Canadian business leaders are entering 2026 with strong confidence in their organizations despite widespread pessimism about the global economy, according to new research from IBM’s Institute of Business Value.
While only 42 per cent of Canadian executives are optimistic about the global economy, 84 per cent are confident in their organization’s performance this year, the study found. The same percentage believe ongoing economic and geopolitical volatility will create new business opportunities.
The findings come from a dual survey of 1,028 C-suite leaders from large enterprises across 20 industries and 8,500 full-time employed consumers with varying levels of AI knowledge.
AI sovereignty emerges as strategic priority
Canadian leaders are prioritizing AI sovereignty in 2026, with 92 per cent of executives saying it must be built into their business strategy, according to IBM. Globally, half of executives reported concern about over-dependence on compute resources in certain regions.
Real-time operations are becoming essential, with 72 per cent of Canadian executives warning that organizations unable to move at this pace will fall behind. Currently, 86 per cent are using agentic AI to boost decision speed and quality, and 68 per cent expect AI agents to take independent action in their organization by the end of 2026.
Employees comfortable collaborating, not being managed by AI
Canadian employees increasingly see AI as positive, with 57 per cent saying it’s transforming corporate culture and 54 per cent comfortable collaborating with AI, the study found. However, only 36 per cent of employees in Canada are willing to be managed by AI, below the global average of 48 per cent.
Trust and transparency will determine which organizations succeed with AI, according to the research. Some 82 per cent of Canadian consumers said they would trust a brand less if it intentionally concealed AI use within organizations. Meanwhile, 96 per cent of Canadian executives believe consumer trust in their AI will be critical to the success of new products and services.
“Canadian organizations are entering 2026 with confidence — not because the economy is predictable, but because leaders are betting on AI as a long-term growth engine,” said Rob Wilmot, general manager of IBM Consulting Canada. “The priority now is to move beyond experimentation and embed AI into core decision-making, operations and client engagement in a way that strengthens trust and transparency.”
Major workplace transformation expected by 2030
The 2026 trends align with IBM’s separate Enterprise in 2030 study, which signals a shift toward AI-first operating models by the end of the decade. By 2030, three-quarters of Canadian C-suite executives expect AI to significantly contribute to revenue, with AI investment projected to surge by 147 per cent over the next four years.
Canadian leaders also anticipate major workplace changes, with 76 per cent saying mindset will matter more than skills and 59 per cent expecting many current employee skills to become obsolete by 2030.
“What we are seeing this year is the early arc of a broader shift,” Wilmot said. “The choices leaders make in 2026 will shape how competitive they are through the end of the decade.”
