Info-Tech Research Group Unveils Tech Trends 2026: AI, Resilience, and Exponential IT to Define the Year Ahead

TORONTO — As the pace of digital transformation accelerates amid economic uncertainty, Toronto-based Info-Tech Research Group has released its much-anticipated Tech Trends 2026 report — a comprehensive analysis of eight technology trends that will redefine IT strategy in the coming year.

The annual study highlights how artificial intelligence, global instability, and rapid innovation are reshaping enterprise technology priorities, with CIOs moving from operational efficiency to enterprise-wide orchestration and measurable transformation.

“2026 will mark a decisive shift in how IT leaders define success as they continue moving from operational efficiency to strategic foresight and measurable transformation,” said Brian Jackson, Principal Research Director and lead author of the report. “As global uncertainty intensifies and automation gains agency, IT leaders will need to move beyond managing disruption to orchestrating resilience and exponential value creation.”

Eight Trends Shaping the Future of IT

The report identifies three overarching themes — multipolar uncertainty, guided intelligent autonomy, and exponential IT — under which eight trends are driving enterprise change:

1. Resilient Supply Chain Sourcing – Companies are transitioning from cost-driven global sourcing to diversified, sovereign AI-enabled models to offset tariff volatility and geopolitical risks.

2. Integrated Organizational Resilience – Leading IT departments are adopting AI-augmented risk modeling to turn disruption into strategic advantage.

3. Multi-Agent Orchestration – The rise of agentic AI marks the next phase of automation, with collaborative AI systems completing complex workflows autonomously.

4. Smart Sensing Networks – The convergence of edge AI, MEMS, and quantum sensors is transforming industries with real-time, self-regulating intelligence.

5. AI as Adversary and Ally – As AI strengthens both cyber attackers and defenders, organizations are accelerating investments in AI-driven security systems.

6. Federated Data Governance – Data control is shifting from centralized lakes to domain-driven architectures that enhance compliance and accessibility.

7. Purpose-Built Platforms – Enterprises are tailoring infrastructure to specific business outcomes, moving away from one-size-fits-all systems.

8. Service as Software – The evolution from SaaS to outcome-based IT sees businesses paying for AI-driven results rather than applications alone.

CIOs at the Crossroads of Strategy and Innovation

Info-Tech’s global survey of more than 700 IT decision-makers found that top-performing “Innovator” organizations — roughly one quarter of those surveyed — are nearly 2.5 times more likely to have integrated governance structures and lead adoption of federated data models. These organizations, Jackson notes, will be best positioned to transform uncertainty into measurable value.

The report underscores a new reality for enterprise leaders: technology is only half the story. True transformation depends on leadership’s ability to align human adaptability with machine intelligence to drive foresight and governance across the organization.

About Info-Tech Research Group

Founded in Toronto nearly 30 years ago, Info-Tech Research Group has become a global authority in IT, HR, and marketing advisory services, serving more than 30,000 professionals worldwide. The firm’s independent research and hands-on guidance help organizations navigate complexity, improve strategy execution, and drive measurable business results.

The Tech Trends 2026 report is now available for download.

SOURCE Info-Tech Research Group

— Reported by the GTA Today Tech Desk
Follow us for more innovation and technology updates @GTAWeeklyNews.