Mitch Ashley, VP and Practice, Software Lifecycle Engineering at Futurum, shares his insights on research showing AI is increasingly embedded across the SDLC and DevOps, with 2026 emphasizing observability, security, behavior control, and governance.
Futurum's Mitch Ashley,
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Mitch Ashley, The Futurum Group, "2026: AI is a Reality in Software Development," December 29, 2025. https://preview.erikbethke.com/press-release/2026-ai-is-a-reality-in-software-development/
Austin, Texas, USA, December 29, 2025
Futurum Research Data Shows AI Is Increasingly Embedded Across Software Development and DevOps Workflows
Futurum Research’s Software Lifecycle Engineering decision-maker data indicate that 46 percent of enterprises are already utilizing AI-powered code transformation technologies, while another 44 percent plan to do so within the next 12 months. This data establishes an apparent reality for 2025 and 2026: AI is a part of how software is built, tested, maintained, and delivered.
“AI is effectively part of our software delivery system,” said Mitch Ashley, VP and Practice Lead for Software Lifecycle Engineering at Futurum. “As AI is increasingly embedded across development and operations, enterprises are raising expectations around reliability, observability, security, and control.”
Buyer responses indicate that AI-powered development and DevOps tools are most heavily utilized in execution-focused functions. Writing new code, testing software, maintaining existing systems, generating fixes, and analyzing test results all rank near the top. This reflects a pragmatic approach. Enterprises are prioritizing AI where it reduces friction, shortens cycles, and improves consistency across the software lifecycle.
Figure 1: Where AI Tools Are Applied in Software Development
For enterprise leaders, 2026 will be defined by how effectively AI is operationalized across software delivery without increasing risk or complexity. Organizations must ensure AI-driven work remains observable, testable, and governed across development and operations. For vendors, differentiation will depend on demonstrating that AI can reliably participate in end-to-end delivery workflows at scale.
“By 2026, the conversation shifts from whether teams can build agents to how those agents are operated. AWS, Google, Microsoft, and leading DevOps and software development vendors are embedding observability and security directly into the AI development lifecycle.”
Read more in the State of the Market Report: Software Lifecycle Engineering, Q4 2025 and Futurum Signal Software Development Platforms – September 2025 reports on the Futurum Intelligence Platform.
About Futurum Intelligence for Market Leaders
Futurum Intelligence’s Software Lifecycle Engineering IQ service provides actionable insight from analysts, reports, and interactive visualization datasets, helping leaders drive their organizations through transformation and business growth. Subscribers can log into the platform at https://app.futurumgroup.com/, and non-subscribers can find additional information at Futurum Intelligence.
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