A new report from SolarWinds finds that artificial intelligence is reshaping IT roles, with 80% of professionals reporting a shift away from hands-on operations toward overseeing automated systems and workflows.

IT practitioners are increasingly taking on orchestration responsibilities as organizations expand their use of AI-driven tools and automation, according to the 2026 SolarWinds IT Trends Report: The Human Side of Autonomous IT. The findings are based on a survey of 1,048 IT professionals examining the benefits and challenges of AI adoption in enterprise environments.

“Eight out of 10 IT practitioners agree that technical staff are moving from being operators to being orchestrators—less time executing tasks, more time governing the systems, workflows, and AI tools that execute on their behalf,” the report states.

The gap between perception and experience

The report identifies a disconnect between executive leadership and technical staff on AI readiness. Nearly half (47%) of C-suite respondents say their organizations are “extremely prepared” for AI-driven changes, compared with 13% of technical contributors.

At the same time, respondents report measurable benefits from AI in day-to-day IT operations:

• 65% cite reduced manual effort
• 61% report faster root-cause analysis
• 49% say AI improves decision-making confidence

Yet those gains are accompanied by increased demands. Seventy-one percent of respondents say AI has made their roles more demanding, driven in part by the need to verify AI-generated outputs and manage associated risks. And trust remains a key issue. The report finds that 71% of IT professionals need to double-check AI outputs, while 62% report difficulty trusting AI recommendations. AI adoption also varies across organizations. Half of respondents (34% somewhat, 16% fully) say their organizations have embraced AI, while 37% report resistance, often tied to infrastructure, budget, or complexity challenges.

The report indicates that IT roles are becoming more strategic and automation-driven, with 52% of respondents citing increases in both areas. Roles are also becoming more cross-functional (47%) and complex (41%), reflecting the integration of AI into broader business processes. AI is also affecting how IT teams allocate time. Respondents report spending more time on proactive activities such as strategizing and analyzing system performance, while some reactive tasks, including troubleshooting incidents, are decreasing.

Governance, training, and data challenges

The report highlights several areas organizations must address to support AI adoption. More than half of respondents (56%) say clearer AI policies and guardrails would help them adapt, while 50% point to the need for formal training.

Data quality is also a key factor. Eighty-three percent of respondents say AI effectiveness depends on the breadth and quality of the data available to it. Respondents also cite issues such as tool fragmentation and lack of integration as barriers to effective AI use.

Respondents said they expect AI and automation to play a larger role in IT operations. More than three-quarters (77%) say their organizations will become more proactive over the next two to three years, supported by increased automation and data-driven insights. At the same time, organizations expect to encounter challenges, including skills gaps, governance requirements, and ensuring the accuracy and reliability of AI-driven systems.

“AI is not making IT simpler—it’s making it more consequential,” said Krishna Sai, chief technology officer at SolarWinds, in a statement. “The teams thriving in this environment are not usually the ones with the most AI tools. Instead, those who are building the governance and structure to actually trust them are seeing the greatest results.”