These are the three most striking trends for the coming year.
Digital trust depends on evidence and control
When it comes to digital trust, according to Emmanuel Cacheux, Chief Trust Officer at Orange Business, it will no longer be about what companies say. 'Digital trust will primarily depend on what companies can actually demonstrate,' People want to know how data is handled, who has control over it, and whether an organization is transparent about how the company's technology works.'
According to Cacheux, technological independence will become a major part of trust. He continues: "Organizations are increasingly questioning how much control they have given to a number of global tech suppliers. As a result, they will reclaim control. They do this not to sever the relationship with suppliers, but precisely because organizations understand their own systems best and can manage them with confidence.
Furthermore, Emmanuel Cacheux sees that trust in AI is under pressure: "As the hype begins to fade, concerns are growing about how biased AI is and the extent of misinformation that arises from it. People want more insight into how algorithms make decisions. Therefore, tools that demonstrate the provenance of content and the behavior of models are becoming more common. This also stems from the stricter regulations based on the EU AI Act.
Cacheux predicts that more regional differences will become visible regarding the level of trust. "When it comes to data and regulation, Europe, the United States, and China are going in different directions," says Cacheux. "Global organizations must demonstrate that they behave responsibly in every region where they operate." According to him, younger users will further raise expectations. They are willing to ask critical questions about transparency and fairness.
Finally, Cacheux says: 'When companies can explain how the systems work, how they protect their own data, and take responsibility for the decisions that technology makes, people will be more inclined to enter into a partnership than when an organization does not do this.'
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Quantum computing shifts from awareness to action
According to Usman Javaid, Chief Products and Marketing Officer at Orange Business, the quantum technology ecosystem will shift in 2026 from laboratories to measurable progress in business. 'The expectation is that quantum processors will exceed the threshold of 100 qubits. This supports experiments that are more applicable in the real world. The outcomes will provide more clarity about the actual benefits of quantum computing.
At the same time, regulation is catching up. Javaid expects that governments and industry organizations will publish stricter standards regarding quantum-safe cryptography, require clearer timelines for compliance, and stricter quantum risk analysis.
The rollout of post-quantum cryptography solutions (PQC) at scale heralds a new era in digital security. As technology evolves, organizations will increasingly embrace quantum-safe algorithms, or 'quantum agility.' The ongoing expansion of quantum key distribution (QKD) networks, especially via satellite technology, will enhance the resilience of global communication.
Javaid continues: 'The expectation is that these developments will sharpen the focus on digital resilience. Quantum technology is moving from the margins to national security, economic strategy, and boardroom planning. The 'Save now, encrypt later' threat is no longer hypothetical but will lead to serious action.
'Although 2026 will not be the year in which quantum technology solves everything, organizations worldwide will embrace it to avoid the risk of falling behind,' says Usman Javaid.
Reinventing intelligence with Agentic AI
According to Miguel Alvarez, Chief Data & AI Officer at Orange Business, we will see an increase in the number of autonomous agents next year that do more than just facilitate communication.
'AI agents will increasingly take actions and make decisions, and over time they will also expand their knowledge. However, concerns and questions about accountability will increase, especially when an agent makes a mistake. As more people deploy AI agents, the likelihood of increased dependency also grows. In 2026, companies and regulators will have to deal with decision-making by Agentic AI, which is faster than expected.'
The AI agent is capable of remembering previous interactions. This gives users a sense of understanding without them having to spend time continuously training the tool. Alvarez continues: 'From a commercial perspective, the agents will have the authority to make purchases, sell, and negotiate on behalf of people and companies, including machine-to-machine transactions between different enterprises.'
Regulation around AI continues to lag, requiring organizations to ensure that user protection is a priority. 'Companies must educate the public about how AI agents evolve over time. This goes beyond just solving problems and becoming a new competitive factor for many sectors. Once people understand what Agentic AI really does and what boundaries are associated with it, the possibilities for using AI will be endless,' says Alvarez.
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