13 Top Technology Trends for 2026 and Beyond

AI is the biggest technology trend in 2026.

According to Stanford’s AI Index, 88% of organizations use AI in at least one business function in 2026.

Robotics is close behind. International Federation of Robotics reports that factories worldwide ran a record 5 million industrial robots in 2025.

In this article, we’ll break down the 13 most important technology trends right now, with the latest data on each.

1. AI Becomes Part of Everyday Business

Stanford AI Index found that generative AI reached 53% population adoption within three years, faster than the PC or the internet.

Already, there are more than 88% of organizations use AI in at least one business function

It's a technology that's breaking into finance, healthcare, manufacturing, retail and dozens of other industries.

Investment is following. US private AI investment reached $285.9 billion in 2025, compared with $12.4 billion in China, according to the same report.

The best-known example is OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT.

Searches for “OpenAI” are up 2,900% over the past 5 years, according to Exploding Topics.

OpenAI’s ChatGPT surprised the world when it was released in November 2022.

The chatbot’s ability to take natural-language prompts and generate conversational text for a wide variety of outcomes made people rethink what was possible with AI.

The release of ChatGPT brought about unprecedented interest.

Following ChatGPT, Google launched its own AI chatbot, Gemini. It is now one of the most popular AI tools in the world.

Google’s Gemini is the company’s flagship LLM.

The next step is AI agents, which carry out multi-step tasks with little human input. For instance, customer service teams could use them to resolve customer inquiries in seconds.

Companies could use them to create personalized marketing and educational content in a fraction of the time. Developers could use them to write and test code, and business leaders could use them to analyze data.

Many organizations are now experimenting with AI agents, and some are starting to scale them across business functions.

For innovation and strategy teams, these figures may suggest the question has moved from whether to use AI to how deeply to build it into operations.

2. AI Speeds Up Early Disease Detection

New tech solutions are focused on identifying diseases earlier on.

This one innovation could help save countless lives.

Unfortunately, certain types of cancer, like those that affect the pancreas, lungs, and ovaries, are notoriously difficult to catch early.

In an effort to increase survival rates, researchers and tech industry startups are dedicating an increasing amount of resources to cutting-edge technologies designed to detect cancer cells earlier in development.

Using AI for early diagnosis is one of the fastest-moving parts of the health tech space.

The US Food and Drug Administration keeps a public list of AI-enabled medical devices that are authorized for marketing in the US. The list included 1,614 AI-enabled devices as of September 4, 2026, according to the FDA’s own list.

Many of these devices analyze medical images, such as X-rays and scans, to flag signs of disease for doctors to review.

For health-tech investors, the size of the FDA list suggests AI diagnostics are moving from research into regulated products.

3. Cleantech Investment Reaches a Record High

Cleantech investment hit a new record in 2025, led by electrified transport and power grids.

According to BloombergNEF, global energy transition investment reached a record $2.3 trillion in 2025, up 8% from 2024.

Electrified transport was the biggest category, at $893 billion, up 21% from the previous year. BloombergNEF also found that investment in renewable energy fell 9.5% to $690 billion, and power grids attracted $483 billion.

China invested $800 billion, though its renewables investment fell for the first time since 2013. The EU invested $455 billion, up 18%, and the US invested $378 billion, up 3.5%.

Climate-tech companies also raised $77.3 billion in equity in 2025, up 53% from 2024.

In the US, clean investment reached a record $278 billion in 2025, up 5% from 2024, according to Rhodium Group’s Clean Investment Monitor. But fourth-quarter investment was about $60 billion, down 23% from the third quarter.

Hydrogen is one of the most-watched areas of cleantech.

Hydrogen is the most abundant element on Earth and burning it doesn’t release CO2, giving it great potential as a source of green energy.

Searches for “green hydrogen” are up 100% over the past 5 years, according to Exploding Topics.

Investment hasn’t caught up with the interest yet. Hydrogen attracted $7.3 billion of investment in 2025, one of the few sectors that fell.

