Human expertise rivals genAI for buyers in 2026

3.4 significance by Forrester Business December 2026

Why does it matter?

Human experts staying valuable would temper the idea that AI alone can carry complex B2B buying decisions.

Direct quote

Human expertise will rival genAI in appeal as buyers seek deeper validation. In 2025, 30% of all buyers viewed genAI tools as a meaningful interaction type during the final commit stage of their purchase, compared to just 17% who said the same about interacting with product experts.

Forrester