As 2025 bids farewell and the new year struts centre stage, technology is continuing to mould sectors across the globe with a firm hand. We take a closer look at the top five technology trends for 2026.
GLOBAL EXPANSION OF DATA CENTRES
2025 was the year data centres became a household name and an international phenomenon that people from all walks of life, all business sectors, and all backgrounds held an opinion on. In 2026, the multitrillion-dollar industry is poised to take over the globe in rapid proliferation.
This year, it is anticipated that countries such as India will attract enormous investments to help build artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure in an effort to serve an ever-growing, ever data-hungry population. Microsoft has committed USD$17.5 billion to constructing new data centres in the country, whilst Amazon has pledged USD$35 billion and Google another USD$15 billion in partnership with two Indian mega-conglomerates.
This USD$67.5 billion is just the beginning, underscoring the unrelenting reach of the AI boom. It is evident that the construction and successful operation of these data centres in strategic locations will come to shape the future of the technological industry as a whole.
ARRIVAL OF AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES
The arrival of self-driving cars is well within sight, with major firms in both the US and China deploying autonomous vehicles in cities around the world in an effort to expand previously existing operations.
In the US, Google’s driverless venture – Waymo – has had billions invested in it over the past 15 years, having publicly opened its service in San Francisco, California, in 2024. Now, the company is planning to steadily roll out its vehicles in the majority of the Los Angeles area, alongside Washington, DC, New York City, and even London.
Significant Chinese players, including WeRide and Baidu’s Apollo Go, are touching their wheels down in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, and Singapore, with the intent to expand their footprint further into Europe as well.
It will only be a matter of time and further testing before these self-driving cars become commonplace, with public accessibility next on the docket.
HOW DATA INFRASTRUCTURE WILL BE CRUCIAL TO AI’S SUCCESS
With companies investing billions into new AI technologies, approximately 85 percent of projects fail before even reaching production. These statistics aren’t the result of a lack of effort or talent, but rather faulty data infrastructure incapable of supporting modern AI.
Transforming AI infrastructure will prove to be a fundamental shift in the way businesses approach computing resources, inevitably defining technology decision-making for the foreseeable future.
Enterprises that act sooner rather than later will be at the forefront of the competitive landscape, like that of Amazon Web Services, which are tackling the computation renaissance head-on and obtaining competitive advantages in AI deployment and operation.
As 2026 rears its head, investment in strong data infrastructure will pay dividends, securing the future of the organisations that emerge as leaders in the AI-driven future.
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PHYSICAL AI
Modern intelligence has severed itself from being merely on-screen, to now having an embodied, autonomous form capable of addressing tasks in the physical world.
Physical AI allows for robots, drones, and other smart equipment to be used for operational purposes, capable of operating in complex and unpredictable environments.
Whilst this technology is not new, the manner in which it is being used is enabling physical AI to transition from niche to mainstream usage. Recently, Amazon deployed its millionth robot, with its DeepFleet AI coordinating the entire fleet alongside human workers to improve travel efficiency within warehouses by 10 percent.
Equally, automotive giant BMW’s factories have cars driving themselves through kilometre-long production routes – through the assembly line, to testing, to the finishing area, all without human assistance.
This unique bridge between digital intelligence and the physical world will prove to be a crucial factor in 2026 as companies address the rapid technological advancements.
NEXT GENERATION CONNECTIVITY
Just like 2025, 5G is becoming figment of the past, with 6G emerging as the next-generation wireless technology set to dominate 2026.
With the aim of faster speed, ultra-low latency, and incredible connectivity through the integration of AI, sensing, and cyber-physical systems, next-generation connectivity will merge digital and physical worlds for a connected future.
Microsoft is utilising next-generation connectivity to transform its enterprise network, having decided to reimagine most of its traditional connectivity models to empower its employees to thrive in a new hybrid world. Through identity-focused security models, software-defined infrastructure, and network-as-code initiatives, the company is addressing the evident need for digital transformation.
Elsewhere, companies across Europe are laying the groundwork for the next generation of wireless infrastructure to support massive-scale Internet of Things, real-time automation, and adaptive AI. The implementation of 6G will enable a fully intelligent, ultra-connected world that meets the demand for better speed and bandwidth.
