Tech leaders worldwide are moving quickly from testing artificial intelligence to putting it to real work. The latest KPMG Global Tech Report 2026 shows strong progress in technology maturity and big bets on AI systems that work on their own. Yet many companies still struggle to turn these efforts into consistent profits.
The survey of 2,500 technology executives across 27 countries paints a clear picture. Organizations face economic pressures and geopolitical tensions but see intelligent systems as the path forward.
Survey Covers Thousands Of Tech Leaders Worldwide
KPMG gathered responses from senior executives in eight major industries. These include financial services, technology, healthcare, energy, and manufacturing. The group spans EMEA, Asia Pacific, and the Americas.
Nearly eight in ten organizations now sit in the top three stages of technology maturity. That number should reach 93 percent by the end of 2026. Half the leaders expect their companies to hit the highest maturity level next year. Today only 11 percent say they are there.
This progress ties directly to money. The average return on digital technology investments stands at 200 percent. High performing companies generate 4.5 times that amount through smarter choices and tighter control.
Tech Maturity Set To Jump Sharply This Year
Companies are leaving behind scattered experiments. They now focus on scaling proven tools across the business. Data infrastructure and scenario planning help them build resilience against shocks.
High performers stand out clearly. They keep investment decisions centralized. They avoid too many disconnected AI projects. Only 2 percent of these leaders report scattered teams compared to 34 percent of others.
These top companies also invest more in growth areas rather than just keeping systems running. They maintain stronger data flows and update their measures of success to capture the full power of AI.
The report highlights how fast plans become outdated. More than half the executives say technology strategies turn stale quickly. Adaptive approaches win out over rigid five year plans.
AI Investments Focus On Smart Autonomous Agents
Artificial intelligence tops every priority list. Almost seven in ten leaders aim for peak AI maturity by the end of 2026.
Eighty eight percent of organizations already invest in agentic AI. These autonomous systems handle tasks, make decisions, and boost human work without constant oversight.
Digital assistants should make up more than one third of technology teams by 2027. This shift will cut dependence on outside contractors. High performers expect to keep about half their tech staff as permanent humans who orchestrate larger AI networks.
Leaders interviewed for the report stress the human element. One expert noted that the future depends less on what machines can do and more on what we choose to have them do.
AI use cases already deliver business value for 74 percent of companies. Yet only 24 percent achieve solid returns across multiple applications. That figure dropped from previous years and shows the scaling gap many now face.
Value Creation Lags Behind The Hype For Many
More than half the respondents struggle to explain AI benefits clearly to stakeholders. Traditional return measures often fall short for these new technologies.
Cybersecurity ranks as a top worry alongside data reliability. Executives plan closer checks on partner locations due to global tensions. Better teamwork between IT, security, and risk groups is becoming standard.
Most leaders prefer proven solutions over rushing to be first. They focus on fixing tech debt and strengthening foundations before big leaps.
Sixty three percent say the cost of clearing old tech problems holds back new investments. Talent shortages add another hurdle with 53 percent reporting skill gaps.
High performers handle these issues differently. They compromise less on security and scalability. They feel less tech debt pressure and keep employees more engaged with changes.
How High Performers Unlock Greater Returns
A small group of companies delivers outsized results. These high performers share several habits.
- They centralize technology investment decisions
- They maintain cleaner data foundations
- They communicate AI value more effectively to leaders
- They take calculated risks on emerging tools while scaling what works
- They plan to keep more human staff in core roles
The average company invests roughly evenly across maintenance, growth, and transformation. Top performers tilt more toward growth. They also expand partnerships faster to access skills and capabilities.
Smaller organizations often see strong returns too at 3.6 times their investment. Early movers gain advantages by learning and refining approaches before others jump in.
The report points to clear ROI zones. Quick early wins give way to slower integration periods before enterprise wide gains accelerate for those who persist.
Tech executives now prepare for even bigger shifts ahead. Quantum computing, advanced simulation, and potential leaps toward more general artificial intelligence sit on the horizon.
Organizations that build flexible cultures and strong ecosystems will navigate these changes best. The Intelligence Age rewards those who combine ambition with disciplined execution.
The KPMG findings arrive at a pivotal moment. Companies that master scaling AI while keeping humans central to strategy will shape the next decade of innovation. Others risk falling behind despite heavy spending.
