In 2026, the venture capital landscape is anticipated to shift significantly as investors focus on achieving measurable returns from artificial intelligence investments. The recent surge in spending on generative AI tools has led to increased revenue for companies providing solutions across various sectors, including coding and customer service, but this trend may face scrutiny as enterprises seek tangible value from their expenditures.
Venky Ganesan from Menlo Ventures emphasized that the upcoming year will challenge AI companies to deliver results or risk facing difficulties in software renewals and fundraising efforts. A survey conducted by Business Insider among 18 venture capital firms, such as Khosla Ventures and Sapphire Ventures, revealed insights into anticipated tech trends for 2026.
Cathy Gao, a partner at Sapphire Ventures, suggested that AI agents will increasingly function as junior staff members with specific responsibilities, transforming the business model to one that compensates based on completed tasks rather than mere access. Meanwhile, Lindsey Li from Bessemer Venture Partners predicted a rise in specialized agents aimed at improving the quality of AI-generated code, which has often been problematic.
Additionally, Tomasz Tunguz of Theory Ventures noted that future white-collar workers are expected to manage numerous AI agents, while Brian Bustamante-Nicholson from Greycroft pointed out that AI's influence is enhancing efficiency in consumer sectors through the integration of smaller, more capable teams.