The research report shows, among other things, that:
- 70% of organizations use generative AI assistants.
- Only 24% believe that their organization is actually leveraging the value of AI and providing sufficient transparency regarding its use.
- 21% trust the output of AI just as much as the judgment of a human colleague.
- 25% now have AI agents in production or running at scale.
- 67% indicate that AI requires skills that are not yet sufficiently available.
- 85% believe that Europe must present a stronger united front against the dominance of Big Tech.
The Next Phase of AI: From Experiment to Results
For many organizations, the question is no longer whether they will use AI. 59% now know where and how AI can be applied, and generative AI assistants are already part of daily practice for a large portion of the market.
Yet the return on investment lags behind the pace of adoption. Only 24% report effectively leveraging and measuring the value of AI. One in five organizations does not measure business value at all. The challenge is thus shifting from experimentation to proving results: which applications actually deliver tangible results?
This question is becoming more urgent due to the rise of agentic AI. A quarter of organizations already have AI agents in production or running at scale. As AI systems act and make decisions more independently, a robust data foundation, clear responsibilities, governance, and risk management are becoming increasingly important.
The next step therefore requires clear ownership, governance within daily workflows, and the systematic measurement of impact—not only in terms of cost savings and productivity, but also in revenue, customer value, and business transformation.
Skills, Trust, and Digital Sovereignty
Technology alone is not enough. 67% of respondents indicate that AI requires skills they have not yet fully mastered. Organizations must therefore invest in training, AI literacy, and new expertise. Especially now that AI is becoming more autonomous, human knowledge remains essential for critically evaluating output, protecting information, and determining when AI should not be used.
At the same time, dependence on external tech partners is growing. 81% describe their organization as dependent or highly dependent on external parties. This contrasts with a clear European ambition: 85% want a stronger European position vis-à-vis Big Tech.
However, the gap between conviction and implementation is wide. Only 15% have taken concrete steps toward digital sovereignty. The ambition is there, but implementation is lagging behind.
The conclusion: the next phase of AI will not be determined by who runs the most pilots, but by who can successfully integrate strategy, governance, technology, skills, and measurable value.
About the study
The Data & AI Monitor 2026 Benelux Edition is based on 415 respondents and uses the same 56-question survey as the international study. The questions cover nine themes, including organization, data, technology, tools & AI, applications, and skills.
Download the report
Want to know where organizations stand and what’s needed to take the next step? Download the Data & AI Monitor 2026 Benelux Edition here and discover the key developments, challenges, and opportunities for Data & AI.
