Stanford AI Index Report finds AI capability accelerating with over 90% of notable frontier models produced in 2025, several meeting or exceeding human baselines

**What's reported**: The 2026 Stanford AI Index Report indicates AI capability is not plateauing but accelerating. Over 90% of notable frontier models were produced in 2025, and several now meet or exceed human baselines on multiple tasks including PhD-level science questions.

**Adoption trend**: Four out of five university students are using generative AI, reflecting widespread adoption of AI tools across educational settings.

**Industry impact**: The report reveals AI advancement is creating upheaval in job markets and changing how companies perceive workforce needs, particularly as agentic systems (AI that autonomously completes tasks) become more capable.