AI ETHICS & REGULATION
T
he AI sector faces a fundamental shift in 2026 as organisations confront mounting pressure to demonstrate accountability in their AI deployments, according to predictions from analytics software provider SAS.
The company’ s experts warn that the current era of unchecked innovation will give way to a period where ethical considerations and governance frameworks become competitive differentiators rather than optional add-ons.
“ In 2026, the AI debate will no longer be one of innovation versus trust,” suggests Reggie Townsend, Vice President of the Data Ethics Practice at SAS.“ As government regulation of AI remains inconsistent, corporate selfgovernance will extend to include the necessary guardrails to enable AI in the enterprise responsibly.”
The prediction arrives as AI enthusiasm meets widespread scepticism across the technology sector. Alongside progress in AI capabilities, concerns about potential market bubbles, energy consumption and failed pilot projects have created an environment where both providers and users face questions about value delivery and operational integrity.
The timeline for corporate action has, meanwhile, become increasingly compressed. The EU AI Act, which entered force in August 2024, requires organisations to classify and document high-risk AI systems by August 2026. Transparency requirements for AI-generated content take effect at the
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