Over the past few years, AI has moved rapidly from experimentation to everyday use. It began with chatbots and simple automation and has evolved into systems that analyse, predict and increasingly act on behalf of organisations. Artificial intelligence is now a core component of modern IT strategy rather than an emerging technology. As a UK-wide managed service provider, we spend a lot of time translating these developments into practical outcomes for our customers. Our role is to help businesses understand where AI delivers real operational value and where caution is required.
Looking ahead to 2026, AI is going to be more than a basic productivity tool. It is becoming foundational infrastructure, shaping how businesses operate, secure themselves and scale. Below, we outline the key trends that have brought us to this point and our predictions for where AI is heading next. These AI predictions for 2026 focus on real-world impact rather than speculation.
From Assistance to Action: The Rise of AI Agents
One of the most significant developments in recent years has been the introduction of AI agents. Unlike traditional AI tools that respond to prompts, agents can monitor systems, make decisions and carry out tasks autonomously within defined rules. This shift is often referred to as agentic AI and it represents a fundamental change in how automation works.
Across platforms like Microsoft 365, we are already seeing AI agents used to:
- Manage workflows across applications
- Monitor data and trigger actions
- Reduce repetitive administrative work
- Support IT and security operations in real time
This marks a shift from AI as a helper to AI as an active participant in business processes. In 2026, agentic AI will be embedded across most enterprise platforms, quietly handling tasks that previously required constant human input. For businesses, this means faster operations with fewer manual touchpoints.
AI in the Workplace Is Now the Standard
AI adoption in the workplace has accelerated rapidly. What was once optional is now built into everyday tools, from email and document creation to analytics and monitoring. Microsoft Copilot, security copilots and embedded AI features are becoming default rather than premium add-ons.
For businesses, this has resulted in:
- Faster decision-making through real-time insights
- Reduced time spent on low-value, repetitive tasks
- Greater focus on strategic and revenue-generating work
The key change is not just the technology itself, but how people work alongside it. Employees are learning to delegate tasks to AI systems, while retaining control over outcomes. In 2026, the question will no longer be whether you use AI at work, but how effectively you use it. Organisations that fail to upskill teams risk underutilising the tools they already pay for.
Prediction: AI Growth Will Put Serious Pressure on Infrastructure
One of the less visible but most important impacts of AI is its demand on infrastructure, particularly power and data centres. AI workloads are significantly more resource-intensive than traditional applications.
Our CFO, Mark Allen, has been closely following developments in this area and highlights a growing concern: based on current projections, AI workloads alone are expected to require 200% of 2022 data centre power usage by 2027. Data centres simply do not get built that fast. This creates a supply and demand imbalance that will directly affect pricing and availability.
This creates several challenges:
- Increased competition for compute resources
- Rising costs for cloud and AI services
- Greater focus on efficiency, optimisation and workload placement
We are already seeing how infrastructure-heavy AI has become reflected in the market. SpaceX, for example, is expected to IPO in 2026 with an estimated valuation of $15 trillion, despite revenues of around $40 billion. This underlines how investors are valuing companies that sit at the intersection of AI, infrastructure and global connectivity. It also signals how critical underlying infrastructure has become to AI growth.
In 2026, businesses will need to think more carefully about where and how they run AI workloads, balancing performance, cost and sustainability. The infrastructure strategy will become inseparable from AI strategy.
Prediction: AI Will Transform Cybersecurity from Reactive to Predictive
Closer to home, we see one of the biggest shifts coming in cybersecurity. Our Account Manager, Mollie Jacques, predicts that AI will become the backbone of predictive threat detection, fundamentally changing how organisations protect themselves. This is particularly relevant as attack volumes and sophistication continue to increase.
Instead of responding to incidents after damage has been done, AI-driven security platforms will:
- Identify patterns that signal emerging threats
- Anticipate vulnerabilities before they are exploited
- Automate fixes and containment actions
- Reduce reliance on manual intervention
For many of our customers, particularly those where fee-earning and billable hours matter, downtime is incredibly harmful. Even short outages can have a direct financial impact.
Predictive, AI-led security allows businesses to shift focus from recovery to continuity, keeping systems running and teams productive. This proactive model will become the expected baseline by 2026.
What This Means for Businesses Heading into 2026
As AI becomes more deeply embedded in infrastructure, security and day-to-day operations, preparation will be key. Businesses that gain the most value from AI will be those that:
- Integrate AI strategically, not tactically
- Invest in secure, scalable platforms
- Focus on efficiency and automation, not just innovation
- Partner with experts who can translate AI into real business outcomes
AI in 2026 will not be about chasing the latest tools. It will be about using mature, reliable systems to reduce risk, improve productivity and support sustainable growth. The competitive advantage will come from execution rather than experimentation.
Final Thoughts
The pace of AI development shows no signs of slowing. What has changed is the role AI plays in business. It is becoming the backbone of how organisations operate and secure themselves. For many, AI will soon be as fundamental as cloud or connectivity.
For businesses that prepare now, AI offers the opportunity to spend less time reacting to problems and more time focusing on what really matters: delivering value to customers and growing with confidence into the future.
