Technology has entered what NTT DATA calls the age of massive intelligence: a time when digital systems not only automate tasks but also learn, adapt, and act increasingly autonomously, while Artificial Intelligence becomes accessible to billions of people. The company compares the social impact of this shift to the transformation caused by the rise of mass media, and warns that the challenge is no longer “accelerating,” but making sense: growing with purpose, confidence, and sustainability. technology foresight trends ove…
This is the thesis of the NTT DATA Technology Foresight 2026 report, published in January and centered around a simple yet uncomfortable question: how to achieve sustained growth as software starts making decisions, infrastructures become strategic assets, and countries compete over controlling silicon. technology foresight trends ove…
The document proposes six macro trends that function as a “blueprint” for the near future. All point toward a shift: from a paradigm of automation and assistance to an era of autonomy, but with a key nuance. NTT DATA emphasizes that the goal is not to replace human judgment but expand it: machines will execute at scale, yes, but guided by intention, ethics, and oversight. technology foresight trends ove…
From automation to autonomy, but humans in charge
The first macro trend, Human-orchestrated autonomy, suggests that autonomy is no longer just about “automating tasks” but increasingly equates to intelligence: people set the intent and AI responsibly executes it at scale. NTT DATA discusses here concepts like agent identities, native AI interfaces, and, importantly, a requirement that should reassure any risk committee: autonomous actions should be attributable, auditable, and reversible. technology foresight trends ove…
The report hints that organizations will tend to design adaptive autonomy, systems that adjust their independence based on risk and context. Not all situations are equal—what’s appropriate for a customer service co-pilot differs from trading decisions or a drone fleet: supervision levels vary. In that framework, autonomy becomes a collaborative effort between humans and agents, with continuous governance cycles and feedback. technology foresight trends ove…
Agents that “understand” emotions: the new social infrastructure
The second trend, Agentic capabilities and emotions, enters a more sensitive realm: NTT DATA describes a new stage where digital systems learn to act and also to “feel” in computational terms. It talks about embodied agents (humanoid robots, digital humans, responsive interfaces) and technologies that interpret tone, gestures, and expressions to adjust communication. technology foresight trends ove…
The report states that these capabilities are becoming part of the social infrastructure, with applications in education, healthcare, mobility, and governance. A key warning is issued: if emotional data is involved, ethical design must ensure privacy, consent, and authenticity. In other words, humanizing interaction can boost trust and productivity, but if misused, it opens a delicate field for exploitation and manipulation. technology foresight trends ove…
AI security and security with AI: trust as the foundation
The third macro trend, titled Trustworthy intelligence, begins with a compelling idea: as autonomy and emotional systems grow, trust becomes the critical layer in the digital civilization. NTT DATA proposes a dual approach: on one side, AI-based security reinforces defenses (threat prediction, integrity validation, resilience); on the other, security must also protect the AI itself, defending it against data poisoning, biases, and manipulation. technology foresight trends ove…
This includes concepts already taking shape in companies: zero trust architectures, continuous behavior verification, and the idea of “cognitive transparency,” where humans can observe reasoning and decision processes to assess accountability. The report adds another element: trust is not solely technical—it’s also cultural and cooperative, constituting a “new social contract” among sectors. technology foresight trends ove…
Informed infrastructure: from hidden layer to strategic asset
The fourth trend, Informed infrastructure, suggests that infrastructure is no longer an invisible “background” but a living organism that optimizes costs, agility, and sustainability in real time. NTT DATA describes a hybrid continuum that includes devices, edge, and cloud, with load-placement decisions now driven by economic and political factors (latency, energy, regulatory trust). technology foresight trends ove…
The report also highlights the role of high-performance computing and simulation to model ecosystems before acting—cities, power grids, logistics routes. It concludes with an idea connected to sovereignty: servers, networks, and data centers have become strategic assets; governments and companies seek sovereign digital bases to control computation, data location, and software dependencies. technology foresight trends ove…
Technological sovereignty starts with the chip
The fifth macro trend, Sovereign silicon ecosystems, positions semiconductors as the foundation of all digital systems and a long-term determinant of competitiveness and resilience. NTT DATA describes a transition toward inference-driven workloads and edge environments, where local data analysis is critical. technology foresight trends ove…
The solution—according to the report—is building comprehensive chip ecosystems: design, photonics, manufacturing, and supply chain management. An important note: sovereignty does not mean isolation. Innovation flourishes in collaborative ecosystems connecting governments, academia, and industry, aligned with sustainability through ethical sourcing, recycling, and energy efficiency. technology foresight trends ove…
From “more for less” to “sufficient”: a course correction
The sixth trend, perhaps the most challenging for many corporate strategies, is From illusory efficiency to sufficiency. NTT DATA advocates shifting priorities: from relentless speed to responsible management; from short-term optimization to long-term adaptation. Sufficiency questions the “more is better” mindset and emphasizes durability, adaptability, and transparency. technology foresight trends ove…
Here, AI and digital twins are viewed as tools to model optimal resource use thresholds—not just to chase perpetual growth. An interesting point is that constraints (energy, computational power) can force smarter architectures, and reducing complexity and consumption can build trust and long-term prosperity. technology foresight trends ove…
Summary table: Six macro trends and practical implications
| Macro trend | What changes | What should an organization activate |
|---|---|---|
| Human-orchestrated autonomy | Agents capable of acting | Governance, auditing, reversibility, and “human-in-the-loop” based on risk levels |
| Agentic capabilities and emotions | Interfaces that interpret emotions | Ethics and consent, experience design, boundaries for emotional data |
| Trustworthy intelligence | Security for and with AI | Zero trust architectures, traceability, defense against manipulation and biases |
| Informed infrastructure | Proactive and “living” infrastructure | Observability, energy optimization, hybrid/edge strategies |
| Sovereign silicon ecosystems | Chip geopolitics | Supply chain management, diversification, sovereignty, collaboration |
| From efficiency to sufficiency | Growing within limits | Sustainability KPIs, reducing complexity, resilience |
NTT DATA concludes the report with an explicit invitation: view technology not as an end but as a means to build an intelligent future that is ethical, human-centered, and sustainable. In a context where autonomy is here and computational costs have become an industrial policy, their message is clear: the competitive advantage will lie not only in automation but in orchestration. technology foresight trends ove…
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “massive intelligence” mean in the NTT DATA report?
It means AI has become widely accessible, and digital systems are increasingly capable of learning, adapting, and acting autonomously, with a social impact comparable to mass media. technology foresight trends ove…
What is “adaptive autonomy,” and why is it important for companies?
It involves designing agents that adjust their independence based on risk and context, ensuring their actions are attributable, auditable, and reversible. technology foresight trends ove…
Why does NTT DATA talk about emotions in AI systems?
Because interfaces capable of interpreting tone and gestures are emerging to adjust communication, potentially increasing trust. However, this requires safeguards around privacy, consent, and authenticity. technology foresight trends ove…
What does it mean to shift “from efficiency to sufficiency”?
Prioritizing resilience and sustainability: using AI and digital twins to optimize actual resource use and reduce complexity, rather than pursuing perpetual growth.
via: ntt data