NTT DATA recently released the Technology Foresight Report 2026, in which researchers discovered the next step in AI and digital transformation: it’s less about raw speed and more about meaningful, controlled intelligence.
They’re calling this shift the age of mass intelligence, where businesses aren’t just chasing automation anymore, but are instead focusing on systems that can learn, adapt, and act on their own while still staying aligned with human goals. The big takeaway here is that companies now need to think long-term if they want to stay relevant globally, especially as AI becomes more deeply embedded into how everything operates.
As a whole, the report breaks things down into 6 major trends.
The first one is about human-orchestrated autonomy. AI systems are becoming capable of operating at scale and speed, but the emphasis is on keeping humans in the loop – guiding decisions so they stay transparent and aligned with business and societal values, rather than just letting machines run unchecked.
Then you’ve got embodied agency and emotions, which is where things get a bit more futuristic. NTT DATA is talking about emotionally aware systems becoming part of everyday infrastructure. These systems can respond to human emotions, build trust, and even improve well-being and productivity – essentially making AI feel more human in how it interacts with us.
Security is also evolving in a big way under what they call intelligence we trust. Instead of just defending systems, cybersecurity is becoming adaptive – learning from threats in real time and protecting not just data, but also the integrity and ethical behavior of AI systems themselves.
On the infrastructure side, informed infrastructure is about making everything smarter behind the scenes, where systems that continuously optimize themselves, predict demand, and balance cost, performance, and sustainability across cloud, edge, and devices – all in real time.
Another major shift is sovereign silicon ecosystems, where countries are doubling down on building their own semiconductor capabilities to enable secure supply chains, protect intellectual property, and maintain technological independence on a global scale.
And finally, there’s a philosophical shift of moving from illusory efficiency to sufficiency. Instead of chasing maximum efficiency at all costs, businesses are being pushed toward using technology in a way that’s sustainable, resilient, and aligned with long-term environmental and societal limits.
To sum it up, the focus is shifting from pure acceleration to actually making technology matter – where emotionally aware AI, trusted systems, and sovereign compute all come together to support a more resilient and value-driven future.
