SAS trends and predictions

2027: The year of AI consequences

Our experts are looking beyond the AI hype to explore why 2027 will be a defining year for accountability. As AI moves from experimentation to execution, organizations face growing pressure to prove its business value, rethink how work gets done and take responsibility for increasingly autonomous systems.

From AI agents making consequential decisions to simulated environments and the growing importance of human judgment, explore the trends shaping what's next and the deeper thinking behind the predictions.

View our top 11 predictions

The new economics of AI trust

As AI moves from generating answers to taking action, trust is becoming a defining factor in business value. The 2026 Data and AI Impact Report: The New Economics of Trust, based on research from SAS and IDC, reveals a growing gap between AI's expanding autonomy and the confidence organizations have in it. Yet organizations with strong trustworthy AI practices are 15 times more likely to report strong returns on their AI investments. Explore what separates AI leaders from the rest and why governance, explainability and accountability matter more than ever.

Read the global study