Many cleantech leaders believe that cutting new emissions won’t be enough on its own.

It’s well-documented that carbon emissions are one of the largest drivers of modern climate change.

In order to directly eliminate some of these emissions, cleantech leaders are using what’s known as carbon capture technology to make immediate progress toward reducing and even reversing emissions.

Searches for “carbon capture and storage” are up 82% over the past 5 years, according to Exploding Topics.

The process involves working with super-emitters — like power plants and concrete manufacturing facilities — to capture carbon molecules when they would normally be released into the air.

From there, carbon capture companies isolate and extract the carbon through a variety of chemical processes before reselling it or depositing it deep into the earth, where it can be transformed back into stone.

For climate-tech investors and founders, these figures suggest the money is moving toward electrified transport and grids, while hydrogen and carbon capture remain smaller bets. See the climate tech startups for more details.

4. Cyber Threats Grow More Advanced

From attacks on random consumers to government-sponsored cyber warfare, cybercrime is a persistent and growing threat. Attackers are finding new ways in, and AI is changing both sides of the fight.

In the World Economic Forum’s Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2026, 94% of the 804 leaders surveyed expected AI to be the biggest force shaping cybersecurity.

The WEF also found that 73% of respondents said they or someone they know had been directly affected by cyber-enabled fraud in 2025. CEOs ranked fraud and phishing above ransomware as a concern.

Deepfake attacks are one of the most sophisticated ways attackers try to get into businesses.

Deepfake technology utilizes AI/deep learning to create convincing videos, images, and audio of fake events and people.

The technology has been around for a few years, and it’s getting better and better for hackers.

A type of machine learning technology called generative adversarial networks is making deepfakes harder to detect.

Deepfakes are especially useful to cyber criminals who commit BEC (business email compromise) scams.

Manipulating face-to-face verification methods with deepfakes is another possibility for cyber criminals.

Identifying deepfakes and other incoming threats is very much a defensive game for organizations. Security professionals are always one step behind attackers.

However, cybersecurity pros are using AI cybersecurity tools and other advanced technology to detect and stop attacks as early as possible.

AI tools can recognize attacks faster than human operators, and they can be set up to stop an attack and alert IT staff before a breach gets out of control.

These figures may suggest that fraud controls and AI-driven defenses deserve as much attention as ransomware. Read more in our cybersecurity trends report.

5. Quantum Computing Moves Toward Real-World Application

Quantum computing has been a topic of discussion since the 1980s.

In 2025 and 2026, quantum computing moved closer to real-world use, with record funding and new chips designed to correct errors.

Searches for “quantum computing” are up 650% over the past 5 years, according to Exploding Topics.

Traditional computers we know today operate on binary code (either 0 or 1). Quantum computers use qubits, which allows a piece of data to exist in two states at the same time (both 0 and 1).

All of this technology boils down to an increased speed of computation.

Some calculations that would take today’s computers thousands of years could, in theory, be solved far faster with quantum computing.

Technological and financial issues have held the industry back, but investment surged in 2025.

According to McKinsey’s quantum investment chart, quantum startups raised $12.6 billion in 2025, 6.3 times as much as in 2024,

IBM remains one of the leaders in the race to quantum computing.

The company unveiled Nighthawk, a 120-qubit processor, and Loon, an experimental chip for error correction.

IBM is developing quantum processors as well as a quantum mainframe.

IBM's roadmap reveals plans to deliver large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computing by 2029.

Google is also in the race. In October 2025, Google said its Willow chip achieved the first-ever verifiable quantum advantage, running its Quantum Echoes algorithm beyond the reach of classical computers.

As companies race to develop this technology, leaders in several industries are anticipating its impact. See the quantum computing startups raising money now.

The funding jump may suggest quantum computing is drawing late-stage money, although most commercial uses are still years away.

6. Enterprise and Public Use of IoT Expands

The number of connected IoT devices keeps climbing.

