The pace of technology is accelerating on what feels like a daily basis. Innovations that once felt experimental are now pushing into the mainstream, reshaping how organizations operate, make decisions, and deliver services. We wanted to focus on a few areas that we think are poised to make a big impact in 2026.
Agentic AI
Agentic Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the next step forward in artificial intelligence. Moving beyond generating outputs, agentic AI systems act with autonomy, not just following instructions, but rather creating the steps and executing the workflows that will deliver the desired result.
For government, agentic AI holds enormous potential to streamline complex manual efforts, including:
- Automating data engineering – One of the biggest challenges organizations face is collecting and preparing data for use. With agentic AI, instead of requiring step-by-step coding to prepare and use data, a user can simply provide a high-level instruction, such as “Build a pipeline that ingests images, runs facial recognition, matches identities with social media data, and generates dossiers.” The agent then automatically designs the workflow, decides which tools or services to use, and generates the software needed to make it happen.
- Next-gen integrations – With the introduction of agentic AI, instead of simply moving data between systems, integration platforms are now enabling agents to interpret and act on that data. Traditionally, IT teams relied on low-code platforms or custom scripts to configure processes. With agentic AI, much of this orchestration can now be carried out simply through natural language prompts.
- Evolving search – With agentic AI, the search experience becomes interactive, iterative, and far more helpful. Instead of simply retrieving results, the AI behaves more like a skilled researcher or assistant. It can break down a complex query into smaller questions, run multiple searches, and synthesize findings into a clear, well-structured answer.
Agentic AI is shifting systems from passive tools into autonomous collaborators. The challenge is making sure the workforce is trained appropriately, in order to work well with these new collaborators.
Autonomous Robotics
Advances in AI have enriched the usefulness of autonomous robotics for government missions. Autonomous machines and systems are not meant to replace humans—instead, they will empower human workers to do their work faster, more safely, and with more data than ever before. Autonomous technologies, including drones and other robotics, provide a wide range of benefits:
- Increased safety – A drone can go in to inspect a hazardous leak, or provide surveys of areas damaged in a storm, to inform response.
- Speed – Machines can cover more ground than field teams allowing for more inspections with less inspectors.
- Cost savings – One device can be used for multiple purposes and missions. Additionally, an increased frequency in inspections can spot issues before they escalate into problems.
There are key challenges to the implementation of autonomous solutions, with the primary issue being the need for these solutions to be free from foreign influence. Chinese-built technology is advanced and affordable, but presents a safety risk for government. The U.S. needs to build the infrastructure to supply technology of the same high quality and at a comparable price point. Additionally, Federal Aviation Administration regulations need to shift to allow for the expanded use of drone technology.
IoT
The Internet of Things (IoT) is everywhere, including in government. The market for IoT devices within the public sector was valued at $12 billion in 2019. By 2027, this market is projected to reach $30 billion.This growth of devices is a result of agencies’ need to become data-driven and more automated.
IoT is enhancing the delivery of services in a wide variety of areas:
- City infrastructure – Sensors help control streetlights and traffic lights, provide parking availability, and even enable smart waste bins that issue an alert when they need to be emptied.
- Economic planning – The data gathered from IoT devices feed decision-making around programs, policies, and investments. Using IoT to monitor air quality or noise informs city planning and policy.
- Education – IoT security is supporting physical and digital security in schools through the use of real-time monitoring of IP cameras, smart door locks, and GPS trackers.
- Healthcare – The use of wearable technologies has proven to be a game-changer for rural health. Empowering patients to track their health via smart watches and other IP-enabled devices allows for remote monitoring, removing the need to find and travel to specialists located in urban centers.
All of this power does not come without risk. A report found that 20% of all recorded exploitation attempts targeted IoT devices. Organizations need to understand the risks inherent to IoT devices and design security that meets network and device needs.
Quantum Computing
For years, the potential use of quantum technology remained largely confined to research labs and academic institutions. However, the landscape has shifted dramatically with the rise of cloud-based quantum computing. This development has broken down traditional accessibility barriers, empowering a broader community of developers and innovators to explore and build quantum-enabled solutions for defense logistics, transportation coordination, and disaster management. Quantum systems can help train AI models in cost- and energy-efficient ways, building systems that help agencies do more with less staff, and augmenting human work with computational speed.
Preparing for quantum computing requires more than simply waiting for a cryptographically relevant quantum computer to arrive. Agencies must act now by assembling dedicated internal teams, allocating appropriate resources, and realigning their program and change management. They also need to start initiating foundational activities, such as setting up automated inventories, enabling comprehensive cryptographic visibility, and upgrading their hardware, firmware, and software.
2026 and Beyond
We’ll continue tracking advancements and applications in these areas and more. Keep searching through the resources here on GovWhitePapers to stay up to date.
