An IEEE global survey forecasts that Agentic AI will achieve mass consumer adoption in 2026 as rapid innovation accelerates across industries and fuels demand for new skills.
IEEE has announced the results of The Impact of Technology in 2026 and Beyond: an IEEE Global Study”
The survey of global technology leaders from Brazil, China, India, Japan, the UK and the US examines which technologies AI will influence the most in 2026, expectations for AI market growth, benefits, uses and skills and future technology trends.
Key survey findings:
Increased use of Agentic AI to drive need for more data analysts
Agentic AI is like a ‘Smart Assistant’ that, when given a task, can work independently but still needs its work double-checked. Its adoption is on the rise and a strong majority of technologists globally, 96%, agree that Agentic AI innovation, exploration and adoption will continue at lightning speed in 2026 as both established enterprises and start-ups deepen investments and commitments to the technology.
However, the rise of Agentic AI will not be confined to business. Survey respondents see it reaching mass or near-mass adoption by consumers in 2026 for the following uses:
• (52%) Personal assistant | scheduler | family calendar manager
• (45%) Data privacy manager
• (41%) Health monitor
• (41%) Errand and chore Automator such as grocery orders
• (36%) News and information curator
In addition, 91% agree the use of Agentic AI to analyse greater amounts of data will grow in 2026, spurring a data analyst hiring boom to analyse the accuracy of results, transparency and vulnerabilities.
According to the survey, the top skills technologists will seek in candidates they plan to hire for AI-related roles in 2026 are:
• (44%) AI ethical practices skills, up 9% from the prior year
• (38%) Data analysis skills, up 4% from the prior year
• (34%) Machine Learning skills, up 6% from the prior year
• (32%) Data modelling skills including processing, no change from the prior year
• (32%) Software development skills, down 8% from the prior year
Humanoid robots as co-workers: The influence of AI on other tech
A majority (77%) of technologists agree the novelty of humanoid robots can inject fun into the workplace but over time will become like commonplace co-workers with circuits. Robotics is also a top area of technology, with 52% of technologists saying it will be influenced by AI in 2026.
Other areas influenced by AI in 2026 will include extended reality, including augmented, virtual and mixed reality at 36% and autonomous vehicles at 35%.
Meanwhile, the top industries expected to experience the greatest transformation from AI next year will be software at 52%, banking and financial services at 42%, healthcare at 37% and automotive and transportation at 32%.
Policy and governance guided by ‘Who Built the AI?’
Policy and governance regarding how and when AI should be used depends on where the AI was built. When asked which statement best describes their organisations’ stance on AI products built by their company or built by a third party for work at their company, a majority of technology leaders selected:
• Full speed ahead: AI will be integrated throughout the organisation and our use policies will align with government regulations if any exist or are enacted, 49% for company-built AI versus 40% for third-party-built AI
• Everyone follows the rules: We will be issuing clear policies on how and when AI can be used, 26% for company-built AI versus 33% for third-party-built AI.
The stage technologists expect their organisation to be in the adoption of generative AI in 2026 has advanced significantly.
Some 39% say they will be using generative AI regularly but selectively, with AI continuing to be a regular part of work in selective areas and adding value, up 20% from the prior year.
Another 35% say they are rapidly integrating AI across operations, have already seen measurable bottom line results and expect these to grow.
The top uses for AI applications technology leaders expect in 2026 include real-time cybersecurity vulnerability identification and attack prevention at 47%, aiding or accelerating software development at 39% and increasing supply chain and warehouse automation efficiencies at 35%.
Other uses include automating customer service at 32%, powering educational activities such as customising learning and intelligent tutoring systems at 29%, accelerating disease mapping and drug discovery at 23% and automating or stabilising utility power sources at 22%.
More than half of those surveyed, 51%, cited that 26 to 50% of jobs across the global economy will be augmented by AI software in 2026. Less than one-third, 30%, cited 51 to 75% of jobs, while 16% cited 1 to 25% of jobs and only 4% cited 76 to 100% of jobs.
Close to half of technologists, 49%, think it will take five to seven years to build out the global data centre infrastructure required to meet growing AI development and demand. One-third think it will happen sooner in three to four years, while 10% think it will not happen for eight to 10 years or more.
The survey questioned 400 CIOs, CTOs, IT directors and other technology leaders in Brazil, China, Japan, India, the UK and the US at organisations with more than 1,000 employees across multiple industry sectors including banking and financial services, consumer goods, education, electronics, engineering, energy, government, healthcare, insurance, retail and telecommunications.
