New research from DeepL reveals a decisive global business shift in 2026, moving from AI experimentation to widespread agentic automation. The survey of 5,000 executives across five major economies indicates that a majority (69%) of business leaders expect autonomous AI agents to transform their operations in the coming year, signaling what could be the most significant operational shift since the advent of cloud computing.
Quick Intel
69% of global business leaders expect agentic AI to transform operations in 2026.
AI is now the primary engine for business growth, with 52% expecting it to contribute more than any other tech.
The top driver for AI agent confidence is proven ROI and efficiency (22%).
The main deployment challenges are cost (16%) and workforce preparedness (13%).
64% of businesses plan to increase investment in language AI in 2026.
Over half (54%) say real-time voice translation will be essential by 2026.
The research underscores that AI agents are transitioning from pilot projects to core enterprise production. Nearly half (44%) of leaders anticipate major transformation from agentic AI in 2026, with a quarter (25%) stating it is already underway. This broad consensus highlights a move beyond narrow use cases toward embedding autonomous agents deeply into workflows to handle knowledge work, reduce repetitive tasks, and boost overall productivity, fundamentally reshaping workforce structures and focus.
Beyond agents, AI as a whole is now firmly positioned as the top catalyst for business growth. Over two-thirds (67%) of respondents report rising ROI from AI initiatives this year, and a majority (52%) expect AI to contribute more to company growth in 2026 than any other technology. This confidence varies by region, with the U.K. and Germany leading in measurable AI performance, while Japan shows significantly slower adoption. Notably, over half of leaders believe AI will create more roles than it replaces next year, with AI skills becoming a requirement for most new hires.
The research highlights the rapid evolution of language and voice technologies from convenient tools to critical enterprise infrastructure. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of global businesses plan to increase investment in language AI in 2026 to support multilingual communication and content generation for cross-border growth. Voice AI is experiencing an even more pronounced shift, with over half (54%) of leaders declaring real-time voice translation will be essential in 2026—a substantial increase from just one-third today. This demand is driven by technological advances, rising customer expectations, and global expansion needs.
While optimism is high, the path to agentic automation presents clear hurdles. Business leaders cite proven ROI and efficiency as the top driver of confidence in AI agents. However, the primary challenges to deployment are cost, workforce preparedness, and technology maturity. This indicates that successful adoption will require not only financial investment but also significant focus on change management, upskilling, and selecting mature, reliable technology platforms.
DeepL's research paints a clear picture of an imminent, large-scale business transformation led by agentic AI. As companies prepare to deploy autonomous agents at scale and deepen investments in language and voice AI, the focus is shifting from proving AI's potential to systematically integrating it as the central nervous system of operations, growth, and global communication.
About DeepL
DeepL is a global AI product and research company focused on building secure, intelligent solutions to complex business problems. Over 200,000 business customers and millions of individuals across 228 global markets today trust DeepL's Language AI platform for human-like translation, improved writing and real-time voice translation. Building on a history of innovation, quality and security, DeepL continues to expand its offerings beyond the field of Language, including DeepL Agent - an autonomous AI assistant designed to transform the way businesses and knowledge workers get work done. Founded in 2017 by CEO Jarek Kutylowski, DeepL now has over 1,000 passionate employees and is supported by world-renowned investors including Benchmark, IVP, and Index Ventures.
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