Tech Predictions for 2026: What to Expect

As 2025 wraps up, here are our predictions for what 2026 will bring in technology.

AI Evolution

Prediction 1: AI Agents Go Mainstream

What we expect:
• Enterprise deployment at scale
• Consumer AI assistants mature
• Autonomous workflows common
• New job categories emerge

Why:
• Models becoming more reliable
• Tooling maturing
• Clear ROI demonstrated
• Trust building

Prediction 2: Regulation Shapes AI

What we expect:
• EU AI Act full enforcement
• US legislation passed
• Industry self-regulation
• Global coordination attempts

Impact:
• Compliance requirements
• Documentation needs
• Auditing practices
• Market consolidation

Prediction 3: On-Device AI Expands

What we expect:
• More local AI processing
• Privacy-preserving AI
• Offline capabilities
• Edge intelligence

Why:
• Hardware improvements
• Model efficiency gains
• Privacy demands
• Latency requirements

Developer Experience

Prediction 4: AI-Assisted Development Standard

What we expect:
• AI coding tools ubiquitous
• Productivity gains realized
• New development patterns
• Testing automation advances

Impact:
• Faster development
• Changed skill requirements
• New tool categories
• Workflow evolution

Prediction 5: Platform Engineering Matures

What we expect:
• Internal platforms common
• Self-service infrastructure
• Developer experience focus
• Platform as product

Why:
• Scale needs
• Developer shortage
• Efficiency demands
• Cloud complexity

Infrastructure

Prediction 6: Serverless Becomes Default

What we expect:
• Serverless-first architecture
• Container-based serverless
• Edge computing growth
• Simplified operations

Why:
• Cost efficiency
• Scaling simplicity
• Operational overhead
• Cloud provider investment

Prediction 7: Multi-Cloud Reality

What we expect:
• Multi-cloud standard practice
• Better portability tools
• Cross-cloud management
• Cost optimization focus

Impact:
• Architecture changes
• Tool consolidation
• Skill requirements
• Vendor negotiation

Security

Prediction 8: AI-Powered Security

What we expect:
• AI threat detection
• Automated response
• Predictive security
• AI-specific threats

Why:
• Attack sophistication
• Volume of threats
• Speed requirements
• Skill shortage

Business Impact

Prediction 9: Digital Transformation Accelerates

What we expect:
• AI-driven transformation
• Customer experience focus
• Operational efficiency
• New business models

Prediction 10: Tech Talent Evolution

What we expect:
• AI skills premium
• Traditional coding changes
• New role categories
• Continuous learning essential

What This Means

For Businesses

For Developers

For Everyone

Stay tuned for our coverage of these trends throughout 2026.