New research from S&P Global reveals a significant shift in enterprise technology strategies, with 58% of organizations actively pursuing agentic artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. This trend, detailed in the report “Big Picture 2026 AI Outlook: Unleashing Agentic Potential,” signals a departure from traditional, human-prompted AI interactions towards autonomous systems capable of independent action.
Agentic AI represents a fundamental change in how enterprises operate, enabling systems to initiate multiple workflows simultaneously. This shift, however, comes with substantial infrastructure demands and new security considerations. Eric Hanselman, Chief Analyst at 451 Research within S&P Global, emphasizes that early adopters of agentic AI can gain a competitive edge, but success hinges on having the right data foundation and skilled teams.
The demand for agentic AI is driving unprecedented infrastructure investment, with GPU shipment projections from leading suppliers increasing over 500% from original 2023 estimates for the 2025-2026 period. This surge highlights the strain on IT capacity as agentic systems break free from human pacing, launching multiple prompts and cascading into other agents.
Data management is evolving to meet the scale and breadth of data access required by agentic systems. Organizations must now focus on sophisticated data provenance, quality assessment, and context engineering. Additionally, new non-human identity frameworks are necessary to address the security complexities introduced by autonomous agents.
Sustainability concerns also come to the forefront as the intensive resource consumption of agentic operations drives AI-related data center demand. Enterprises must balance the benefits of agentic AI with the environmental impact of increased data center usage.
The report underscores the need for expanded thinking around AI implications, moving beyond simple automation to comprehensive resource management and security frameworks. As enterprises race to build AI-agent-ready infrastructure, the market is poised for significant transformation. This shift could reshape competitive landscapes, drive innovation in data management and security, and necessitate sustainable practices in AI deployment.
The implications for markets are profound. Companies that successfully integrate agentic AI may achieve operational efficiencies and solve complex problems more effectively. However, those that fail to adapt risk falling behind. The race to build AI-agent-ready infrastructure will likely spur further investment in technology and talent, creating opportunities for growth and innovation. As the sector evolves, the interplay between technological advancement, security, and sustainability will shape the future of enterprise AI.