Top strategic predictions for 2026: AI, project management, governance

Table of contents

AI is reshaping your business and your brain
Long-term predictions
The “too much AI” problem is real
Control AI before it controls your work
Lead the AI era

TL;DR

AI is set to redefine business, skills, and regulation by 2026; organisations must act now to govern it wisely or risk being left behind.

AI is reshaping your business and your brain

By 2027, more than 75% of hiring processes will require certification in workplace AI. That’s not a forecast. It’s a wake-up call.

As AI becomes embedded in everything from project workflows to customer service, it’s no longer just a tool. It’s a collaborator. A decision-maker. A threat and also an opportunity.

But with this comes an uncomfortable twist. As Gartner warns, the race to adopt AI may be quietly eroding a skill more valuable than any software: human critical thinking.

Long-term predictions

According to a Gartner overview, AI will reshape global business in terms of regulation and productivity within just a few years:

• AI becomes regionalised: By 2027, 35% of countries will be locked into region-specific AI platforms using proprietary contextual data.
• Regulation ramps up fast: By 2027, fragmented AI regulation will cover 50% of the global economy, triggering $5 billion in compliance investments.
• Service contracts get smarter: The cost-to-value gap for process-centric service contracts will drop by 50% by 2027, driven by agentic AI reinvention.
• AI powers customer experience: By 2028, organisations using multiagent AI for 80% of customer-facing processes will become industry leaders.
• Money gets programmable: By 2030, 20% of monetary transactions will include terms and conditions directly programmable into the transaction giving AI agents economic agency.
• A market shake-up is coming: Through 2027, the combined rise of AI and AI agents will create the first major challenge to productivity tools in 30 years, sparking a $58 billion disruption in the market.

Top 10 strategic predictions for 2026 and beyond by Gartner

The “too much AI” problem is real

Imagine hiring someone who is too good at using AI. So good that they’ve stopped thinking for themselves. That’s the emerging paradox. Global organisations are already preparing by adding “AI-free” assessments to hiring tests.

And that’s just the start. As AI agents take over more customer-facing tasks, they’ll reshape $15 trillion in B2B spending by 2028. AI won’t just support your business. It will be your business.

But here’s the catch! Without the right systems and governance, your AI advantage could quickly become a risk. Gartner predicts over 2,000 “death by AI” legal claims by 2026 due to poor oversight.

Control AI before it controls your work

For technology service providers and enterprises, the path forward is clear: don’t just adopt AI. Integrate it intelligently. 

That means tools that enhance, not replace, human judgment. That allow you to govern AI use, track its output, and secure the intellectual property it generates.

AI adoption pyramid

This is where Easy Redmine comes in. Our AI-powered project management software helps you:

• Stay in control of AI use through scenario-based resource planning and transparent dashboards
• Maintain human visibility with AI-powered assistants that summarise, not override, your team’s thinking
• Meet new compliance standards with on-premises AI and full auditability

And while others struggle with disjointed tools and blurred accountability, Easy brings everything from project management, ITSM, SCM, to AI integration into one secure platform.

Lead the AI era

The future of AI isn't just about technology, it’s about people, processes, and priorities. As AI becomes more embedded in our systems, its impact will extend far beyond productivity, reshaping human behaviour, and geopolitical landscapes.

For business and technology leaders, the challenge is not only to adopt AI but to govern it wisely. This means treating behavioural change as a core business strategy, not a side effect, and preparing teams to navigate the ethical, and operational shifts AI will bring. 

Organisations must also establish internal governance frameworks to track evolving regulations and ensure responsible AI usage. In short, those who succeed won’t just integrate AI into their workflows—they’ll integrate it thoughtfully into their culture, values, and strategy.

The AI future isn’t waiting for you. Your competitors are already embedding it into their processes. The question is: Will you lead, or will you be disrupted? To be ready, get a consultation with our sales team!