Time and technology wait for no one. In 2026, what has been a somewhat relentless pace is likely to intensify.
The hype around artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to give way to pragmatism. We're at a point in the arc where outlandish claims need to be backed up with proof of concept.
In other news, automakers could move toward breaking their dependence on technology companies by building their own capabilities. The Ford-backed company Rivian represents something of an early move in this direction.
This is also the year that AI and related changes become more intertwined with our lives. Can governments, laws, safety and regulations respond?
Trustworthy AI?
Next-generation AI models from Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic are scheduled to be released this year. Nvidia, AMD, and others are working on their next chips. These partners are spending billions of dollars in circular investments to support each other, but demand for power and water from data centers around the world will increase. Meanwhile, more companies will reassign specific functions to their algorithms.
What's next?
Norms about what “good” or “trustworthy” AI should look like have not yet been established. Currently, AI companies rely on self-regulation, which we know rarely works. Because, at best, there is no consensus on where the boundaries are or should be (and at worst, there is little or no regulation across the board).
“Ethics needs to become an engineering theme in 2026,” said Mark Roberts of consulting firm Capgemini's AI Futures Lab, when releasing a report on trends to watch next year.
Of course, this will be very important. Globally, there is little sound AI regulation. As with many other regulations in the world of technology regulation, the European Union is leading the way. The EU AI Law (2024), the world's first comprehensive law on AI, aims to implement new rules in stages and is likely to continue to evolve, potentially providing a broad template for other companies to follow.
Rise of the “superphone”
Don't look now, but smartphones are changing.
2026 could usher in the era of supersmartphones, defined not necessarily by processing power but by their multifaceted utility.
Samsung's upcoming trifold phone, the Galaxy Z TriFold, is essentially a foldable tablet with all the bells and whistles of a display. Apple is expected to launch its first foldable iPhone this year, marking a new chapter for the tech giant.
Oppo and Hasselblad's teleconverter kit for the Find X9 Pro flagship adds a new dimension to photography capabilities, and more phone manufacturers will likely follow suit. Meanwhile, chipmakers Qualcomm and MediaTek continue to enhance their processors for speed, powerful on-device AI, and efficiency. Meanwhile, memory prices are on an upward trajectory thanks to AI purchasing pressure. The next smartphone is expected to be quite expensive.
What's next for Windows 11?
It won't be easy to clean up the mess here.
Regular Windows updates still inexplicably break critical functionality on millions of personal computers. The rush to integrate AI within operating systems is creating friction where none should exist. And millions of users didn't even want such advanced AI on their devices.
Company executives say this is the price of evolution. Users have quipped that Microsoft is evolving into a product that drives people to Macs and Linux. The arrival of the rumored “affordable MacBook” and Google's rapidly evolving Chrome OS could drive even more users away.
New automotive technology giant
The map of where technology meets cars is set to change as Ford-backed EV maker Rivian unveils its own AI chip, a rudimentary “large driving model” and an AI voice assistant.
Tesla may soon no longer be the only technology-first automaker. Rivian may add Level 2 autonomous driving capabilities to future vehicles, including the R2. Its homegrown chip, the Rivian Autonomy Processor (RAP 1), is beating chipmakers like Nvidia at their own game. We expect more automakers to strive for technological sovereignty as well.
