And these are the forces they say will define how organisations work with technology. Forces that will not simply change systems. They will change the work itself.
Ambitions for AI are rising fast. Organisations are moving away from isolated experiments toward solutions that support entire processes. This shift demands leadership, clarity and an infrastructure that can carry the next decade of digital transformation.
Here are the four trends that our experts say will matter most in 2026.
1. Agentic AI becomes a digital colleague
For years, AI has acted as an assistant. You asked questions. It delivered answers. In 2026, this changes fundamentally.
Agentic AI plans, executes and coordinates work across systems. It understands goals. It makes decisions within defined boundaries. It operates autonomously and brings humans into the loop when judgment or escalation is needed.
“Agentic AI changes workflows. It shifts AI from reactive support to autonomous problem solving. This is not about answering questions. This is about achieving outcomes,” says Denni Pultz Gottfredsen, Consulting Manager and Principal Digital Advisor in Twoday.
This is a shift from task execution to process transformation.
Why it matters:
When AI becomes a digital colleague, your role becomes clearer. You set direction. You drive prioritisation. You ensure quality. Work becomes more strategic and less about manual execution. It becomes about orchestrating flows, decisions and collaboration between humans and technology.
Organisations that embrace this shift will see improvements in efficiency, quality and scalability.
2. AI governance becomes the foundation of innovation
Governance has long been treated as something you attach to technology. In 2026, the relationship reverses. Governance becomes what makes technology possible.
As AI grows more autonomous, the need for clear responsibilities, transparent processes, ethical standards and risk controls increases. Trust no longer comes from glossy documentation. It comes from being built into architecture.
“Governance used to be a constraint. In 2026, it becomes the prerequisite for autonomy. Trust is not a feeling. It is a system,” says Alina Negulescu, Global Principal Advisor at Twoday.
Why governance becomes strategic:
Strong governance is no longer a compliance exercise. It is a competitive advantage.
Organizations with clear structures, defined accountability, and responsible oversight can move faster with confidence. They can scale AI responsibly. They can automate decisions without losing transparency or control.
Governance does not slow innovation. It creates conditions for sustainable innovation.
In 2026, the message is straightforward:
Without governance, autonomy becomes risky.
Without autonomy, AI remains potential and does not make value.
Real impact happens when responsibility and ambition move in the same direction.
3. AI ready data infrastructure becomes the new organisational backbone
Data has been treated as a technical concern for years. In 2026, it becomes a business principle. AI can only create value when data is accessible, reliable and integrated.
This requires strong data governance, modern data platforms and genuine self-service access for the people who make decisions every day. It requires treating data as a capability, not a project.
“Without the right data foundation, AI will fail. In 2026 data is no longer an IT ambition. It becomes a business capability,” says Janne Sipilä, Director Business Development in Twoday.
Why the foundation is crucial:
Organisations that invest in their data now will see the benefits later. They gain speed. They gain insight. They gain AI solutions that work not only in prototypes but also in production. Without a solid data foundation, AI remains experimental. With the right foundation, it becomes operational.
4. Agent Driven Development transforms the software industry
A fourth shift is emerging fast. Quietly at first, and now with accelerating demand from customers. Agent Driven Development (ADD) is reshaping how software is designed, built and delivered.
ADD is more than a new development technique. It is a new operating model for the entire software lifecycle.
“Agent Driven Development (ADD) is a structural shift. We move from humans writing code with AI support to AI agents actively participating in development. It transforms how teams collaborate and compresses time in a way the industry has never seen before,” says Thomas Martinsen, Tech Evangelist in Twoday.
At its core, ADD is built on a spec driven approach supported by AI agents working as active contributors in the development process. It changes not just how code is written, but how teams collaborate.
What ADD enables:
• AI agents that work as part of the development team
• A shared spec as the single source of truth
• Tighter collaboration across customer, business consulting, UX, development and QA
• Faster iteration cycles with higher consistency
• Delivery cycles reduced from months to weeks
• Projects that deliver more features, not fewer
ADD moves organisations away from traditional linear software development toward a continuous, iterative model where humans guide direction and AI accelerate execution.
Why it matters in 2026:
Software becomes a strategic bottleneck when organisations cannot build fast enough to match their AI ambitions. ADD removes that bottleneck.
It is not just a productivity boost.
It is an industry level transformation.
The conclusion
2026 will not just be about doing more with AI. It will be about doing it right.
We are moving from isolated experiments to integrated solutions.
From uncertainty to responsible autonomy.
From standalone technology initiatives to embedded business capabilities.
And from traditional delivery models to agent-enhanced ways of working.
The organizations that succeed will not necessarily be those moving fastest. But those building wisely.
Four principles will make the difference:
Autonomy. Trust. Foundation. Velocity.
When these principles reinforce each other, AI stops being a side project or a technical feature. It becomes a strategic capability enabling measurable impact, stronger decisions, and sustainable change.
That is where real transformation begins.
Are you curious to learn more?
In the coming period, we will be publishing blog posts from each of the above AI experts, where they dive deeper into the individual areas. Stay tuned and gain insights into how you can strengthen your organization with AI strategies.
February 23.: AI governance becomes the foundation of innovation with Alina Negulescu
March 2.: AI ready data infrastructure becomes the new organisational backbone with Janne Sipilá
March 10.: Agentic AI becomes a digital colleague with Denni Pultz-Gottfredsen
March 16.: Agent Driven Development (ADD) transforms the software industry with Thomas Martinsen