Latest Industry Trends News
AI supercomputing, security and sustainability set cross‑industry tech agenda for 2026
Gartner’s 2026 tech outlook highlights **AI supercomputing platforms**, AI security, pre‑emptive cybersecurity, digital provenance and confidential computing as core infrastructure priorities for heavy data workloads across sectors. Analysts note that 2025 marked a pivot from AI experiments to large‑scale deployment, with 2026 defined by convergence of high‑performance compute, AI‑native software and spatial interfaces—and by pressure to integrate sustainability and emissions reduction into industrial strategy.
Global automotive industry faces tariffs, slower EV uptake and Chinese competition
S&P Global Mobility projects **global light‑vehicle production to edge lower in 2026**, squeezed by new US automotive tariffs, trade uncertainty and uneven battery‑electric vehicle demand in Europe. China’s auto market is moving into contraction as incentives fade, while European OEMs struggle with weak demand and a surge of Chinese imports, even as electrification, advanced materials and design innovation continue reshaping vehicles and supply chains.
Energy sector navigates geopolitics, price politics and modest metals investment
Wood Mackenzie identifies five themes for 2026’s energy world, including disruptive geopolitics, politically sensitive power prices and a flat year for metals and mining capex around **US$170 billion**, still well below the 2021 peak. Copper remains a key investment hotspot, supported by AI and data‑centre infrastructure demand, while gas markets face margin pressure and governments balance affordability with decarbonisation commitments.
Decarbonisation bright spots: EVs, batteries, SMRs and hydrogen scale‑up
Despite policy and affordability tensions, analysts expect **global EV sales to reach about 24 million in 2026**, up 15% year‑on‑year, alongside progress on small modular nuclear reactors. China is advancing sodium‑ion battery production for the European EV and storage market and has FID’d over 70% of recent global green hydrogen capacity, positioning itself to export low‑cost ammonia‑derived hydrogen that could undercut local European production.
AI investment drives global growth but amplifies multipolar geopolitical risk
International Banker notes forecasts for **global GDP growth around 2.8% in 2026**, with US growth at 2.6% and China at 4.8%, supported heavily by AI‑related productivity gains and capex. Goldman Sachs, Deloitte and JPMorgan highlight multi‑year uplift from AI diffusion and a projected 33% rise in AI‑related hyperscaler capital spending, while warning that intensifying US–China rivalry and economic multipolarity will keep volatility and geopolitical risk elevated.
Insurance and financial services prioritize AI, demographics and new distribution models
A LIMRA FORECAST survey of insurance executives finds **AI adoption** is the top strategic priority for the next 12–24 months, shifting from pilots into production uses in underwriting, risk management and client engagement. Leaders also flag demographic change, evolving distribution (including consolidation among intermediaries and carrier‑owned channels), rising customer expectations, cybersecurity and financial pressures as defining industry trends for 2026.
Industrial robotics market hits record value as humanoids enter factories and warehouses
The International Federation of Robotics reports **industrial robot installation value at an all‑time high of US$16.7 billion**, underscoring robust automation demand in manufacturing. Among the top five robotics trends for 2026 is rapid expansion of humanoid robots for industrial tasks, pioneered in automotive and increasingly applied in warehousing and other human‑designed environments where flexibility is critical.
Office print and imaging sector accelerates consolidation and shift to services
In the print and imaging industry, Xerox’s acquisition of Lexmark in 2025 is highlighted as a landmark move signaling that **scale, services and IT integration matter more than hardware volumes**. Analysts expect 2026 to bring further OEM consolidation, efforts to recoup tariff impacts, and continued investment in AI, cloud and security as the business model transitions toward software, managed services and vertical solutions.
Global economy shows tech‑led resilience amid tariff shocks and household divergence
ING economists describe recent global developments as a mix of strong **tech‑related business investment tied to AI** and weaker residential and non‑tech capex, yielding underlying growth near 2% in 2026. High‑income households are spending strongly on the back of asset gains, while lower‑income groups remain cautious due to job‑security fears and tariff‑driven cost pressures, and Asia’s tech‑heavy economies like Singapore, Korea and Taiwan outperform non‑tech peers.
Scenario planning for 2026 stresses AI as key swing factor for global industry
Industrial and chemical‑sector analysis outlines three scenarios for the 2026 global economy, with AI‑driven investment, policy responses and regional demand patterns determining which path materialises. These scenarios examine how persistent tariffs, uneven Chinese growth, and capital‑intensive AI and data‑centre build‑outs could reshape industrial production, trade flows and profitability across manufacturing value chains.
Converging industrial platforms link AI, spatial interfaces and clean energy systems
Tech‑industry commentary for 2026 emphasizes **technological convergence**—combining AI‑native software, high‑performance compute, and immersive spatial interfaces into next‑generation platforms for energy, manufacturing, finance and biotech. This convergence is paired with rising expectations that companies embed emissions reduction, data transparency and smart‑grid integration into operations, as aging infrastructure, hyperscale data‑centre expansion and electricity demand drive structural change in industrial strategy.