Lead with clarity in the agentic AI era

IDC Chief Research Officer Meredith Whalen delivered one of the most talked-about sessions at IDC Directions 2026 — mapping the two phases of the AI Supercycle: the infrastructure buildout happening now, and the enterprise adoption wave that follows. IDC analysts shared the latest

IDC Directions 2026 brought together hundreds of technology leaders and top IDC analysts covering AI spending forecasts, where value is shifting across the tech stack, and what it means for vendors competing to win in the agentic era. Every session is now available on demand, including keynotes, breakout tracks, and downloadable presentations to bring back to your team.

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The agentic AI era is changing how enterprises evaluate technology partners. IDC provides forward-looking insight, buyer intelligence, and independent validation to help AI-led technology leaders and innovators align AI strategy with buyer expectations and accelerate adoption. 

AI is moving beyond experimentation toward broader enterprise adoption. As this shift accelerates, expectations around scalability, trust, and integration are rising — fundamentally reshaping how technology vendors compete and differentiate. IDC analysis shows that this next phase of AI adoption introduces both opportunity and risk for vendors navigating increasingly complex enterprise buyer expectations. 

The shift from AI pilots to enterprise-wide agentic execution is already underway. IDC breaks down the four pillars leaders need to navigate it,  from disruption and orchestration to trust, governance, and growth. Ready to go further? The IDC FutureScape Field Manual has the full playbook — find it linked within the blog.”