On the 30th November 2025, ChatGPT, one of the most widely used agentic AI systems, marked its third anniversary, having already surpassed 800 million users. How can we expect agentic AI to continue to grow in 2026?
The IEEE has released new data showing how 400 global technology leaders expect agentic AI to evolve, the biggest use cases and where we could see challenges arise.
Key findings among global CIOs, CTOs, IT directors, and senior technology leaders include:
- 96% agree that agentic AI innovation, exploration, and adoption will continue at a rapid speed in 2026, as both established enterprises and startups deepen investments and commitments to the technology
- 52% expect agentic AI personal assistants to reach mass or near-mass consumption in 2026
- 50% see over-reliance on AI and potential inaccuracies as one of the leading concerns of its use in organisations
- 44% seek AI ethics practices as one of the main skills in candidates hired for AI-related roles in 2026
Commenting on the potential challenges that could slow down adoption for consumers in 2026, Eleanor Watson, senior IEEE member and an AI ethics engineer at Singularity University, shared the below:
“The adoption of agentic AI is in rapid ascendence with businesses and consumers alike. Yet the process will not be without friction. Many services are not yet ‘agent-addressable,’ and trust will remain fragile until norms of transparency and accountability settle. Semi-autonomous systems can also drift from intended objectives, requiring oversight and regular audits.
“We have little time to respond to these challenges, at a time when AI is advancing at a tremendous – and accelerating – rate. A lot of AI safety efforts will require rapid responses to emerging situations and problems, as well as the rapid investigation of incidents so that they can be mitigated in future.
“Still, the likely trajectory is clear: personal finance, health and wellbeing, travel, logistics, and household management are the domains where consumer experience is set to change most profoundly, as agents take on a role closer to delegated staff than digital tools. Agentic AI presents both unprecedented opportunity and risk. Thoughtful governance is required in order to balance harnessing its potential while mitigating the associated dangers. We must not only ensure that these powerful AI systems are used in an ethical manner, but also work to ensure that these systems remain loyal and safe partners for users.”
