11 things AI experts are watching for in 2026
Major technology paradigm shifts like AI come with significant benefits and risks, and I expect AI will become ever more part of our daily lives in 2026.
Individuals and industries are finding exciting new uses for personalized agents and related technologies. For example, AI accelerates scientific discovery in ways that were previously unimaginable.
Conversations about the responsible and ethical use of AI should be prioritized across sectors and civil society. We must work collaboratively to mitigate AI’s potential harms and find inclusive ways to empower people.
Our challenge is to apply AI to advance knowledge, expand understanding and benefit humanity.
— Jennifer Chayes, dean of the UC Berkeley College of Computing, Data Science, and Society
