NTT DATA has released its 2026 Global AI Report. A Playbook for AI Leaders, offering a clear look at how top-performing companies are using artificial intelligence to drive growth. The NTT DATA 2026 Report findings come from a survey of 2,567 senior executives in 35 countries and 15 industries. Only 15% of surveyed firms qualified as “AI leaders.” These organizations stand out for having strong AI strategies, mature operating systems, and disciplined execution and they report faster revenue growth and higher profit margins than peers.
NTT DATA Group President and CEO Yutaka Sasaki said AI leadership is now a board-level priority. He noted that a small group of firms are already using AI to deepen their competitive edge and redefine how humans and machines work together.
Strategy: Using AI to Power Growth
The NTT DATA 2026 Report shows that AI leaders treat the technology as a central driver of future business. They align AI closely with strategy and move fast on priority areas that offer clear economic value. These companies also redesign workflows end to end instead of making surface-level improvements.
A key pattern is the “flywheel effect”: early AI wins fuel more investment, which leads to stronger results. Leaders also rebuild core systems with embedded AI features rather than relying on simple add-ons.
Execution: Strong Foundations and Human-Centred Adoption
Execution is where the strongest separation happens. Leading firms invest heavily in secure, scalable AI infrastructure and often localize systems to meet privacy or sovereignty needs. They also focus on empowering skilled workers, using AI to enhance not replace human expertise.
Change management is treated as a company-wide effort, reducing resistance and increasing adoption. Governance is centralized, often with a dedicated Chief AI Officer to oversee risk and innovation. These organizations also work closely with strategic partners and use gain-sharing models to accelerate value.
NTT DATA Inc. CEO and CAIO Abhijit Dubey said the biggest impact comes when companies select one or two high-value areas and redesign them fully with AI supported by strong governance, modern systems and trusted partners.
