2026 AI: Challenges, Perceptions, & Future Outlook Tech Specialty Report
Carolyn Carbaugh - Posted on
KEY INSIGHTS:
Barriers have shifted from talent and ROI to execution and governance. Concerns about skills and returns eased, while integration with existing systems, resistance to change, and leadership alignment grew, which suggests the hardest parts of adoption are now organizational as much as technical.
Optimism remains high but is more measured. More respondents describe themselves as cautiously optimistic than last year, and none are skeptical, which points to a more realistic view of what AI can deliver.
Pushback has eased. More organizations report that implementation was supported from the start, and significant resistance is rare, though change management still matters as AI reaches more teams and workflows.
