We know AI feels like a buzzword we’re all tired of hearing, but it’s not going anywhere. Looking ahead to 2026, we wanted to share some predictions from a recent Gartner study that may impact your law practice.
Gartner predicts a sweeping transformation across industries as generative AI (GenAI) and AI agents reshape how organizations work, hire, and interact with clients. By 2027, AI adoption will create the first true challenge to mainstream productivity tools in decades, triggering a $58 billion market shift.
Here are some key projections from the article:
- AI skills as a hiring baseline: 75% of hiring processes will include AI proficiency testing; yet 50% of companies will also implement “AI-free” reasoning assessments to preserve human judgment.
- Regional fragmentation: 35% of countries will operate region-specific AI ecosystems due to regulation and data-sovereignty concerns.
- Multi-agent systems: By 2028, organizations using AI agents for 80% of customer interactions will dominate their industries.
- AI-driven B2B commerce: 90% of B2B buying may occur through AI intermediaries, managing $15 trillion in spend.
- AI litigation risk: “Death-by-AI” legal claims could surpass 2,000 by 2026, driving tighter regulation and compliance mandates.
- Programmable money: By 2030, 20% of monetary transactions may embed machine-to-machine terms, enabling autonomous financial operations.
Why it matters (for the legal community)
- Compliance & liability: As AI becomes more common in complex settings, firms will see new opportunities to guide clients through emerging product liability and governance questions.
- Talent & credentialing: Expect more conversations around AI skills, ethical-use guidelines, and thoughtful safeguards to help teams use automation responsibly.
- Jurisdictional complexity: Region-specific AI tools will introduce fresh cross-border compliance considerations. It’s a great chance for practitioners to shine as frameworks evolve.
- Contracting & commerce: With more programmable transactions and AI-driven agreements, lawyers can help shape contracts that reflect autonomous decision making and modern verification needs.
- Corporate governance: Boards and regulators will look for clearer documentation around AI oversight, opening ongoing advisory opportunities in risk, audit, and transparency.
What are your thoughts on these predictions? Is there anything else you anticipate seeing in 2026? Let’s talk about it!
