Globally, a median of 34% of people are more concerned than excited by AI, while a median of 42% are equally concerned and excited (Pew, 2025). Some are critical of AI’s massive energy requirements, while others lament the threat of job losses or the automation of creative tasks. This scepticism is inspiring movements, campaigns and products that question AI’s ascent.

The humanoid robot market could surpass $5tn by 2050, driven by advances in physical AI – tech that allows machines to perceive, navigate and interact with their surroundings (Morgan Stanley, 2025). As these robots become more affordable and capable, consumers will encounter them in homes, workplaces and public spaces, reshaping expectations around automation.

AI memory will be a key area for development in 2026. Users increasingly expect technology that remembers them and allows them to import chatbot conversation histories, track digital activities and record virtual conversations. This creates opportunity for deeper personalisation, but also requires navigating privacy concerns as comprehensive data collection becomes the norm.

Geopolitical tensions are motivating countries to rethink their reliance on American and Chinese tech. Concerns about sensitive data being subject to foreign regulatory shifts are pushing governments to pursue digital sovereignty – building tech infrastructure owned and controlled within their borders. Approaches vary: Europe is mandating locally developed software, while South Africa is requiring LLMs trained in indigenous languages.

Healthcare is emerging as a key AI use case, driven by persistent challenges accessing care. Companies are designing tools to help people diagnose symptoms, understand conditions and find treatment options. This is creating a cohort of ‘self-navigators’ who strategically combine AI insights with traditional medical expertise to manage their wellbeing.

Autonomous vehicles are moving from dream to reality. From the US to China, 2025 saw a notable uptick in the deployment of driverless cars, mostly as robotaxis. Moving into 2026, brands are increasing their fleets and their footprints, while automobile companies are improving their self-driving systems.

Person-to-chatbot relationships are under scrutiny, with research suggesting that relying on AI for emotional support can lead people to feel overly validated without critical reflection. The industry is responding by refocusing on tools that strengthen person-to-person interactions, such as AI for conflict resolution or group planning support.

As AI embeds into the modern workplace – see The Future of AI at Work – the divide between those with AI skills and those without will exacerbate professional hierarchies, with pay gaps already emerging for skilled AI users. To level the playing field, companies are working to educate both professionals and students on AI, boosting platform adoption in the process.

Backlash against social media, AI and smartphones is building momentum to overhaul how kids interact with tech. While parents have so far led criticism towards Big Tech (especially the impacts of smartphones and social media), companies and governments are increasingly constructing their own guardrails around how under-18s are exposed to digital living.

AI wearables are attracting attention, with smart glasses dominating the market. By 2033, the category could be worth $287.8bn, up from $35.72bn in 2025 (Sky Quest, 2025), as companies expand functionality and introduce new formats. China's pay-by-glance smart glasses and emerging gesture-control smartwatches exemplify this evolution, as AI wearables move from presenting information towards solving practical needs.