By Danyelle C. Overbo
Content Marketing Manager, Group-Q
2026 has arrived, and it’s going to be a big year. In many ways, it’s already hitting the ground running, whether we were ready for it or not. Gone are the days when we could count on January to be nice and quiet while we all catch up from the holiday season’s celebrations.
The initial frenzy around AI is changing. The language services industry has embraced this technology, and our use of it has matured into more strategic, nuanced, and cautious adoption. The possibilities are becoming realities, but how do we see those realities settling into our day-to-day work in 2026?
We looked at what others expect to happen in the coming year and spoke with our own team at Group-Q. We’ve come up with five predictions that we think will likely inform global business as we march on into 2026. And while no one can really predict the future, we hope these 2026 insights will help steer the conversations we are having about AI, moving from what it can do to what it should be doing, and where human judgment remains irreplaceable.
✳️ Prediction #1: The AI Recoil: Pushback Against Over-Reliance Goes Mainstream
The promises of AI increasing efficiency, improving customer experiences, and cutting down on costs are now being weighed against tangible risks to quality of service, security, and ethics. In 2026, we expect pushback against the unchecked adoption of newer, and in some cases untested, technologies.
Our Strategic Advisor, Joe DiDamo, observes, “I believe there will be more unrest and, to a certain extent, a rejection of AI functionality. A backlash. There is already evidence of this, and I believe it will gain more momentum in our industry and beyond.”
This sentiment isn’t without precedent. MultiLingual reported that groups like France’s Société française des traducteurs (SFT) and the UK’s Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI) published official warnings against over-reliance on AI in 2024.
“That’s why it’s so important to find partners you can trust to guide you through the adoption process,” Joe explains.
✳️ Prediction #2: Governance and Cybersecurity Become Top Priorities in AI Adoption
In their 2026 Predictions Guide, Forrester expects ungoverned genAI in commercial apps to cost B2B companies over $10 billion this year, in the form of stock value loss, legal settlements, and fines. AI governance and transparency will be essential for reducing risk and increasing buyer trust in language services.
Concurrently, cybersecurity investments will also spike. Per Google Cloud’s Cybersecurity Forecast for 2026, “Generative AI is expected to be fully leveraged by both attackers and defenders, noticeably transforming the cyber threat landscape by enhancing the speed, scope, and effectiveness of operations.”
We predict that more businesses will realize how critical these functions are, and that AI governance and cybersecurity working hand in hand will become foundational requirements for anyone utilizing AI.
✳️ Prediction #3: The “Human-in-the-Loop” (HITL): More Essential Than Ever
We’ve always believed that humans play a crucial role in the future of translation, but this is the year we will see that role expand. The narrative of AI replacing humans will give way to the more nuanced – and more practical – framework of AI augmenting humans. Additionally, human experts will be empowered to engage meaningfully across more service channels. CSA Research predicts that spoken-language interactions will “require continuity of knowledge across channels, blurring boundaries between interpreting, translation, and CX platforms.”
The better the engagement, the more competitive advantage you will have. A recent PwC Customer Experience Survey found that 58% of consumers say they’re only somewhat or not at all comfortable with using AI tools to engage with brands. To build trust, human involvement is key.
✳️ Prediction #4: Industry Consolidation Accelerates, Driven by Adoption and Innovation
Our own M&A Advisory expert, Scott Spitzer, anticipates that AI innovation will catalyze further market consolidation and dealmaking. He explains, “The pace of consolidation and change in the language services industry will increase during 2026 due to the rapid growth of and improvements in AI. A premium will be placed on those companies that can adapt, broaden, and enhance their service offerings to meet these changes and related customer expectations.”
The most prepared businesses will be those that view AI as a catalyst for innovation and strategic realignment toward an AI-native world.
✳️ Predication #5: Individual Empowerment and Wisdom Rule the Day
Alex Kantrowitz at Big Technology said it best in his recent piece, AI and the Age of Individual Empowerment, “As organizations lag and individuals jump on [AI adoption], an age of individual empowerment, where those who master the tools outpace their peers and employers, seems to be arriving.” We agree.
In the language services industry, we foresee AI democratization changing how LSPs operate. Purposeful, strategic use by specialized experts will guide clients toward authentic, brand-safe global engagement. The focus will be on language service providers (LSPs) who can deliver subject-matter accuracy and cultural relevance, transforming knowledge workers with specific disciplines into more productive and impactful partners. AI will amplify individual judgment, creativity, and specialized expertise.
Clear the Hurdles to Growth in 2026 with Group-Q
We trust these predictions leave you energized to face the road ahead in 2026, open to new possibilities. Even though we need to be cautious as AI technology matures, there is still a lot of exciting potential to tap into, and success requires us to be bold.
If you are looking for a partner in building a roadmap to clear these hurdles (navigating AI recoil, harnessing the power of human-AI models, and everything in between), Group-Q’s team of strategic advisors is here to help. Ready to move from prediction to performance? Let’s talk! Book a free consultation with us to begin.
