A new KPMG Global Tech Report 2026 has shown that technology executives across the world are increasing investments in artificial intelligence, skills development and flexible strategies to remain competitive in the Intelligence Age. The report revealed that while 68 percent of organisations aim to reach the highest level of AI maturity by the end of 2026, only 24 percent have achieved that level so far, showing a wide gap between ambition and reality.
According to the report, companies are moving beyond testing new technologies and are now embedding AI into their core operations. About 88 percent of organisations are investing in agentic AI, which uses autonomous digital agents to improve decision making and daily operations. Although 74 percent of respondents said their AI projects are already delivering business value, only 24 percent are seeing strong returns across multiple use cases, pointing to challenges in scaling innovation effectively.
The report also stressed that human talent remains central to digital transformation. While AI adoption is rising fast, organisations still expect a large portion of their workforce to remain human in the coming years. However, 53 percent of companies admitted they do not yet have the right skills to fully deliver their digital plans. KPMG One Africa Partner and Technology Lead, Marshal Luusa, said the real advantage now lies in building the right skills, leadership and governance needed to scale technology responsibly.
In addition, the report showed that 90 percent of organisations plan to grow partnerships and technology ecosystems to speed up learning and innovation. Many leaders also believe they must take bolder risks on emerging technologies such as quantum computing to stay relevant. Based on responses from 2,500 executives across 27 countries, the report concluded that organisations that combine ambition with careful execution are more likely to turn innovation into lasting business value.