Tech trends 2026

2026 tech trends aren't futurology; they are a description of a reality that is already happening. The latest CB Insights 2026 Report only organizes what I see today in conversations with founders, investors, and tech leaders globally. Technology isn't just business support anymore; it has become its backbone, an indispensable part, and the architect of success. Here is what is trending for 2026:

AI agents are entering companies not as an experiment, but as a real operational force. The problem today isn't whether AI works. The problem is that many companies can't measure its real impact. Without measuring ROI, even the best technology becomes an expensive curiosity. AI is a cost, but it can be a value multiplier—obviously, only when implemented consciously.

The back office is starting to run itself. Finance, compliance, documents, reporting processes. That is where the biggest savings are happening today, and where AI is already earning billions. Europe has a huge chance here, but only if it treats data as a strategic asset, not a regulatory burden.

Private capital is outpacing public markets. The world's largest tech companies are growing outside the stock exchange, and access to them is beginning to democratize. This is a huge opportunity, but also a risk. Without investment education, retail investors will pay for someone else's hype.

Stablecoins are leaving the crypto niche and entering corporate finance. Treasury, settlements, liquidity. This isn't ideology; it's the pragmatics of cost and speed. Poland, with its strong fintech DNA, could be an integrator of global solutions here. For now, however, a lack of political consensus might leave us lagging behind in developing this sphere.

E-commerce is ceasing to be just a website. Shopping will be part of a conversation with AI. Whoever doesn't optimize for generative engines will disappear from the market. This is a fundamental change in the logic of trade.

AI needs energy. Data centers are becoming an element of state infrastructure. Without investment in grids and energy flexibility, there will be neither technological sovereignty nor growth. This is our main challenge.

Sovereign AI is not a slogan. It is the answer to geopolitics, regulations, and data security. If Poland wants to be a player, and not just a consumer market, it must invest in local models, competencies, and ecosystems.

Space, defense, health, robotics, physical AI. These are not separate industries. They are one connected system of the new economy. A convergence that will bring changes on a centennial scale.

We are at a moment where change is attainable; we can still catch this train to the future. In a moment, it might be too late. It is better to build now than to chase later. That’s why: Energy, Technology, Deregulation, stupid...