2026 is expected to be a year when AI agents become a major tailwind for Japanese IT companies. While AI benefits have previously been limited to semiconductor equipment investment sectors, enterprise AI agent services are beginning to contribute substantially to profits. Japanese companies with knowledge of local business practices are expected to have competitive advantages in domain-specific AI agent development for the domestic market.

Since major overseas companies dominate general-purpose generative AI development, Japanese corporate competitiveness remains limited there. However, domain-specific AI agents tailored to particular locations or facilities have lower development costs and greater potential for Japanese advantage. For example, hospitals can automatically compile past medical records when patients arrive, providing practical value. Adding AI agent functionality to business support SaaS applications like accounting systems can improve usability, driving demand expansion and price increases.

Organizations such as the Nikkei warn that IT services unable to provide AI capabilities face declining competitiveness, with industry bifurcation accelerating. Approximately 10 major firms and category-killer enterprises may see profit rates surge, while IT companies lacking AI expertise face a harsh environment.