Mike Capone anticipates Qlik's vision for 2026 regarding data, analytics, and AI, arguing that the next competitive advantage will come from transforming the "hidden value of AI" into better decisions across the organization.
THE Qlik®, a global leader in data integration, data quality, analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI), shares a preview of its 2026 outlook on data, analytics, and AI, with CEO Mike Capone arguing that the debate over whether AI “generates value” focuses on a misguided issue. The real problem, according to him, is that most organizations are still delivering far less than they could with AI, with only small islands of value emerging in a sea of experimentation, pilots, and noise.
“Senior executives keep hearing that only a tiny fraction of companies are truly ‘AI-ready’,” says Mike Capone, CEO of Qlik. “But you only have to walk the halls of any large company to find people discreetly using AI in documents, presentations, and code every day. That’s real productivity. Right now, it’s an invisible layer. It shapes results, but it’s invisible to the income statement (P&L), rarely based on complete data and entirely outside of governance.”
A recent study by the Boston Consulting Group revealed that only about 5% of companies are structurally prepared for a future with AI, even though generative tools are used daily in peripheral areas of the business. Qlik's analysis of customer environments shows the same paradox: a growing volume of "hidden AI value" that rarely survives the transition to audited metrics or risk models.
Capone believes that 2026 will be the year that leading companies close this gap. Instead of asking which model, cloud, or platform to bet on, he argues that organizations should assume they will change these choices repeatedly and design their architecture so that they can switch models and tools without rewriting their business logic or losing control of their data.
“The old pendulum between rigid central control and chaotic self-service is swinging away,” Capone adds. “You can’t rebuild your operating model every time the market fluctuates. The companies we see winning are practicing controlled decentralization: they keep definitions, governance, and sovereignty non-negotiable, and bring experimentation and automation to the teams closest to the work.”
Meanwhile, Qlik expects that intelligence, in itself, will begin to behave more like a utility than a feature. As smaller models, local inference, and edge computing become commonplace, more decisions will be made closer to where the data resides, such as in factories, stores, vehicles, and devices, while shared analytics and context remain the foundation of what constitutes "good.".
“Over time, the cost of decision intelligence will fall, and expectations of accountability will rise,” says Capone. “The winners will be the companies that can transform the hidden and ad-hoc use of AI into an explicit and governed system of decisions, where every agent, assistant, and application relies on the same trusted data and analytics.”
Capone's comments precede Qlik's webinar on Data, Analytics and AI Trends for 2026, which takes place in January, when the company will share its regional forecasts and outlook.
To register for the webinar, which will take place on January 14, 2026, at 3 PM, click here.
Regarding the Qlik
THE Qlik Qlik transforms complex data landscapes into actionable insights, driving strategic business outcomes. Serving more than 40,000 global customers, the Qlik portfolio provides advanced enterprise-grade AI/ML, data integration, and analytics. Qlik’s practical and scalable AI/ML tools drive faster, better decisions. Qlik is the leader in data integration and governance, offering end-to-end solutions that work with diverse data sources. Qlik’s intuitive analytics uncover hidden patterns, empowering teams to tackle complex challenges and seize new opportunities. Qlik is a strategic partner, and its expertise and technology-agnostic platform make its customers more competitive. For more information, visit www.qlik.com/pt-br.
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