight key forces reshaping global IT — from autonomous cybersecurity and agentic AI to a reconfiguration of global supply chains amid geopolitical instability.
Principal research director Brian Jackson said 2026 will mark a decisive shift in how IT leaders define success.
“As global uncertainty intensifies and automation gains agency, IT leaders will need to move beyond managing disruption to orchestrating resilience and exponential value creation,” he said.
Here are the eight defining trends, grouped under three broad themes that map the new IT landscape. The first two trends fall under theme 1: “From global market to multipolar uncertainty”.
1. Resilient supply chain sourcing
Rising tariffs, fractured geopolitics and vendor concentration are pushing enterprises to diversify where and how they buy technology. The World Uncertainty Index has surged 481% since early 2025, and 54% of IT departments expect to increase spending in 2026 to modernise for agility and security.
The next year will see more “sovereign AI” strategies — regionalised systems that reduce exposure to cross-border data and policy risks.
2. Integrated organisational resilience
Risk management is no longer a side function. Info-Tech finds that so-called “Innovator” organisations — those with mature IT and governance structures — are 2.5 times more likely to have an integrated risk structure, “positioning them to turn disruption into advantage through practices this year, such as AI-augmented risk modelling and cross-functional scenario planning”.
The next three trends fall under the report’s second theme: “From digital tools to guided intelligent autonomy”.
3. Multi-agent orchestration
AI has entered a new phase: not just assisting humans, but collaborating with other AI systems. So-called agentic AI will see multiple autonomous agents completing complex workflows with minimal oversight.
As AI joins cloud and cybersecurity in the top tier of enterprise investments, innovators are focusing less on efficiency and more on growth — building ecosystems where AI continuously optimises decisions and processes.
4. Smart sensing networks
The convergence of micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS), quantum sensors and edge AI is enabling real-time, context-aware intelligence. From manufacturing to defence, smart sensing networks are evolving into self-regulating environments capable of autonomous decision-making.
This wave of embedded intelligence will make connected devices both more efficient and more secure — a crucial step as industries scale the Internet of Things (IoT).
5. AI as adversary and ally
Artificial intelligence is driving both sides of the cybersecurity equation. Attackers are already using AI to automate intrusion and mimic user behaviour, while defenders deploy it for threat prediction and real-time response.
Eighty-five percent of organisations are already investing in cybersecurity, and nearly half of Innovators plan significant AI-related security spend by the end of 2026, according to Info-Tech. Expect a surge in AI-powered defence tools — and an equally rapid evolution of adversarial tactics.
The final four trends outlined in the report fall within theme 3: “From back-office operator to exponential IT”.
6. Federated data governance
The old model of centralised data lakes is giving way to federated architectures that distribute data ownership across business domains. This improves quality, compliance and accessibility while supporting AI training at scale.
Three-quarters of organisations plan to boost data management spending next year, and a growing share are adopting “data mesh” frameworks that embed governance closer to the source.
7. Purpose-built platforms
Generic cloud stacks are being replaced by platforms designed for specific outcomes. Nearly half of organisations now invest in AI acceleration hardware, with innovators deploying on-premises GPUs for mission-critical workloads.
These tailored systems reduce technical debt and align infrastructure directly with business value — a crucial advantage as enterprises balance cost pressures with performance demands.
8. Service as software
The traditional software-as-a-service model is morphing into something more dynamic: outcome-based consumption. Rather than paying for applications, enterprises are starting to pay for AI-delivered results.
Sixty-four percent of Innovators prefer consumption-based pricing — compared to just 18% of average IT departments — signalling a shift toward value-linked delivery models that blur the line between software and service.
The bigger picture
Info-Tech’s findings highlight how global instability and accelerating automation are forcing IT leaders to evolve from operational problem-solvers to strategic orchestrators of change. Only one in four IT departments qualify as “Innovators” today — yet those that do are far more likely to convert emerging technologies into measurable value.
The coming year will test how well organisations can align human foresight with machine intelligence, balancing autonomy and accountability in an increasingly multipolar digital economy. For CIOs and investors alike, these eight forces signal that 2026 will be less about adopting the newest tool — and more about building systems resilient enough to thrive amid constant disruption.