IoT Analytics estimates there were 21.1 billion connected IoT devices at the end of 2025, up 14% from 18.5 billion in 2024. There are expectations that the number would reach 39 billion by 2030.

For more figures, see our IoT statistics.

Business leaders from a variety of industries are adopting and expanding their use of IoT technology in order to improve connectivity and data collection.

Manufacturing is one industry that’s investing in IoT (nicknamed the “industrial internet of things” or IIoT) as part of an effort to create smart factories.

Searches for “IIoT” are up 54% over the past 5 years, according to Exploding Topics.

For instance, sensors on machinery gather data from the machines, store it wirelessly, and a machine-learning platform runs through the data to analyze it and assess if human intervention is needed.

This process can be used to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and predict maintenance needs.

IoT devices are also powering smart cities.

Sensors collect data from things like electric meters, trash cans, traffic signals, and more. That data is then used to make cities more efficient and their residents safer.

The steady growth in connected devices suggests IoT data will keep feeding the AI and edge computing trends in this report.

7. Ambient Computing Enables Nearly Invisible Tech

Ambient computing is a concept that builds on IoT and promises a future of nearly invisible technology.

With ambient computing, an AI-driven network of devices and software runs in the background (all around us) with little to no human intervention required.

The technology uses both AI and machine learning to interpret data gathered from physical devices, like smart thermometers and smart watches, and make decisions on their own.

All of this technology comes together to create devices that can interact with both individuals and other devices.

Ambient computing is able to understand user context and take action depending on those preferences.

Ambient computing is still a young technology, but use cases are already being seen in both consumer-focused and business-focused solutions.

Voice assistants and smartphone-controlled thermostats are great examples of ambient computing, but this technology has the potential to become even more invisible.

Ecobee’s smart thermostats learn the routines of homeowners, recognize when nobody is home, and automatically adjust the temperature.

Factories are using the tech to monitor and schedule maintenance on machines.

When the IoT device recognizes the machine needs servicing, it links up with the software that schedules maintenance and inputs that machine on the schedule.

In retail, sensors on shelves could automatically order new inventory when stock is running low.

However, as this technology progresses, privacy and security concerns will be top of mind.

Ambient computing may be less a single market than a design goal: technology that works in the background without being asked.

8. Robots and Robotic Process Automation Gain Ground

As the lines between artificial intelligence and machine learning continue to blur, businesses are finding an increasing number of ways to integrate automation into their processes.

And one of the emerging technologies executives are most excited about is robotic process automation (RPA).

RPA involves training software programs to perform or execute mundane, repetitive tasks. These solutions can save time and money on low-value, mundane tasks within a business.

For instance, when RPA is at work copying and pasting information from a document to a database the process goes faster and the results have a higher rate of accuracy than when humans perform the task.

Not to mention that high-value human talent can be applied to another task.

RPA can also be used to extract data from websites, book appointments, collect information from customers, monitor compliance, and onboard employees — just to name a few tasks.

UiPath is one of the best-known RPA vendors.

Exploding Topics data shows that searches for “UiPath” are up 285% over the past 5 years.

UiPath has marketed its automation tools as integral to a business’s digital transformation.

Robotics Industry Statistics

Physical robots are growing fast too. Factories worldwide ran a record 5 million industrial robots in 2025, up 9% from the previous year, according to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) World Robotics 2026 report.

The IFR also found that factories installed more than 600,000 new industrial robots in 2025, up 11% from 2024. In 2024, installations were 542,000, the fourth year in a row above 500,000.

China installed 295,000 industrial robots in 2024, 54% of the global total, according to the IFR’s World Robotics 2025 report. Japan installed 44,500, the US 34,200, South Korea 30,600 and Germany 26,982.

IFR’s service robot figures show that sales of professional service robots reached almost 200,000 in 2024, up 9%. Transport and logistics robots made up more than half, at 102,900 units, up 14%.

