Dell Technologies’ 2026 Predictions: AI Acceleration, Sovereign AI & Governance
Dell Technologies recently hosted a briefing focused on the transformative trends shaping the technology landscape in 2026 and beyond. Key insights were shared by the company’s Global Chief Technology Officer and Chief AI Officer, as well as the APJC President, highlighting the strategies aimed at accelerating AI adoption and innovation in the Asia Pacific Japan & Greater China (APJC) region.
Accelerating AI Adoption
According to the Global CTO, the rapid acceleration of AI is set to fundamentally reengineer enterprise and industry operations. This transformation emphasizes the need for scaling AI to achieve tangible business outcomes.
“Conversations are on very real adoption, and AI is creating a truly transformational opportunity,” stated the APJC President. The growing deployment of agentic AI serves as a prime example, with organizations like Zoho in India collaborating with Dell to enhance agentic AI adoption. This involves delivering contextual, privacy-first, and multimodal enterprise AI solutions, making AI more accessible for businesses across the region.
The Autonomous Agent Era
As the industry transitions into what is referred to as the autonomous agent era, agentic AI is evolving from a mere assistant to an integral manager of complex processes. The CTO highlighted that as organizations embrace this journey into 2026, they will be surprised by the efficiency gains offered by these agents, enhancing human productivity and improving non-AI work processes.
Governance and Sovereign AI
With the rapid development of AI comes the need for robust governance frameworks. The CTO predicted that the demand for governance in AI will become crucial, urging the industry to establish both internal and external AI guardrails to innovate safely and sustainably.
“Last year, we predicted that ‘Agentic’ would be the word of 2025. This year, the word ‘Governance’ is going to play a much bigger role,” he remarked, emphasizing that successful AI strategies require discipline and governance at various levels—enterprise, regional, or national.
At the national level, the rise of sovereign AI ecosystems is expected to continue, as AI becomes essential to state-level interests. The APJC President noted that enterprises are actively developing their own frameworks to foster local innovation, laying strong foundations for future advancements.
Building an Ecosystem for Impact
To enhance the region’s AI competitiveness, the importance of a collaborative ecosystem is paramount. Initiatives like the APJ AI Innovation Hub provide significant impact by combining Dell’s capabilities with expertise from various sectors.
“By working with experts, government, and industry peers, we’ve made incredible progress in fostering skill development and advancing our collective expertise,” the APJC President stated. This collaborative effort is crucial for accelerating Asia’s leadership in AI, identifying key steps to support the region’s growth.
