10 executives shared their 2026 AI predictions with us

In a rapidly evolving technological landscape, industry leaders are casting their predictions for the future of artificial intelligence as we approach 2026. This discussion follows the seismic impact of ChatGPT's launch three years ago, which ignited a worldwide AI revolution, transforming it into an integral part of everyday life for both consumers and professionals. Tim Armstrong, CEO of FlowCode, likened the current phase to a thrilling rollercoaster ride, urging stakeholders to brace themselves for the upcoming changes. He remarked, "The rollercoaster is going up right now and it will eventually come down, leading to an exciting ride that all ends well. But make sure your seatbelt is on — tightly." A panel of ten influential figures in technology shared their insights, including leaders from major companies like IBM, Cisco, and Visa. John Stecher, Blackstone's CTO, emphasized an anticipated surge in enterprise AI adoption, particularly among larger corporations that have lagged behind their smaller counterparts. "I see it driving productivity across the broader workforce," he stated. Stecher also highlighted the rising importance of data quality, predicting that businesses will invest heavily in maintaining clean data. Furthermore, he noted that cybersecurity will become a pressing concern as identity-based attacks evolve and the protection of intellectual property intensifies. Aruna Ravichandran of Cisco envisioned a workplace characterized by "connected intelligence," where collaboration between humans, data, and digital workers occurs seamlessly. She explained that digital workers will proactively anticipate needs and resolve issues before they arise. Guy Diedrich, also from Cisco, predicted a shift in focus toward the interactions between humans and machines in an AI-driven economy. He stressed the importance of combining technical proficiency with uniquely human skills, such as ethical judgment and critical thinking. Joe Depa from EY expressed that humans will increasingly oversee AI agents and robots, asserting that adaptability will be key to job security in the future. "Jobs are going to continue to change super fast, and the ability to adapt is going to be the most important component," he said. Meanwhile, Joanne Wright of IBM indicated that organizations will pivot from the hype surrounding AI to a more measured assessment of its return on investment, emphasizing the need for strong leadership and workforce empowerment. Mark Cuban shared his predictions for the future of media consumption, expecting longer videos with continuity and the auctioning of intellectual property for foundational AI models. He anticipates potential cash shortfalls for at least one foundational model by the end of 2026. Sridhar Ramaswamy, CEO of Snowflake, projected advancements in agentic AI, where users could access information more intuitively, without the need for complex dashboards. He foresaw increased automation in enterprise workflows, simplifying routine tasks. Marco Zappacosta from Thumbtack highlighted that AI will catalyze a wave of new tools designed specifically for small businesses, transforming their operational landscape. Lastly, Oliver Jenkyn of Visa outlined his vision for the payments sector, predicting that AI-supported shopping will become commonplace by 2026, alongside an increase in sophisticated AI-powered identity attacks. "The bad guys have access to the same tech," he cautioned, underscoring the dual-edged nature of AI advancements.