Crunchbase News reported that the largest robotics round of 2025 was Figure’s $1 billion Series C, at a $39 billion post-money valuation.

Exploding Topics data shows that searches for “humanoid robots” are up 2,400% over the past 5 years.

For investors and founders, the valuation and the record number of robots in factories suggest robotics is attracting large, late-stage bets. See the robotics startups to watch.

9. FemTech Looks to Reform Traditional Women’s Healthcare

The FemTech sector — defined as tech related to fertility, menstruation, pregnancy, and other women’s health topics — is poised for huge growth in the coming years.

Searches for “FemTech” are up 100% over the past 5 years, according to Exploding Topics.

Virtual clinics are providing telemedicine solutions that give more women access to care. Trackers and wearables are giving women data to better assess their health.

FemTech startups are also bringing more attention to groups that are often overlooked in traditional care settings. Maven Clinic became the first female-focused health startup to reach a $1 billion valuation, in 2021.

Searches for “Maven Clinic” are up 400% over the past 5 years, according to Exploding Topics.

The company created a digital health platform to provide medical care specifically to women and families.

Maven Clinic’s digital platform offers care for women and families.

For health-tech investors, FemTech may still be an early-stage market with room to grow.

10. Wearable Devices Get Sleeker & Smarter

The wearables market is still growing, but slowly.

According to IDC, worldwide wearable shipments will grow 1.7% in 2026, to about 625 million units, as higher component, logistics and tariff costs weigh on demand.

Up until recently, many wearables were focused on sleep tracking and step counting. In recent years, however, we’ve seen devices launched with features that go far beyond these basic functions.

Smart rings are one of the clearest examples.

A few tech companies offer smart rings with built-in near-field communication technology. Some rings track sleep and health data, and others let wearers make payments or unlock doors.

Exploding Topics data shows that searches for “smart ring” are up 1,050% over the past 5 years. See more wearable startups.

For founders, these trends imply that a slower-growing wearables market suggests growth will come from new form factors, such as rings and glasses, rather than from more smartwatches.

11. Extended Reality Shifts From Headsets to Smart Glasses

As the lines blur between mixed reality, augmented reality, and virtual reality, the term “extended reality” has become an umbrella term designed to encompass all of the above and more.

Searches for “extended reality” are up 212% over the past 5 years, according to Exploding Topics.

According to IDC, the XR market grew 44.4% in 2025, driven by smart glasses. IDC forecasts growth of 33.5% in 2026.

IDC also found that Meta held 72.2% of the XR market in 2025, but its Quest headset shipments fell 42.3%. IDC expects display glasses to outsell VR and MR headsets by 2027.

Exploding Topics data shows that searches for “smart glasses” are up 750% over the past 5 years.

The concept of extended reality includes AR, MR, and VR applications.

For starters, there are multiple B2B use cases where extended reality could drive serious innovation.

One, in particular, is the medical field.

In just one application, extended reality is being used to train both new and existing surgeons. This technology could prove highly useful in helping surgeons understand the intricacies of new, innovative surgeries they may not have learned about in school or previous positions.

The automotive and manufacturing industries are two other sectors in which extended reality is expected to make an impact in the coming years.

VR training is helping automotive manufacturing employees practice assemblies and prevent errors.

The technicians in these industries are required to perform highly intricate processes and machine work.

Because of that, extended reality technology can be used to provide an up-close, first-person view of those processes in a safe environment where mistakes can easily be remedied.

When technicians are able to practice assembly processes before stepping onto the actual line, human error and injuries can be prevented.

For product teams, the shift from headsets to glasses suggests XR is moving from games and entertainment toward everyday, hands-free use.

12. Edge Computing Transforms How Enterprises Use Data

Companies are spending heavily on edge computing.

Spending on edge computing reached $265 billion in 2025. IDC expects it to nearly double by 2029.

As the world is becoming increasingly digital — and 5G technology enables larger data transfers at faster speeds — IT infrastructure is requiring more processing power than ever.

