If this year tested the practical applicability of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, projections say 2026 will be the year AI enters a full-fledged phase of innovation based on accumulated experience. The analysis is that AI agents will restructure workflows end to end and take root as a key driver of growth for corporations.
Language AI company DeepL released survey results with these findings. In a survey of more than 5,000 senior business leaders in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Japan, 25% of respondents said AI agents are already bringing significant change across business. Another 44% said these changes will accelerate in 2026. Only 7% said AI agents will not affect their own operating models.
Assessments of AI adoption outcomes are also positive. Among all respondents, 67% said this year's AI adoption improved return on investment (ROI), and 52% projected that next year AI will contribute more to the growth of corporations than any other technology.
DeepL's senior leadership predicted that starting in 2026, AI agents will go beyond simple assistive tools to change the structure of work itself and extend human capabilities. DeepL Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jarek Kutylowski said, "If 2025 was the year AI moved beyond proof of concept (PoC) into real-world deployment, then in 2026 corporations will enter a phase of fully automating specific business functions with AI," adding, "As fragmented tools are integrated and repetitive tasks decrease, people will be able to focus on more creative and complex problem-solving."
He particularly emphasized the importance of technological sovereignty from a European perspective. CEO Kutylowski said, "Technological sovereignty is not merely about where data is stored; it is the capability to own technology and models and to build a sustainable business through them," and noted, "The environment for AI growth in Europe must be fostered by expanding access to AI infrastructure and activating investment in technology."
Chief Scientist (CS) Stefan Mesken defined 2026 as "the year of agents." He said, "AI agents are moving from the innovator stage to the early majority in the technology adoption cycle," and projected, "Corporations will increasingly rely on AI as virtual colleagues to streamline operations and improve decision-making."
Change is also expected in marketing. Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Steve Rotter said, "AI agents will go beyond assisting marketing tasks to create an environment where large-scale personalized marketing is possible," adding, "By delivering messages tailored to segmented customer groups through the right channels, the current bulk-send-centric marketing approach will be reorganized."
In the legal field as well, AI is becoming a necessity rather than a choice. Chief Legal Officer (CLO) Frankie Williams said, "Seventy-seven percent of U.S. legal organizations increased AI expenditure over the past year," and analyzed, "In 2026, competitiveness will hinge on how safely and seamlessly AI is integrated into core workflows." Williams added that the pricing structure of legal services is also likely to shift from hourly billing to task- and performance-based models.
The company also said change is clear from a product strategy perspective. Chief Product Officer (CPO) Gonçalo Gaiolas said, "In 2026, AI will move beyond failed PoCs and take root in actual workflows," emphasizing, "AI is no longer an experiment but is maturing into corporations' infrastructure."
Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Sebastian Enderlein said, "AI agents are a core means to handle repetitive, knowledge-based work at scale with stability," adding, "2026 will be the year of 'proof,' not 'promise,' for AI."