The technology that awaits us in 2026

BarcelonaThe year that has just begun is also shaping up to be a period of accelerated technological transformation. Or so say, once again, the communications departments of companies in the sector. After verifying that the forecasts from a year ago They have been fulfilled, it's time to update them for 2026.

More AI in more places

In the fourth year since ChatGPT's emergence, generative artificial intelligence (AI) continues to dominate the tech sector. Companies owning these systems are now considering how to recoup the enormous investments that have brought them to this point. OpenAI could launch an even more powerful model than its predecessors, and the consulting firm Gartner insists that this year AI agents will be able to make decisions autonomously and execute complex tasks more naturally. But the path to profitability is not as straightforward as the headlines suggest. Practical cases reveal unexpected problems that require weeks of adjustments, from overly subservient chatbots to systems unable to accurately summarize technical documentation. The focus of the business, in fact, has shifted toward the enterprise segment, where AI companies hire specialized teams of engineers to tailor systems to each client. Anthropic, OpenAI, and other firms in the sector have created entire divisions dedicated to this integration work, which is more reminiscent of traditional consulting than the promised technological revolution.

Robots that walk (slowly)

Physical AI—humanoid robots, autonomous vehicles—also promises to make the definitive leap in 2026. While Tesla is rushing to begin mass production of the bipedal Optimus Prime, 1X is already accepting orders for the Neo Beta, which you can buy for $20,000 or subscribe to for $50. However, the first customers will have to be patient: it takes about 45 minutes to empty the dishwasher. Despite the speed of development thanks to the use of AI to accelerate training, experts estimate that it will be two or three years before these humanoids are ready for mass deployment in homes. Autonomous cars will continue to be deployed and will move beyond pilot cities. Waymo, a Google subsidiary, will expand its robotaxi service in Washington, New York, and London. The Chinese companies Baidu and WeRide will also deploy their vehicles in several European cities and the United Arab Emirates. In electric cars with drivers, most automotive groups –Volkswagen, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Renault Nissan, Geely Volvo Polestar– are switching to the Android Automotive operating system, which facilitates the integration of AI functions –and languages such as Catalan, See the case of Seat Cupra– to the new vehicles.

Telecommunications: the business is moving

AI is seeking enterprise clients, and telecom operators are doing the same. Private 5G networks—facilities dedicated exclusively to a company or organization—are consolidating as the business of the future for Telefónica, Orange, and other companies, which are looking for more profitable and stable revenue streams than the monthly fees charged by residential consumers. Meanwhile, the first steps are being taken toward the 6G network, although most users are only now beginning to enjoy the full 5G service that was promised to them five years ago. At the same time, satellite internet deployments—with Starlink leading the way—continue to bring connectivity to remote areas, especially for the so-called Internet of Things: from tracking containers on maritime routes to environmental sensors in inaccessible locations. A seemingly minor change, but one with significant implications, is the widespread adoption of eSIMs, digital SIM cards integrated into devices. They facilitate international travel and also allow customers to switch operators without leaving home.

Smart glasses are back

The success of Ray-Ban Meta, connected glasses that have sold millions of units, contrasts sharply with the relative commercial failure of Apple's mixed reality headset, the Vision Pro. We prefer discreet and relatively affordable devices to bulky headsets, however immersive the experience may be. Google, which pioneered Glass in 2012 but was too far ahead of the curve, will return this year. Having learned its lesson from the Vision Pro, Apple will also release its own glasses, probably by the end of the year. The brand cannot afford another premature launch and will have to compete in lightness with Meta, in functionality with the upcoming Android XR glasses, and in price with both. More expensive phones and closer together

It seems a given that Apple will finally release the first foldable iPhone this year, in a category of devices that Samsung has dominated for years with its Galaxy Z Fold series. In fact, both the Korean brand and its Chinese rival Huawei have already presented foldable devices twice.

Now, the news for buyers of smartphones –of any brand– could be less pleasant: prices will rise between 5% and 10% due to theRAM shortageDemand for AI data center components has driven up prices and reduced available stock for phone and computer manufacturers. Alternatively, the smartphones More affordable models will reduce memory capacity to as little as 4GB, compromising the ability to run AI algorithms locally.

The industry will accept the failure of ultra-thin phones. Apple and Samsung will not be updating their respective models.And Chinese brands have already shelved their plans to enter this segment. Instead, they will focus on meeting the demand for higher-capacity batteries, not necessarily larger than current models, thanks to improvements in chemical efficiency.

Cybersecurity, science and health

The other side of the AI coin is increasingly sophisticated malware. AI-powered network attacks will increase, potentially causing major outages of large platforms and cloud services. More robust digital identity systems will need to be developed, but above all, citizens need to use more common sense.

In the healthcare sector, AI could have truly relevant applications by 2026, from analyzing babies' cries to diagnose illnesses to accelerating the development of new drugs. It is perhaps one of the few fields where technology can deliver measurable advances beyond marketing.

Finally, in the field of artificial intelligence research, several teams are working on models that go beyond current LLMs—the generative AIs we know now, trained on vast amounts of textual data—seeking systems capable of deeper understanding and genuinely autonomous reasoning. Although the arrival of this supposed general AI still seems distant—the most optimistic place it in 2028—this year we could see progress toward an AI capable of creatively connecting knowledge from different disciplines.

Global overview

Beyond specific developments, 2026 will see the consolidation of OpenAI and Google's dominance in the generative AI market, with the likely disappearance or absorption of smaller players. The race for data centers will continue to expand globally, with Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and Meta investing tens of billions of dollars in Southeast Asia, Brazil, and the Persian Gulf states. And, as always, we must assume that many of these predictions may not come to pass or may unfold differently than expected. The only certainty is that companies in the sector will continue promising revolutions while trusting that, sooner or later, someone will end up footing the bill.