Tech Jargon Businesses Need to Know in 2026

Discover the key AI and cybersecurity terms businesses need to know in 2026 to stay secure, competitive, and future‑ready.

By Juliet Moran

Technology is advancing at an unprecedented pace. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing businesses in many ways, and cyber threats are growing more sophisticated. Businesses of all sizes are being forced into rethinking how they protect their data and operations. In today's constantly evolving environment, businesses need to understand the language of AI and cybersecurity to stay ahead.

AI-Related Terms You’ll Hear a Lot This Year

AI is transforming economies, industries, and daily life. Almost one in four UK businesses are now using some form of AI – up from just one in ten two years ago. Small and medium-sized businesses are taking to AI at an even faster rate – 35% of UK SMEs report using AI.

Here are some key terms behind AI tools that you’ll need to know in 2026:

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial intelligence (AI) is an umbrella term. It refers to a range of strategies and techniques designed to make machines act more like humans. AI in business can refer to platforms such as a customer service chatbot or a data analysis tool. In daily life, you might already use AI technology. Smart gadgets, speakers, and robot vacuum cleaners are all examples of AI.

Machine Learning

There’s a high chance your business already uses machine learning (ML), even if you aren’t familiar with the term. Machine learning, put simply, is a type of AI that doesn’t need programming. Instead, computers learn from data and identify patterns. They then use this to make predictions or decisions. Targeted advertising and email spam filtering are examples of machine learning in action. ML learns from experience and improves performance over time.

Generative AI

Generative AI are systems which create new and original content. They do this by learning patterns from existing data. You’re probably already familiar with large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. These are examples of generative AI. Studies have also shown that generative AI can increase efficiency and productivity. Average productivity gains ranging from 5% to over 25% have been found in customer support, software development, and consulting teams.

AI Agents

AI agents are designed to perform complex tasks that require minimal human input. Think of them as virtual coworkers. AI agents can plan, use external tools, learn from experience, and adapt strategies. AI agents are used in business to enhance productivity. But they can also reduce operational costs. Customer service chatbots and data analysis tools are two common examples of AI agents in action.

Responsible AI

Responsible AI is the focus placed on AI systems to be ethical, safe, and trustworthy. Adopting responsible AI practices is crucial to building trust with your customers and employees. 60% of business executives say responsible AI can boost ROI and efficiency. While 55% report they’ve seen improvements in customer experience and innovation.

Security Terms You Need to Know in 2026

Cybercrime and the threat it poses to businesses should also be a top priority this year. 2025 was a challenging year for cybersecurity, and several large UK companies faced a wave of cyber attacks. Four in ten UK businesses overall reported experiencing some form of cyber breach or attack over the past 12 months – with an estimated 612,000 businesses affected.

High-profile attacks on Marks and Spencer and Co-Op attracted the headlines. But SMEs are increasingly targeted as well. Smaller businesses often lack the dedicated security teams that large companies have. This can lead to cyber criminals viewing SMEs as a “quick win”. SMEs can be vulnerable, and in the past year, 42% of small businesses reported an attack.

Understanding these cybersecurity terms is going to be crucial for businesses in 2026:

Preemptive Cybersecurity

Preemptive cybersecurity uses AI to predict and prevent attacks before they happen. It’s a proactive approach to security. Abnormal login behaviour, suspicious file activity, or unusually large data downloads are some of the things it can detect. AI is making cyberattacks a lot more sophisticated, meaning preemptive security measures are fast becoming essential. It’s predicted that preemptive cybersecurity will make up 50% of IT security spending by 2030. A huge increase from 2024 when spending less than 5%.

Zero-Trust Security

Zero-trust security requires strict authentication for every user and device. As the name suggests, zero-trust security trusts no one. Every access request is strictly verified on factors like identity and device health. It’s a strong measure you can put in place to strengthen your organisation's security. Research shows 63% of companies worldwide use a zero-trust strategy.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Multi-factor authentication adds extra layers of security beyond just a password. It usually requires two or more verification types to allow user access. Passwords alone are becoming insufficient as phishing attacks become more sophisticated. MFA is a simple and cost-effective security solution that any business can implement. 87% of large companies use MFA. But only 34% of small and medium-sized businesses are estimated to use it. This highlights an area where smaller organisations could improve their security.

Staying Ahead in 2026

As technology evolves, so too will the terminology that surrounds it. Understanding technology terms helps your business make smarter decisions and get the most out of new technologies.

About the author

Juliet Moran is the founder and technical director at TelephoneSystems.Cloud, an ethical provider of cloud phone systems for UK business. With over 25 years of experience, their cloud-based technology has been developed specifically for the UK, ensuring UK businesses are a priority and that it meets UK legislation, compliance and security.