Top 10 Predictions For 2026 Technology Magazine

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Dec 7, 2025, 12:55 PM

top 10 predictions for 2026 technology magazine

As 2025 draws to a close, the business and technology landscape is being redefined by a powerful mix of innovation and disruption. Gen AI, for example, continues to mature, evolving from creative companion to strategic co-pilot as organisations unlock efficiencies once buried in complexity. Sustainability is a key influence on tech trends, with it shifting from compliance-driven to growth-focused, now deeply embedded in the design and training of AI systems. As well as this, quantum computing is edging closer to practical reality. To wrap up 2025, Technology Magazine lays out the defining trends set to shape 2026 – and beyond. Company in focus: ServiceNowCEO: Bill McDermottFounded: 2004

AI-driven vertical platforms are set to transform enterprise workflows in 2026. ServiceNow’s AI Platform has evolved beyond workflow automation into an orchestration hub, integrating intelligence and real-time data across domains like IT, HR and customer service. Its AI Agent Fabric and Orchestrator allow organisations to deploy domain-specific agents, automate complex tasks and bridge previously unconnected systems. As 2025 draws to a close, the buzz around 2026 is intensifying. From revolutionary AI advancements and Apple’s game-changing product launches to economic booms driven by tech investments and landmark global events like the FIFA World Cup, the coming year promises to reshape our world. This blog post dives into the top 10 predictions for 2026, blending technology trends, AI innovations, Apple rumors, economic forecasts, and major global news.

Whether you’re a tech enthusiast, investor, or news junkie, these insights—drawn from expert analyses and recent reports—will keep you ahead of the curve. Let’s explore what 2026 has in store. In 2026, AI agents are expected to become the new normal, seamlessly integrating into daily routines for tasks like scheduling, shopping, and even decision-making. Experts predict that small language models (SLMs) will dominate enterprise applications, making AI more efficient and accessible. This shift could revolutionize productivity, with AI handling complex workflows autonomously. Geopolitically, AI’s role in global competition will intensify, as nations race to lead in this technology.

Look for widespread adoption in homes and offices, potentially displacing traditional apps. Apple is gearing up for a blockbuster 2026 with over 20 new products, including the much-anticipated foldable iPhone (potentially called iPhone Fold) featuring a 7.8-inch display. Rumors also point to an iPhone Ultra, M6-powered Macs, and a new home hub device launching in spring. A formal AI partnership with Google around Gemini could supercharge Apple’s ecosystem, cementing its AI strategy and boosting tech stocks. This could mark a pivotal year for Apple, blending hardware innovation with advanced AI features. The global AI market is forecasted to surge, driven by massive investments in infrastructure and cloud computing.

With companies like Nvidia leading the charge in AI chips, expect the market to reach new heights, potentially adding trillions to the economy. However, concerns over an AI bubble loom, with stock volatility possible amid high valuations. This growth will fuel innovations across sectors, from healthcare to finance. Hosted across the US, Canada, and Mexico, the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the largest ever, featuring 48 teams and matches in iconic stadiums like MetLife and Estadio Azteca. Expect massive fan zones, cultural showcases, and economic boosts for host cities. This event will not only spotlight soccer but also highlight global unity amid geopolitical tensions.

As Mashable's new tech editor, I get paid to stay on top of the latest tech trends, and I love my job. A lot happened in the tech world this year, but one technology dominated headlines more than any other — artificial intelligence. Companies like Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic made big advances in AI this year (though not as big as they might have hoped), both for better and worse. Not only that, but AI is now being integrated into virtually every tech product we own, even if you wish it wouldn't. So, what are the 2026 tech trends I'm eyeing as we approach the new year? Yes, generative AI and large-language models will continue to take up a lot of oxygen in the tech world, even if — and maybe especially if — the AI bubble finally pops, like the...

