Wheelhouse Advisors Finds AI Agents in GRC but Full Autonomy Not Yet Achieved
News related to:Wheelhouse Advisors · 2 min read
ATLANTA, Oct. 7, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Wheelhouse Advisors, a global independent research and advisory firm, has released findings that artificial intelligence (AI) agents are now in production at customers of a few governance, risk and compliance (GRC) providers. However, no provider has yet achieved full autonomy in AI agents executing across all four GRC solution areas, according to the firm's latest report.
It projects the GRC segment, including technology and related services, to grow from $17.2 billion in 2026 to $35.8 billion in 2033, with a compound annual growth rate of 11.1 percent. GRC is the second-largest segment within the broader integrated risk management (IRM) market, which is projected to reach $159.4 billion by 2033.
Wheelhouse defines "Agentic GRC" as AI agents that govern compliance workflows, such as gathering evidence, executing control tests, mapping obligations, and triaging cases. "Autonomous IRM" refers to agents operating across the full Performance, Resilience, Assurance, and Compliance architecture with independent verification.
The report highlights that while AI agents are executing compliance work, they are not yet fully autonomous. The findings suggest that while AI is making inroads, it is still largely in a supportive role rather than a fully autonomous one.
The report also sizes the GRC segment at $17.2 billion in 2026, with a forecasted growth to $35.8 billion by 2033. It identifies Archer, Diligent, Riskonnect, and ServiceNow as 2026-2027 Technology Market Leaders, and PwC and Accenture as Services Market Leaders. The firm's research covers 33 providers, including both technology and services providers, all constituents of the 2026-2027 IRM50.
Wheelhouse's research also includes a VC Sonar section, which evaluates ten providers outside the IRM50 with verifiable autonomous capability. These providers are placed in three tiers based on a combined score weighted 60 percent to Solution Coverage and 40 percent to Level of Integration. The report is available for purchase on the Wheelhouse Advisors website.
The findings underscore the ongoing evolution of GRC technology and the increasing role of AI in compliance and risk management. While the technology is advancing, the industry is still grappling with the question of full autonomy and the verification of AI agents' work.