Just a month into the year, and a few weeks since the launch of Qlik Trends 2026, we’ve already seen just how fast the AI landscape can evolve. The emergence of Claude Cowork and Moltbook reflect the two ends of the spectrum when it comes to agent collaboration. After taking a breath to digest Dan Sommer’s fascinating webinar – check it out if you haven’t already – I’ve been reflecting on which trends are set to make the most impact this year.
Dan introduced us to a new network for AI orchestration. One where data, agents and roles deliver on empowered execution in the workplace. One that breaks the pendulum that has historically swung between centralization and decentralization and requires data to flow across the integral core, innovative edge and an interoperable spine. We heard that together, this network effect could turn data, analytics and AI into a true global utility.
Collaboration becomes programmable
A quote that stood out to me was that “collaboration, not just computation, is becoming programmable.” The promise is that, empowered by agentic helpers, we can execute more tasks, delegate intelligently and unleash entrepreneurial spirit. New roles are emerging, from ethics experts to citizen data engineers. Ultimately, the key shift is from performing tasks to directing systems – with human oversight remaining crucial.
What does this mean for the data professional?
We are seeing this vision turn to reality, with particular ramifications for data professionals. I had a fascinating conversation with Rumman Chowdhury from our AI Council about what these trends mean in practice. Overall, it feels like the honeymoon period of AI is over. This is particularly signified by the growing pressure on technical teams to move from prototypes, to building, and delivering tangible AI use cases.
The future looks unclear, with many organizations cutting or adapting entry level jobs. But we still need to build a pipeline to replace and support senior data professionals, and the value of AI is severely restricted without human context and understanding. AI is, however, turning into a workplace superpower, helping savvy employees outperform their peers. Clearly, it is shaking up expectations of data professionals. Whether they’ve got two years’ experience, or 20, getting on board with AI could have a marked impact on day-to-day processes and careers in data.
If you’re interested in diving deeper into this topic, you can watch my full conversation with Rumman Chowdhury, CEO of Human Intelligence and member of the Qlik AI Council, on-demand here