Google Cloud predicts 5 ways AI agents will transform businesses in 2026
2026 will be the year AI agents fundamentally reshape business by orchestrating complex, end-to-end workflows semi-autonomously
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PEX Network’s key takeaways:
- Google Cloud released a new report outlining five ways artificial intelligence (AI) agents will transform businesses in 2026.
- The Google Cloud 2026 AI Agent Trends Report forecasts that 2026 will be the year AI agents fundamentally reshape business.
- “AI agents can now understand a goal, semi-autonomously develop a multi-step plan, and take actions on your behalf – all under your expert guidance and oversight.”
Google Cloud has predicted five ways AI agents will transform businesses in 2026.
The Google Cloud 2026 AI Agent Trends Report, backed by insights from over 3,466 global executives and Google AI experts, forecasts that 2026 will be the year AI agents fundamentally reshape business by orchestrating complex, end-to-end workflows semi-autonomously.
“AI agents can now understand a goal, semi-autonomously develop a multi-step plan, and take actions on your behalf – all under your expert guidance and oversight,” wrote Anil Jain, global managing director – strategic industries at Google Cloud. “We’re moving away from abstract, future-gazing possibilities, and focusing on delivering tangible business value right now.”
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5 ways AI agents will transform businesses in 2026
Based on Google Cloud’s report, here are the five ways AI agents will transform businesses in 2026 and how.
1. AI agent-driven productivity
AI agents will help everyone be more productive. Employees can now delegate tasks to specialized AI agents to achieve their objectives, shifting roles from routine execution to higher-level strategic oversight.
AI is already becoming embedded in work from the outset. “More than 57,000 team members at Telus are regularly using AI and saving 40 minutes per AI interaction. Meanwhile, Suzano, the world's largest pulp manufacturer, developed an AI agent with Gemini Pro that translates natural language questions into SQL code – resulting in a 95 percent reduction in the time required for queries among 50,000 employees.”
2. Agentic workflows in core business processes
Agentic workflows will become a core part of business processes. In multi-agent systems, AI agents can collaborate, coordinate, and communicate to automate complex, multi-step processes. This level of automation goes far beyond simple chatbots that answer questions, enabling AI to support specialized functions with significantly higher business value.
In 2026, businesses will begin connecting agents based on their specific needs, allowing entire workflows to run end to end, according to Jain.
For example, Salesforce and Google Cloud are developing cross-platform AI agents using the Agent2Agent (A2A) protocol, an important step toward creating an open, interoperable foundation for agentic enterprises.
3. Agents bring customer experiences to life
Scripted chatbots and reactive customer service are things of the past. In the coming year, AI agents will speed up this shift, establishing hyperpersonalized, “concierge-style” service as the new standard for customer interactions.
“For example, global manufacturer Danfoss is using AI agents to automate email-based order processing, automating 80 percent of transactional decisions and reducing the average customer response from 42 hours to near real time.”
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4. AI agents supercharge security operations
Modern security teams are inundated with alerts and data. AI agents extend human capabilities, enabling faster and more accurate threat detection and response. With Google Cloud AI, Macquarie Bank has driven 38 percent more users to self-service while cutting false-positive fraud alerts by 40 percent.
“We predict 2026 will be the year AI agents take over the most taxing security operations work, automating manual tasks like alert triage and investigation,” Jain wrote. “This will allow human analysts to dedicate their focus to their most critical work: hunting threats and developing next-generation defenses.”
5. Training an AI-ready workforce
Companies will double down on AI training in 2026, because adopting the latest AI technology and tools is only the first step. The biggest challenge and most important factor is people.
Organizations will move from simply buying AI to building an AI-ready workforce, transitioning away from one-off training toward developing adaptable, continuous learning plans. These programs provide hands-on practice with real-world scenarios, allowing employees to build the AI skills they need at their own pace and on their own schedule.
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