Organisations worldwide are moving beyond artificial intelligence pilot projects and working to embed AI into core business workflows, according to KPMG’s Global Tech Report 2026. While ambition and investment levels are rising sharply, the report finds that scaling AI remains complex and that returns on investment vary widely.

The study reveals that 68 per cent of organisations aim to reach the highest level of AI maturity by the end of 2026, up from just 24 per cent today. Adoption is accelerating, with 88 per cent of respondents already investing in agentic AI autonomous digital agents that can make decisions and execute tasks. However, only 24 per cent of organisations report achieving ROI across multiple AI use cases, highlighting a significant gap between expectations and outcomes.

Overall, 74 per cent of respondents say their AI initiatives are delivering business value, including improved efficiency and reduced risk. High-performing organisations those leading in technology and process maturity are seeing the strongest results, reporting an average ROI of 4.5x, more than double the industry average of 2x. Smaller firms, transformation-focused organisations, and those facing fewer cost pressures are also outperforming peers.

“The future belongs to leaders who turn intelligence into advantage,” said Guy Holland, Global Leader, CIO Centre of Excellence, KPMG International. He noted that organisations are moving past “AI roulette” toward more disciplined execution focused on value creation.

Talent shortages remain a major constraint. While organisations expect 42 per cent of their tech workforce to remain permanent human staff by 2027, 53 per cent say they lack the talent required to deliver their digital transformation strategies. At the same time, 92 per cent anticipate that managing AI agents will become a critical skill within five years.

To address capability gaps, 90 per cent of organisations plan to expand partnerships and technology ecosystems over the next year. Nearly one-third are also increasing investment in centres of excellence to support cross-functional collaboration and controlled experimentation.

Looking ahead, the report finds leaders are preparing for emerging technologies such as quantum computing and artificial superintelligence. Seventy-eight per cent agree they must take greater risks on new technologies to stay competitive, while balancing innovation with ethical frameworks and disciplined execution to deliver sustainable value.