Expert Predictions For AI In 2026

It is challenging to recall a time before artificial intelligence (AI) became integral to everyday life, including its use in business, public sectors, and education. As of 2026, AI has become a transformative tool across various sectors, with its economic impact projected to reach $4.8 trillion by 2033.

Significant advancements in AI occurred in 2025, including the following milestones:

NVIDIA achieving a valuation of multiple trillion dollars. Launch of new AI models by major companies. Construction of data centers in unconventional locations such as under the sea and in space. Creation of the first AI actor. Actors signing agreements for AI use of their voices. Release of Neo, a humanoid robot priced at £15,000. Increased focus on AI by major tech companies, resulting in workforce reductions.

Industry experts have provided their perspectives on the future of AI:

Phil Smith emphasizes the necessity of aligning AI with brand identity and customer experience (CX). He suggests the development of specific CX language models to ensure AI interactions reflect brand values and influence customer behaviors positively. This approach involves contextualizing customer intent in real-time and enhancing AI-driven customer engagement.

Ander Rodriguez, Co-Founder of ZenRows

Ander Rodriguez anticipates increased efforts by companies to leverage data for various applications. He foresees the emergence of hybrid AI solutions that integrate traditional data collection with AI browser capabilities, leading to more efficient workflows and addressing employment gaps due to AI-driven efficiency.

Vikas Mathur, Chief Product Officer at MariaDB

Vikas Mathur highlights the importance of developing autonomous decision engines that operate at scale. He stresses the need for data infrastructures that provide contextually grounded data with low latency and high throughput to support AI-driven business processes.

Fares Djenandji, Chief Growth Officer at Ipsotek

Fares Djenandji predicts a divide in AI model development, driven by philosophical and regulatory differences. He expects enterprises to invest in AI infrastructure for multi-functional platforms, emphasizing the need for robust privacy and data protection regulations.

Charlie Casey discusses the integration of AI agents in product searches and shopping experiences. He suggests brands will need to adapt their strategies for AI-led discovery and focus on customer retention and brand advocacy to drive growth.

Jon Purvis, Senior Software Engineer, Visualsoft

Jon Purvis observes that AI is reshaping retail through smarter shopping experiences and personalized interactions. He notes the role of predictive analytics in optimizing supply chains and enhancing customer satisfaction.

Matt Cockett emphasizes the shift of AI from administrative tasks to strategic enablement. He describes how AI can provide real-time, data-backed insights for decision-making and highlights the importance of governance, training, and trust in AI adoption.

Jim Herbert focuses on practical AI applications in commerce, such as AI scripting tools for data transformation. He predicts that AI assistants will act on behalf of shoppers, leveraging clean data and connected systems for intelligent shopping experiences.

Sarah Hoffman, Director of AI Thought Leadership at AlphaSense

Sarah Hoffman anticipates a widening gap between AI adoption in the UK and the US, driven by differing regulatory approaches. She expects a market correction in AI investment, with a focus on ROI and measurable impacts.

Gareth Cummings foresees an increase in AI-driven customer interactions and emphasizes the importance of unified data systems in meeting the demands of machine customers in eCommerce.

Glenn Nethercutt, Chief Technology Officer, Genesys

Glenn Nethercutt highlights the role of cognitive infrastructure in AI development, emphasizing the need for memory and learning to enhance customer engagement and loyalty.

Jim Salter, Senior Management Consultant at CyXcel

Jim Salter warns of the potential for AI-generated malware to change the cybersecurity landscape, highlighting the need for organizations to prepare for insider threats and AI-driven attacks.

Sam Peters discusses the dual role of AI in cybersecurity, aiding both attackers and defenders. He stresses the need for organizations to secure their AI systems against misuse.

Andres Rodriguez, Founder and CTO, Nasuni

Andres Rodriguez identifies unstructured data as a significant challenge and opportunity for enterprises. He highlights the importance of cloud infrastructure and data management tools in unlocking the value of unstructured data.

Bjarni Thor Sigurdsson, CCO at PAYSTRAX

Bjarni Thor Sigurdsson discusses the potential for AI agents to handle autonomous payments, emphasizing the need for regulation, fraud detection, and public trust in AI solutions.

Fred Lherault, Field CTO EMEA/METCA at Pure Storage

Fred Lherault highlights the importance of data readiness for AI deployment, emphasizing the need for streamlined data pipelines to support AI inference workloads.

Rami Jebara, Co-Founder and CTO of Hyperview

Rami Jebara discusses the need for scalable, efficient AI systems that focus on clear business outcomes, predicting a shift toward sustainable and productive AI applications.

James Smith calls for a focus on AI upskilling, technology adoption, and data foundations, warning against the pitfalls of AI built on poor infrastructure.

Steele Arbeeny highlights the importance of data management in AI initiatives, advocating for modernized migration strategies that support AI exploitation.

Rafael Artacho, Director AI Product Incubation, Unit4

Rafael Artacho predicts advancements in AI reasoning capabilities and the integration of AI agents in enterprise applications, emphasizing the need for governance and oversight.

Cien Solon, CEO and Founder of LaunchLemonade

Cien Solon anticipates a shift toward autonomous AI systems and the development of agent marketplaces, emphasizing the importance of leadership and data access in scaling AI operations.

Jonathan Trayers warns of the acceleration of AI-driven attacks and the need for resilient defense-in-depth strategies to ensure business continuity.

Terry Storrar, Managing Director, Leaseweb UK

Terry Storrar predicts a shift from AI hype to pragmatic growth, emphasizing the importance of ethical considerations and human-AI collaboration.

Dylan Dewdney, Co-Founder and CEO of Kuvi.ai

Dylan Dewdney envisions AI becoming an integral participant in human life, with conversational fidelity and consumer-grade robotics shaping new forms of coordination and value creation.

Adam Pettman discusses the potential for AI agents to enhance productivity, emphasizing the importance of clear definitions, guardrails, and oversight in guiding AI development.

Jon Bance, Chief Operating Officer at Leading Resolutions

Jon Bance emphasizes the importance of AI governance and workforce training in achieving transformation outcomes, predicting increased adoption of agent-to-agent negotiations.

Jonathan Rende, Chief Product Officer at Checkmarx

Jonathan Rende discusses the future of AI security, highlighting the need for AI governance, model integrity, and risk management in autonomous systems.

Piero Pavone highlights the role of AI in advertising, emphasizing the need for human creativity and the challenges of bias and resource intensity in AI technologies.

Tom Clayton, CEO and Co-Founder of IntelliAM

Tom Clayton discusses the need for manufacturers to demand genuine value from AI, emphasizing the importance of AI governance and vendor scrutiny in achieving operational improvements.

Ivan Nikkhoo, Managing Director, Navigate Ventures

Ivan Nikkhoo predicts the emergence of enterprise and vertical AI applications, emphasizing the challenges of early-stage dynamics and the concentration of AI funding in late-stage companies.

Based on reporting by techround.co.uk.