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WWT Research • Priorities Report
• 34 minute read

AI and Data Priorities for 2026

A strategic roadmap highlighting the most critical AI and data focus areas for 2026

 AI and Data Priorities for 2026: A Strategic Roadmap

Enterprise AI is the engine powering transformation today. As organizations accelerate investments and move beyond experimentation, the landscape is shifting fast. The 2026 horizon brings new challenges and opportunities, especially as agentic AI, AI factories and operational resilience take center stage.

What's inside this report?

  • The rise of agentic AI: Discover how early deployment of agentic AI is reshaping automation and decision-making. Learn why leading organizations are piloting agents that collaborate with humans, iterate on tasks and drive measurable gains.
  • Scaling for impact: See how enterprises are embedding AI into everyday operations, unlocking efficiency, speed and innovation at scale. Explore how to align AI initiatives with business outcomes and build a culture of continuous improvement.
  • Building an AI-ready data foundation: Uncover the critical role of unstructured data and why tackling "shadow AI" and data governance is essential for success. Get practical steps for modernizing your data architecture and preparing for production-grade AI.
  • Optimizing architecture and workload placement: Navigate the complexities of AI infrastructure, including the importance of AI workload placement. 
  • Strengthening security and resilience: Understand the growing importance of integrated AI security, governance and regulatory readiness. 

Plus, get a glimpse of what's next: Explore emerging trends in physical AI and quantum computing — technologies set to redefine what's possible in the years ahead.

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