Organizations worldwide are moving beyond pilots and seeking to embed AI into core workflows and offerings as they strive to scale investments, according to KPMG’s Global Tech Report 2026 released today.
The report found that while expectations are high and adoption is rapid, scaling can introduce additional complexity and returns vary widely.
About 68% of organizations surveyed aim to reach the highest level of AI maturity by the end of 2026, yet only 24% are there today. At least 88% are investing in building agentic AI into their systems.
Approximately 74% say their AI use cases are delivering business value, but only 24% achieve ROI across multiple use cases. About 90% plan to grow partnerships and tech ecosystems over the next year, yet 53% still lack the talent needed to bring their digital transformation plans to life.
At least 78% agree they must take more risks on emerging technologies to stay relevant.
The report asks whether ambition can match reality, and whether organizations can keep one eye on the next wave of innovation while delivering on today’s agenda.
“The future belongs to leaders who turn intelligence into advantage. Our research shows organisations are pushing past the early phase of ‘AI roulette’, placing scattered bets on multiple technologies, and are now increasingly focused on delivering value,” said Guy Holland, Global Leader, CIO Center of Excellence, KPMG International.
“When ambition meets disciplined execution, value compounds. Our 2026 Global Tech Report provides a synopsis of the critical things that high performers are doing better than most; a checklist for tech leaders looking to improve their organisational performance, emulate the high performers, and deliver higher ROI,” Holland said.
Marshal Luusa, Partner: Technology & Innovation Lead, KPMG One Africa, said the differentiator as Africa enters the Intelligence Age is no longer access to technology, but the ability to build the skills, governance and operating models required to scale it responsibly.
“While organisations are accelerating AI adoption to drive productivity and growth, the real determinant of value lies in workforce readiness, executive alignment, and disciplined execution. Those that invest early in digital skills, human-AI collaboration, and adaptive leadership will be best positioned to translate innovation into sustainable commercial and economic impact,” Luusa said.
Half of global tech leaders surveyed expect to reach the highest level of technology maturity in 2026, compared to only 11% today. This surge in optimism is fueled by a move from isolated experiments to integrating AI and advanced technologies into core systems and scaling their impact.
High performers, those organizations leading in technology maturity, process maturity and value, are already reaping the rewards, reporting an average ROI of 4.5x, more than double the industry average of 2x.
These leading organizations have progressed beyond pilot programs, prioritizing the scaling of innovation and continually adapting to maintain a competitive edge in a fast-evolving environment.
Other organizations reporting higher ROI include smaller firms (3.6x), those with fewer cost pressures (2.6x), and transformation-focused organizations (3.2x).
AI Adoption Surges
AI is now seen as a strategic necessity, not just industry hype. About 68% of respondents are aiming for the highest level of AI maturity in their organizations.
Approximately 88% of companies are already investing in agentic AI, or autonomous digital agents transforming operations and decision-making.
About 74% of respondents report that their AI initiatives are creating measurable business value, such as improved efficiency and reduced risk. However, only 24% say they are scaling AI and achieving ROI across multiple use cases.
This highlights the need for organizations to evolve KPIs beyond traditional financial and productivity metrics and build enterprise-wide alignment to fully realize AI’s potential.
Talent Remains Central
Human expertise remains central to digital transformation initiatives. Organizations are making significant investments in upskilling their workforce, building adaptive teams, and fostering cultures that embrace change.
Despite the rapid adoption of agentic AI, organizations still expect 42% of their tech workforce to remain permanent human staff by 2027, only a 5-point drop from 2025.
High-performing companies plan to retain even more permanent human talent, with 50% remaining in place by 2027, revealing the continued importance of human expertise alongside AI.
Despite these efforts, 53% of organizations report they still lack the talent needed to realize their digital transformation strategies.
At least 92% of organizations surveyed anticipate that managing AI agents will become a critical skill within 5 years.
Partnerships Fuel Growth
To overcome challenges and accelerate learning, 90% of organizations plan to grow partnerships and tech ecosystems over the next year.
Strategic alliances are enabling access to specialized expertise, rapid innovation, and shared best practices. Nearly one-third of tech executives are planning to increase investment in centers of excellence, supporting cross-functional teams and controlled experimentation.
The future is arriving fast, with quantum computing and Artificial Superintelligence (ASI) on the horizon. Leaders are already preparing for these breakthroughs, with 78% of organizations agreeing they must take more risks on emerging technologies to stay relevant.
The report urges organizations to maintain strategic foresight, invest in ethical frameworks, and build resilient, future-ready workforces.
The KPMG Global Tech Report 2026, “Leading in the Intelligence Age: Excelling today, shaping tomorrow,” is based on a survey of 2,500 executives from 27 countries and territories: 29% from Asia Pacific, 43% from Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), and 28% from the Americas.
Respondents represent 8 industries: automotive, consumer and retail, energy, financial services, government, healthcare and life sciences, industrial manufacturing, and technology and telecommunications.
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