Our partner community, the AI Leaders Council, recently released the 2026 Corporate AI Outlook Study, which examines how organizations across North America are adopting and scaling artificial intelligence. While the study includes perspectives from technology and executive leadership, many of the findings are especially relevant for COOs and operations leaders.

Across the survey, AI adoption is increasingly concentrated in operational functions. This reflects a broader shift. AI is moving out of experimental environments and into the workflows that directly affect efficiency, throughput, and service delivery.

Operations leads AI adoption growth

Survey results show that operations is the business function most frequently expected to see increased AI adoption in 2026. This signals growing confidence that AI can support measurable improvements in execution.

Operations teams often manage high-volume, process-driven work where small efficiency gains can compound quickly. AI applications that automate tasks, improve scheduling, optimize resource allocation, or reduce manual handoffs tend to deliver value faster in these environments than in more abstract use cases.

Productivity gains are shaping AI priorities

The study also shows that workforce productivity and operational efficiency are the top business objectives organizations expect AI to support in 2026. For COOs, this aligns directly with performance mandates.

Rather than focusing on experimentation or long-term transformation alone, many organizations are using AI to improve how work gets done today. This includes reducing cycle times, improving forecast accuracy, enhancing visibility into performance metrics, and supporting frontline teams with better decision tools.

Execution discipline determines success

AI adoption in operations requires more than deploying software. It depends on integration with existing processes, training teams to use new tools effectively, and ensuring data quality supports reliable outputs.

COOs who approach AI as part of continuous improvement efforts, rather than as a standalone initiative, are better positioned to achieve sustained results. Aligning AI initiatives with operational KPIs and accountability structures helps ensure that adoption translates into real performance gains.

Preparing operations teams for scale

As AI adoption expands, operational leadership will increasingly shape whether gains remain localized or scale across the organization. Standardization, documentation, and cross-functional coordination become essential.

The 2026 Corporate AI Outlook Study from the AI Leaders Council provides deeper insight into how organizations are applying AI across operations and planning for growth. Download the full report to benchmark how operations leaders are using AI to drive performance in 2026.