AI innovation and exploration are set to continue at lightning speed in 2026. The IEEE’s recent data from 400 global technology leaders highlighted the main concerns, levels of adoption and the top skills enterprises are seeking in AI-related roles.
Key findings among the global CIOs, CTOs, IT directors and senior technology leaders include:
- 50% agreed that over-reliance on AI and potential inaccuracies is the top concern when using it within an organisation, while 45% agree that they are concerned about the reputational issues associated with using Generative and agentic AI
- 35% reported that they are rapidly integrating Generative AI into their organisations, while 39% report that they are using it regularly, but selectively. Only 1% described that their adoption is at the starting or exploratory stage
- With the rapid rise of agentic AI applications, organisations identified the following as the top three skills they seek in candidates for AI-related roles:
- AI ethical practice skills
- Data analysis skills
- Machine learning skills
Commenting on how organisations can reduce risk and ensure protection as AI use becomes more common, Keeley Crockett Senior IEEE Member and Professor of Computational Intelligence at Manchester Metropolitan University, shared: “AI systems have some degree of autonomy – how much depends upon the risk assessment level of the system and the impact it can have on human beings and society. As Agentic AI systems are complex, clear transparency protocols and processes for the explainability of automated decisions will need to be established. The perspectives and requirements of diverse users should also be considered, and different approaches to understandability of goals that impact them should be considered.
“We need transparency of when AI and Agentic AI systems are being used, what data they use and how it is being used. We should also prioritise those systems that provide clear and easy-to-understand explanations of automated decisions – there should be no secret data transactions. We can also choose not to use these systems for high-risk personal decision-making.
“Looking forward, we need to ensure that Agentic AI systems are ethically deployed and used. Such systems need to align with human values.”
