The IBM IBV Five Trends for 2026 study reveals strong organizational confidence amid economic uncertainty and shows how today’s AI bets are setting the trajectory for years to come.
Toronto, February 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — With long-term investments in artificial intelligence (AI), Canadian organizations enter 2026 with strong confidence in their performance. Highlights of new research from IBM (NYSE: IBM) Institute of Business Value (IBV) 5 trends Shape how Canadian leaders will compete this year with complementary insights from another new study that suggests a more fully AI-first operating model will become a reality by 2030.
5 trends that will define Canada’s AI landscape in 2026
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Optimism despite economic uncertainty: While just 42% of Canadian executives are optimistic about the global economy, 84% are confident in their organization’s performance in 2026. Additionally, 84% of Canadian respondents believe that current economic and geopolitical changes will create new business opportunities.
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AI sovereignty becomes essential: Canadian leaders are prioritizing AI sovereignty in 2026, with 92% of executives stressing the need to incorporate AI sovereignty into business strategy. At a global level, half of executives report concerns about over-reliance on computing resources in specific regions, reinforcing the importance of a secure and sovereign AI foundation.
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Accelerate autonomy with faster real-time decision-making and AI agents. Real-time operations have become essential, and 72% of Canadian executives warn that organizations that can’t move at this pace will fall behind. Today, 86% are already using agent AI to improve the speed and quality of decisions, and 68% expect AI agents to take unique actions within their organizations by the end of 2026.
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Employees are ready for AI, but hesitant to be led by it. Canadian employees increasingly view AI positively, with 57% saying AI is transforming their company culture and 54% saying they are comfortable collaborating with AI. However, only 36% of Canadian employees want to be managed by AI, lower than the global average of 48%.
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Trust and transparency will determine the winner. 82% of Canadian consumers say they have less trust in a brand if the use of AI is intentionally hidden within an organization. 96% of Canadian executives believe that consumer trust in AI is critical to the success of new products and services.
Rob Willmott, general manager, IBM Consulting Canada, said: “Canadian organizations are entering 2026 with confidence, not because the economy is predictable, but because our leaders are confident. bet On AI as a long-term growth engine. The priority now is to move beyond experimentation and embed AI into core decision-making, operations, and customer engagement in ways that enhance trust and transparency. ” he further added“What we are seeing this year is the early stages of a broader change. The choices leaders make in 2026 will shape competitiveness through the end of the decade.”
