AI dominated the conversation in 2025, CIOs shift gears in 2026

The more AI scales, the more governance matters. In 2026, successful CIOs will build guardrails into every intelligent system. This means moving away from retrofitting rules after the fact, and instead embedding governance by design – from the very beginning of deployment. That includes audit trails, escalation rules, and privacy protocols, all built into the user journey through intuitive, adaptable frameworks. Proper escalation and human-in-the-loop models will be essential, alongside data stewardship – knowing where data is stored, how it’s accessed, and ensuring privacy by design.

Governance isn’t a drag on progress; it’s the foundation of trust. Low-code platforms are emerging as powerful enablers in this shift. They don’t just speed up development – they allow CIOs to embed controls directly into the build process. This approach supports the democratisation of development, empowering teams to iterate, improve, and scale quickly, without compromising on oversight.

That means compliance can’t be tacked on later; it must be built in from the start. This accelerates delivery while reassuring regulators, customers, and internal teams alike. This shift will ensure that automation supports human judgement, not overrides it – building systems people trust, not just systems that work.