KPMG: Philadelphia Leaders Prioritize AI, Tech Investment and Talent for 2026

KPMG LLP released the "KPMG 2026 Perspectives: Local Insights from Philadelphia" report on February 16, 2026, following a survey of senior business leaders in the greater Philadelphia region that focused on planned investments, hiring intentions and how local organizations view the role of AI.

KPMG's supplied assets include a summation that "KPMG data shows tech executives expect a sharp move from pilots to ROI in the next year: Eighty-eight percent of organizations are already embedding AI agents into their workflows, products and value streams. High performers expect about half of their tech teams to be permanent human staff by 2027. This signals a future where small, durable human cores orchestrate large AI-augmented ecosystems."

The materials make clear that the Philadelphia study surveyed senior business leaders in greater Philadelphia, but the assets that present the 88 percent and the "half of their tech teams" projection are labeled as "KPMG data" in the provided materials and are not explicitly tied to the Philadelphia-only survey. The Philadelphia report excerpt supplied does not include a local numeric breakdown beyond the study scope description.

KPMG's guidance for tech leaders in the supplied assets is prescriptive and detailed. "The adoption curve will be uneven. Some organizations may chase hype and overbuild. Others may miss compounding returns by waiting for 'perfect' tech. The path that wins is practical: many small bets, ruthless [...] decisions grounded in maturity assessments and external benchmarks, while continuously tracking and forecasting performance. Ensure KPIs are aligned with today’s technology landscape and reflect the need for new approaches." The assets also recommend: "Build in adaptability through frameworks and culture. Streamline decision-making, and pivot if tools are superseded. Build adaptable teams and an innovative culture that can support this ethos." They add, "Build a future-ready, agent-empowered workforce. Redesign a talent strategy that is focused on upskilling, building AI fluency, and cultivating the next generation of leaders who can effectively use, manage, and master AI." Finally, the guidance includes: "Adopt an AI-first, trust-by-design mindset. Begin every design and [...] These trends call for strategic foresight, ethical frameworks and a rethinking of how intelligence itself integrates with society, economics and human purpose. Leaders must consider how to position their organization to not just adapt, but to lead responsibly in a world where machine intelligence becomes a core driver of value, strategy and societal progress."

On emerging technologies, the Philadelphia assets retain cautionary language about quantum computing: "Although it is unclear when stable, functional quantum computers will be available, the technology is rapidly advancing. Quantum has the potential to significantly accelerate AI model training, expediting development cycles to create more robust problem-solving capabilities. However, quantum also presents new security threats, such as"

KPMG's broader findings stress constraints Philadelphia firms will recognize: "Tech debt, cost pressures and talent shortages are holding many back from realizing their tech goals" and "With the fast pace of innovation, tech plans are often obsolete before implementation." Guy Holland, Global Leader, CIO Center of Excellence, KPMG International, captures the global framing: "Adoption is rapid, but returns vary widely, shaped by factors that include diligent governance, execution discipline, and organizational agility. Against this backdrop, static planning is becoming obsolete. To thrive, organizations need adaptive strategies that embrace flexibility and speed."

For context, KPMG's global report referenced in the assets is titled "KPMG Global tech report 2026, Leading in the Intelligence Age: Excelling today, shaping tomorrow" and is based on a survey of 2,500 tech executives from 27 countries, with 43 percent from EMEA, 29 percent from ASPAC and 28 percent from the Americas.

Unresolved items for local reporters and Philadelphia leaders include whether the 88 percent AI-agents figure and the "half of tech teams human by 2027" forecast derive from the Philadelphia survey or broader KPMG datasets, the Philadelphia survey's sample size and sectoral breakdown, and the full unredacted text for truncated guidance lines. Requesting the full Philadelphia report and methodology from KPMG LLP will be necessary to confirm local-level statistics and to identify any Philadelphia case studies or leader quotes referenced in the local study.