Besides AI, you can look forward to exciting new foldable phones with more flexible displays. I also expect a lot of robots to enter the consumer market next year, as well as all the usual suspects from Apple, Samsung, Google, and Microsoft. Let's get out our crystal balls and smart AR/XR glasses and preview the tech trends to come in 2026. It's getting hard to remember what Mark Zuckerberg looked like before he started wearing Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses at all of his public appearances. Like a lot of Silicon Valley leaders, Zuck is all-in on smart glasses, and virtually every big tech company is working on its own version of Meta's Ray-Ban Display augmented-reality glasses. Samsung, Apple, and Google are all rumored or confirmed to be making smart glasses, and we also saw the launch of the Xreal One Pro AR glasses earlier this year.

I expect more smart AR glasses to launch next year, but even though Silicon Valley is convinced these gadgets are the future of personal computing, I'm not so sure. Zuck couldn't have been more wrong about the metaverse. Even people who need to wear glasses for vision correction often do so reluctantly, and there's a reason face-worn computers have so far failed to launch. On top of that, a lot of people just don't want every single interaction potentially recorded by a person wearing smart glasses with built-in cameras and microphones. The Google Glasshole was reviled for a reason. Leading industry expert and Global Business Tech Awards judge Phil Hobden shares his predictions on the trends that will shape tech innovation and creativity in the next 12 months.

AI will show up inside your inbox, CRM, spreadsheet and project tracker. It won’t be flashy, but it will quietly draft emails, suggest next steps, clean up messy data, and chase up actions. Companies will stop talking about automation and actually use it. Expect better integrations that cut admin, especially between systems like finance, HR and sales. Repetitive tasks will quietly vanish. You’ll speak to AI first, but it will actually help.

Think voice tools that can resolve issues, track orders, or fix logins without sending you in circles. It will likley be better than some actual customer service I’ve had from brands in the UK! Most teams will rely on AI to draft reports, posts, job descriptions or presentations. It won’t replace human ideas, but it will get you 80% of the way MUCH faster. In a world that is changing at the speed of a Japanese bullet train, it is time to take a pause, reflect and look ahead to what we can expect in 2026. This year for the 14th year in a row, I combine all the signals that I see happening to help you understand how next year will be shaped by emerging technologies.

Last year, I coined 2025 the Year of Reckoning, because of the immense disruption I expected for this year. Before looking ahead, it’s essential to assess how last year’s forecasts unfolded. 2025 was a volatile year shaped by exponential technologies, political turbulence, and the accelerating blur between the physical and digital worlds. Some trends hit with full force, others advanced steadily, and a few began to surface as early signals of what’s coming next. In 2025, I predicted the following: In summary, in 2025 the pace of change sped up, with many technologies converging, and pushing all industries toward disruption.

Still, today is the slowest the world has ever been so we can expect an even faster pace in 2026. So, let’s dive into the future and share my ten technology predictions for 2026. Let’s explore what lies ahead! As we step into 2026, the world enters a new phase in the exponential curve, one where intelligence itself becomes a shared space between humans and machines. The past few years were defined by rapid digital transformation, but this year marks a deeper shift: the fusion of our cognitive, physical, and economic systems with autonomous, ever-present intelligence. Change isn’t just accelerating anymore; it’s stacking, compounding, and colliding in ways that stretch society’s ability to adapt.

