Every year, NTT DATA’s Technology Foresight Report maps the forces reshaping enterprise technology. The 2026 edition, released on February 26 from Singapore, identifies six critical trends for businesses navigating the age of mass intelligence — where AI systems don’t just process, they learn, adapt, and act autonomously.
NTT DATA’s 6 Technology Trends for 2026
| Trend | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Human-Orchestrated Autonomy | AI systems operate at scale but stay guided by human intent for transparency and purpose |
| Embodied Agency & Emotions | Emotionally responsive AI becomes social infrastructure, humanising data and driving well-being |
| Intelligence We Trust | Cybersecurity evolves into adaptive AI that protects system integrity, transparency, and ethics |
| Informed Infrastructure | Infrastructure uses continuous intelligence to optimise performance across edge, device, and cloud |
| Sovereign Silicon Ecosystems | Nations build end-to-end chip ecosystems to secure supply chains, protect IP, and lead computing |
| From Efficiency to Sufficiency | Growth moves beyond narrow efficiency toward technology that enables responsible, sustainable thriving |
Why These Trends Matter Right Now
The 2026 report signals a fundamental shift in how enterprises should think about technology — from raw speed to purposefulness. The Human-Orchestrated Autonomy trend directly addresses a growing boardroom anxiety: agentic AI systems are powerful, but decisions must remain transparent and aligned with business values.
Sovereign Silicon Ecosystems is perhaps the most geopolitically charged trend — reflecting a world where semiconductor supply chains have become a national security issue, and countries are investing heavily in domestic chip capabilities.
The shift from efficiency to sufficiency is the most philosophical but arguably the most consequential — arguing that the next frontier of growth isn’t doing more with less, but thriving responsibly within planetary and resource limits.
NTT DATA’s Managing Director for DACH Oliver Koeth framed it well: when emotionally aware systems, sovereign compute, and trusted infrastructure converge, technology stops being a tool and becomes a purposeful ally.
The full report and its use cases are available on NTT DATA’s official Foresight page. Also check our coverage of top enterprise AI trends in 2026 and AI infrastructure investments to watch this year on TechnoSports.
