Knowledge automation, powered by AI systems that not only retrieve information but also act on it autonomously, is fundamentally changing information work. For many information professionals, 2026 will be the year these systems move from experimental to operational.
Below are three things information professionals need to know about knowledge automation and how it’s poised to reshape their roles this year.
1. Information Work Is Transitioning from Retrieval to Orchestration
Across industries, knowledge workers are moving from executing tasks to managing AI agents that handle work autonomously. What does this look like in practice? According to Google Cloud’s 2026 report, more than 57,000 team members at Telus are saving 40 minutes per AI interaction, while Suzano achieved a 95% reduction in query time across 50,000 employees. Similar transformations are happening in corporate libraries, research institutions, and legal information departments.
With this change, information professionals are moving from work as information retrievers and organizers to what IBM refers to as “agent managers.” According to the company’s analysis, knowledge workers in 2026 will spend more time directing AI agents rather than executing tasks themselves. Expertise in information architecture, taxonomy, classification systems, and knowledge management will become the foundation on which these autonomous systems will depend.
2. Information Governance Has Become a Strategic Asset
AI systems are being used increasingly to generate and compose information. Where did this information come from, and how do organizations prove its authenticity? These essential questions have elevated information governance and data management from operational necessities to strategic differentiators. Research firm Zinnov reports that AI risk governance is a top priority for 68% of enterprise leaders, while 72% believe that this year’s defining AI challenges will be regulatory compliance and data sovereignty.
This is where information professionals have a decisive advantage. To build trustworthy AI systems, organizations will need team members with expertise in information governance, including metadata standards, provenance tracking, records management, classification systems, and intellectual property and usage rights management.
In “Annual Information Industry Outlook 2026,” published by Outsell, Inc., the top AI risk for 58% of CEOs is IP exposure, and providers “with rights-cleared, traceable, and explainable data will command premium pricing.” Organizations with robust information governance frameworks and clear audit trails will win market share. Those without will face compliance issues and erosion of institutional trust.
3. Multi-Agent Systems Require New Skills (and Open New Career Paths)
The AI ecosystem is evolving beyond single chatbots to interconnected multi-agent systems that handle end-to-end workflows. Analysis from Gartner reveals a 1,445% surge in multi-agent system inquiries from the first quarter of 2024 to the second quarter of 2025. Meanwhile, automation platform UiPath’s trends report shows that 78% of executives say a new operating model is required to capture the full value of agentic AI.
This evolution demands skill sets that go beyond traditional information management. The market now values prompt engineering, AI governance, agent workflow design, and cross-functional collaboration. AIIM’s 2026 summit focuses on helping information professionals develop these capabilities, while Computers in Libraries now positions prompt engineering as a “necessary skill” for librarians and information professionals.
The opportunity is substantial, with the agentic AI platform market projected to expand at a 40–50% compound annual growth rate through 2030, per Outsell’s industry outlook. Organizations are actively seeking professionals who understand both AI systems and the fundamentals of information quality, governance, taxonomy, and knowledge management.
What This Means for Info Pros
Knowledge automation ultimately makes the expertise of information professionals more valuable. As AI agents become standard infrastructure, organizations will need team members who understand both the technology and the core principles of information management: accuracy, provenance, classification, governance, and trust.
The information professionals who thrive in 2026 will be those who bridge the gap between AI capability and information integrity while positioning themselves as essential guides during the transition to knowledge automation.