Technology is moving so fast that keeping up feels almost impossible. Just a few years ago, we were talking about ChatGPT and wearable health trackers as “the future.” Fast forward to 2026, and things have gotten way more exciting—and a little surreal. <img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-21934 size-full" src="https://www.technologyhq.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/The-10-Most-Groundbreaking-Technology-Innovations-of-2026-That-Will-Change-Our-Future.jpg" alt="The 10 Most Groundbreaking Technology Innovations of 2026 That Will Change Our Future" width="900" height="600" srcset="https://www.technologyhq.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/The-10-Most-Groundbreaking-Technology-Innovations-of-2026-That-Will-Change-Our-Future.jpg 900w, https://www.technologyhq.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/The-10-Most-Groundbreaking-Technology-Innovations-of-2026-That-Will-Change-Our-Future-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.technologyhq.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/The-10-Most-Groundbreaking-Technology-Innovations-of-2026-That-Will-Change-Our-Future-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.technologyhq.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/The-10-Most-Groundbreaking-Technology-Innovations-of-2026-That-Will-Change-Our-Future-630x420.jpg 630w, https://www.technologyhq.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/The-10-Most-Groundbreaking-Technology-Innovations-of-2026-That-Will-Change-Our-Future-696x464.jpg 696w" sizes="(max-width: 900px)... This year, we’re seeing AI that understands emotions, solar panels that work at night, brain-computer interfaces you can buy, and even early-stage organ bioprinting. The future is not just coming—it’s here. So, let’s dive into the 10 most groundbreaking technology innovations of 2026 that are already reshaping how we live, work, and dream.

For years, voice assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google were handy but, let’s be honest, robotic. In 2026, that’s history. The newest AI assistants can read human emotions using voice tone, facial expressions, and even your choice of words. At its annual IT Symposium/Xpo in Orlando this week, Gartner announced its top 10 predictions for 2026 and beyond. The predictions heartily encompass varying and complex aspects of AI and its potential effect on the enterprise and the workforce in general. The event is being held at the Dolphin and Swan Resort with more than 7,000 attendees, primarily CIOs and senior business technology leaders.

With agentic AI permeating all aspects of the conference program and exhibits, it is no surprise that its implications weigh heavily on the projections of what’s to come. At the Gartner event in 2024, agentic AI was named the number one trend in its list of trends for 2025, a prediction that obviously has come true. In 2026 ransomware will continue to be disruptive. It's not just organisations that are leveraging AI to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of operations – attackers are too. To trick humans, there’ll be even more use of AI for social engineering – a common method attackers use to deliver ransomware. Not just through more realistic phishing messages, but also through bypassing controls such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) through impersonating users (e.g., cloning voices).

Brands and their agencies will pull ad spend closer to the point of inventory, cutting through supply chains and striking more direct, data-collaborative deals with premium publishers to unlock richer audience insights and performance. The winners so far have been those who can evidence clean, consented data flows from source to outcome, while long tail intermediaries can feel the squeeze. Meanwhile, regulatory pressure is shifting decisively beyond cookies and websites, with UK and EU regulators zeroing in on other technologies and devices, such as Connected TV, pushing the market towards accountable, consented first party... In 2026, we expect more organisations to move beyond AI chat-based interfaces to embedding agentic AI into core operations, with autonomous agents executing increasingly complex, multi step workflows such as consolidated data reconciliation, end... As agent creation is democratised and accelerated by ’vibe coding’, a wave of unmanaged agents will emerge, often bypassing traditional user interfaces altogether. Expect a spotlight on security discussions, which will shift to a new frontier as indirect prompt injection, poisoned retrieval sources, and agent to agent exploits make identity, logging, and provenance by design a key...

The scale and speed of deployment will also test governance and operating models, placing CTOs and boardrooms under heightened scrutiny to implement clearer guardrails, accountability frameworks, and operational oversight. By the end of 2026, the jargon will have multiplied: Narrow AI – task-specific systems like chatbots; AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) – AI that can reason and learn like a human across multiple domains;... Boards and senior stakeholders are well advised to understand these distinctions because regulation, risk, and monetisation will differ for each, and the need to ensure the governance framework is both accurate and appropriate for... In 2026, the UK government and the FCA will double down on facilitating innovation and exploitation of crypto assets and distributed ledger technology (DLT), as well as significant broader advances in payment services, including... The UK’s aim is to make sure that the UK has a world-leading payments ecosystem. The government and FCA are aligned on achieving this – legislation and consultations are moving at pace, shaping new regimes and clearing the path for adoption.

Top 10 Predictions For 2026 Technology Magazine

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