The 2026 ‘AI in Software Engineering Report’ with Insights from 100+ Engineering & Technology Leaders
What’s inside the report
What’s driving investment and where Engineering teams are focusing it.
Quantifying the real effectiveness of AI (beyond the hype).
The three emerging archetypes of AI maturity & strategic approach.
Learn why AI tooling alone doesn’t eliminate tech debt
Talent, culture, and the evolving role of the engineer.
Emerging trends and how to future proof your strategy.
Find out for free. Fill in your details below for access.
Insights derived from 100+ CTOs and technology leaders
21
%
Have an AI strategy
Yet it’s the #1 predictor of real success. Learn how to develop a strategy that works for your tech stack and team.
60
%
Aren’t building tooling capability
Most leaders aren’t building internal capability for R&D, PoCs, MVPs and internal tools. The largest, identified areas of value.
83
%
Aren’t capturing AI metrics
Most engineering leaders aren’t tracking AI effectiveness. Learn how to measure it and which metrics really matter.
52
%
Shadow AI usage
Leaders who aren’t reacting to emerging trends risk compliance problems down the line.
8/10
Strategic importance rating
Leaders see AI as critical to their competitiveness moving forward though have little information on how best to use it.
43
%
Report disappointing quality
Low-quality output regularly comes up as a frustration of AI, with many businesses not providing guidance on usage.
Learn how to drive higher velocity in your engineering team
Every software engineering team is using AI, but the gap between experimentation and real value is widening. Here’s a look into what top-performing teams are doing differently.
Leaders are overestimating the power of AI. Ensure your rollout is grounded in data, not just optimism
Your AI rollout might be failing while you think it is flying. We have uncovered a startling trend where leaders are consistently overvaluing their progress. This optimism bias was once thought to be just an engineering problem, but our data shows it has now infected the boardroom.
Find out what is really happening behind the hype in our latest report.
About HI Technology & Innovation
We bring expertise from leading tech companies to provide end-to-end technology support, from strategy through to implementation. Some clients partner with us on specific projects, while others rely on us for broader initiatives that drive strategic impact.
Our mission is to bring that mindset to everyone else. By fostering a culture of entrepreneurialism at all levels, we help unlock unimagined possibilities in both people and businesses, driving greater innovation and delivering better outcomes.
Get your copy of the report
Get the report, plus practical guidance to accelerate AI adoption in your software engineering team and access data-backed guidance on how to turn AI adoption into measurable delivery outcomes.