Trends in technology: Lighthouses and the agentic revolution3 Lighthouses are leading the shift from digital enablement to AI-native enterprises, embedding agentic intelligence across factories and value chains Lighthouses are leading in AI deployment, boosting integration of analytical AI and machine learning across top use cases and rapidly adopting generative AI. They are also pioneering the shift from “smart factories” to self-learning, adaptive and autonomous “cognitive factories” powered by advanced AI technologies, including AI agents. Furthermore, they are redefining global value chains, evolving from digitally-native to AI-native organizations operating as “cognitive networks”. 3.1 Mastering AI adoption: from hype to scalable assets Navigating the S-curve of AI adoption Lighthouses remain at the forefront of AI deployment, with a growing share of their top-five use cases powered by advanced AI capabilities. Under an updated classification methodology, analytical AI and machine learning account for roughly 62% of Lighthouse solutions in 2025, reflecting continued deep adoption across core operations. At the same time, the use of GenAI has accelerated sharply, reaching 23% of top-five solutions in 2025, up from 9% in the prior year. AI agents are also beginning to emerge, enabling 5% of solutions in 2025 (Figure 19). Despite the inherent costs and complexities, Lighthouses are adeptly navigating the S-curve of AI adoption – a journey from initial hype, through a valley of uncertainty, to the reality of sustained value.Lighthouses build from a foundation of hyper- connectivity, developing advanced AI solutions on top of optimized processes and information flows. As feedback loops are closed and capabilites advance, Lighthouses deploy flagship solutions, such as autonomous process control, where technology safely manages higher-risk tasks (Figure 18). Starting domain-first, typically with two to three focus areas, they manage change, capture synergies and uncover value aligned to risk. As process AI tools mature, implementation accelerates, giving organizations deeper visibility into workflows and intervention points. By embedding generative AI directly into core workflows, Lighthouses achieve measurable gains in speed, accuracy and efficiency. This shift to AI-native systems shows the power of technology when it is designed to augment, not replace, the people at the heart of operations. Global Lighthouse Network: Rewiring Operations for Resilience and Impact at Scale 29

Global Lighthouse Network 2026