Global Survey Finds 96% of IT Pros Use AI as 59% Expect Agents Within 12 Months
Updated
Updated · ZDNet · May 21
Global Survey Finds 96% of IT Pros Use AI as 59% Expect Agents Within 12 Months
1 articles · Updated · ZDNet · May 21
A survey of 1,400 data analysts and IT leaders found 96% already use AI at work, but only 49% said they use it always or most of the time.
Agentic AI is the next push: 59% expect active use within 12 months, and at least half said they would give agents unrestricted data access, though 44% called human oversight critical.
The most common live uses are drafting communications at 59% and routing workflow tasks at 54%, while only 20% said data-driven decisions can be made within hours and just 5% support real-time decision-making.
Roadblocks remain practical rather than theoretical: 55% struggle to explain AI outputs to decision-makers, 54% cite weak analytical skills among business users, and 50% say data is not clean or governed enough.
AI still sits atop old workflows—61% rely on spreadsheets for data prep—and analysts spend roughly 10 hours a week on preparation and output validation, creating a sizable human oversight burden.
With AI adoption soaring, why are professionals losing two days a week to a hidden 'AI tax' of data prep and validation?
If half of leaders give AI unrestricted data access, who is liable when its inevitable errors cause business disasters?
AI in 2026: 93% Enterprise Adoption, Agentic AI Disruption, and the New Imperative for Trust and Governance
Overview
By May 2026, Artificial Intelligence has rapidly moved from experimentation to widespread use in enterprises, with 93% of firms now leveraging AI in their operations. This surge in adoption has driven major cloud providers to expand their AI infrastructure to meet growing business needs. However, as AI becomes more embedded in critical workflows, organizations face significant challenges, especially around privacy, security, and a shortage of technical skills. These concerns highlight the urgent need for robust governance and risk management frameworks to ensure safe and effective AI integration as the technology continues to transform the business landscape.