In particular, growth in data-intensive technologies like personal and enterprise use of IoT, remote health monitoring, and remote work is expected to continue pushing global data processing requirements to record highs.

To process all that data, companies are moving more of their budgets into edge computing.

Exploding Topics data shows that searches for “edge computing” are up 137% over the past 5 years.

With a focus on speed and network distribution, edge computing is designed to improve response times and save bandwidth by moving processing power physically closer to the source of data.

Cloud computing has been one popular way businesses have attempted to deal with massive amounts of data and increasing technology needs.

However, cloud computing is both expensive and resource-intensive. This is especially true for companies dealing with large amounts of data because many cloud storage services base their fees on usage.

The cost of cloud services continues to be a pain point for IT.

Because of this, corporations are looking at ways to reduce their dependence on cloud computing by moving to edge computing instead.

Companies will be able to reduce their cloud computing bill while providing a faster user experience to end-users.

Edge computing also decreases latency because data isn’t being sent back and forth between the cloud and devices. This provides enterprises with the opportunity to analyze data faster and make quicker decisions.

The lower latency achieved by edge computing allows enterprise leaders to make real-time decisions.

Growing reliance on AI is also fueling the growth of edge computing.

To reach its full potential AI/ML systems will need to become more data-driven. And that means more analysis and computation needs to happen at the edge.

Searches for “edge AI” are up 3,700% over the past 5 years, according to Exploding Topics.

Self-driving cars are a great example of edge AI in the real world. The car’s sensors collect data and take action in the blink of an eye without ever sending that data to the cloud.

In another example, edge AI enables security cameras to process data and run real-time algorithms to detect suspicious activity and take action immediately.

For enterprise strategy teams, edge spending on this scale suggests AI workloads are moving closer to where data is created.

13. More Developers and Non-Developers Use Low/No Code Tools

Creating tools that help developers work faster has become critical for companies that want to move initiatives forward and outpace their competition.

Fortunately, that’s precisely what low-code and no-code (LCNC) software programs can do.

With visual models and AI-powered tools combined, software developers who use LCNC are able to skip, or at least expedite, the time-consuming process of writing thousands of lines of code from scratch.

This dramatically streamlines the coding process and speeds up the development of software.

And it’s not just full-time software developers that benefit from these new tools.

Because LCNC solutions are meant to be user-friendly by design, an increasing number of non-developers are able to build software programs too.

At the core of LCNC solutions are what’s known as low-code application platforms (LCAPs). These platforms are component-based and offer pre-defined templates.

Mendix, which Siemens acquired in 2018, is one of the best-known low-code platforms.

Searches for “Mendix” are up 7% over the past 5 years, according to Exploding Topics.

The Mendix platform provides visual, model-driven app development.

With more people building applications through LCNC tools, these platforms are likely to keep spreading across enterprises.

What’s Next for Technology?

That wraps up our list of the top 13 technology trends impacting enterprises and consumers right now.

From AI agents to record robotics funding and the shift to smart glasses, the past year has shown how quickly the technology sector changes.

The trends above suggest that AI will keep shaping most of the others, from diagnostics and cybersecurity to robots and edge devices.

For investors, founders and strategy teams, these are the areas to watch as the next wave of technology takes shape.

How We Compiled These Trends

We used company announcements (IBM and Google), named reports and datasets (Stanford HAI, McKinsey, the US FDA, the World Economic Forum, BloombergNEF, Rhodium Group, IDC, IoT Analytics and the International Federation of Robotics), funding data from Crunchbase News, and search data from Exploding Topics. Figures are as of October 31, 2026.

You may also like:

• Top AI and Machine Learning Trends
• Huge Digital Marketing Trends
• Fast-Growing AI Companies

Want to see which tech companies and markets are growing fastest? The Semrush Traffic & Market toolkit shows any company’s website traffic, audience and market share. Try Semrush free, and use Exploding Topics Pro to spot the next technology trends before they take off.