Inside the 2026 AI infrastructure trends report: How AI leaders are building the future today

The buzz around AI promises next-level efficiency and transformative innovation. Yet even the most ambitious organizations are finding themselves held back by an undervalued factor: infrastructure. Bottlenecks, ranging from integration woes to support gaps, are increasingly the difference between AI as aspiration and AI as a real-world business advantage. Our latest research uncovers what top builders are doing differently to overcome these roadblocks. 

To get a comprehensive view, we engaged MetaLab to conduct an in-depth, mixed-methods research study that would capture both the breadth and depth of decision-maker experience across industries. 

We heard from over 300 leaders on the front lines of ambitious AI imperatives. The resulting insights are featured in our new 2026 AI infrastructure trends report. Here’s a sneak peek of what we uncovered.

Efficiency is just the starting line

AI is being deployed first to drive operational efficiency, but high performers are using those efficiency gains to free up space for creative ideas and strategic projects. For them, AI is not only about doing more with less, but ultimately about creating an ecosystem where innovation can thrive. 

One respondent captured the sentiment this way: “By automating key aspects of our operations, we’ll be able to drastically reduce inefficiencies and cut down on human error. This will free up our teams to focus on more creative and strategic tasks, leading to faster innovation cycles and better decision-making powered by data-driven insights.”

Infrastructure is the real bottleneck

For many leaders, the complexity of deploying and scaling AI has created frustrating hurdles. Teams describe feeling “locked out” by technical challenges or unsupported by generalized solutions. When infrastructure is intuitive and support is proactive, organizations are able to move from pilot to production with greater confidence and fewer delays.

Teams want full control 

Today’s buyers demand security, reliability, and cost transparency as the minimum bar for cloud providers. But what really stands out is the move toward vertical integration — with teams having direct control over their AI stack. In fact, 98% of decision-makers now rate “complete control” over their own infrastructure as critical for success.

Ease of use and proactive support are now requirements

In our research, ease of use was the most frequently cited experiential gap in hyperscaler solutions, and leaders repeatedly mentioned the need for expert, proactive support. One leader put it simply: “The biggest gap I have with AI cloud providers is the gap between expectations and reality in terms of ease of use and support for specific AI needs.”

Responsible AI and sustainable practices are growing in importance

Responsible AI practices and sustainability may not have been the first filter in the past, but the research shows they’re becoming more important. For digital-native businesses, “responsible AI practices” ranked as the fifth most important attribute when evaluating cloud providers (out of 15 total), while for enterprises, it ranked eighth. Many respondents predict that as their AI initiatives mature, these considerations will become a priority.

Build the future faster

The winners of tomorrow are building differently, starting today. If you want to see how your approach compares (and discover how to address common challenges) download the full 2026 AI infrastructure trends report.