I’m removed from the primary to make use of AI to attempt to predict the longer term. A study printed in late 2024 by a Wharton professor confirmed that pooling predictions from completely different LLMs produced outcomes similar to these achieved through the use of human forecasters.
Curiosity obtained the higher of me, and I questioned: Might I get an correct prediction about what is going to occur in 2026 by asking 4 main AI assistants?
For this scaled-down version of the previous experiment, I wasn’t interested in bombastic sci-fi fantasies. No, I wanted to know about what structural shifts in AI, the workplace, and society could be heading our way over the next 365 days. The only rule was that the AI predictions had to be grounded in observable trends, not wild guesses.
So I asked ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and Claude to paint me a picture of what 2026 might look like. I first wanted their predictions typed black on white, but then I also asked them to generate an actual picture that they felt best represented their thoughts. Lastly, I compared everything side by side, looking for statements all four independently landed on. Here’s what happened.
ChatGPT
ChatGPT made the daring prediction that “2026 is unlikely to be dramatic”. Fingers crossed, I assume?
It went on to counsel that our use of AI will considerably change as we drift away from initiating prompts and shift to approving AI actions that shall be partially autonomous by default. AI will draft replies, reshuffle calendars, and summarize paperwork by default, leaving us to approve their actions or intervene.
I requested ChatGPT whether or not we’ll see GPT-6 be launched in 2026.
“Seemingly, however not confirmed,” was its reply.
With regard to office dynamics, ChatGPT mentioned middle-tier roles (junior analysts, entry-level researchers) will proceed to shrink. Sadly, the rise of AI won’t see us working fewer hours as the thought of “extra output” is changing the dream of “much less work”.
On the whole, ChatGPT additionally predicts that nameless content material will lose affect on-line as folks will flip to identified authors, verified sources, and institutional credibility amid a flood of AI-generated content material. Even fewer folks shall be searching the net and as a substitute ask AI straight for solutions to their questions.
If ChatGPT is to be believed, extra of our associates will begin pursuing analogue hobbies that take us away from our screens to take pleasure in absolutely offline experiences.
Gemini
Google’s Gemini mentioned 2026 shall be outlined by autonomous AI the place we transfer previous the novelty of chatting with AI assistants and as a substitute collaborate with brokers who could be quietly dealing with duties for us.
It additionally advised we’ll see the rise of Small Language Fashions (SLMs) operating regionally on our telephones, making certain none of our delicate knowledge leaves our pockets. However talking of your pockets, get able to open them to pay for high quality content material as creators transfer their productions behind paywalls as they see net site visitors from conventional sources decline.
If Gemini is to be believed, mid-to-senior degree expertise at corporations shall be holding round 2 concurrent “fractional” roles at completely different corporations quite than one full-time job as a defend in opposition to layoffs.
Curiously, it additionally advised folks will begin native, community-based bartering networks in response to world provide chain volatility. Looks as if all these hours I’ve logged on RPGs will come in useful!
Perplexity
Perplexity dubbed 2026 because the yr of authenticity, the place AI productiveness turns into measurable, outcomes at work will trump time-tracking, and creators will concentrate on being weak quite than polished.
By way of its AI-related predictions, Perplexity mentioned the hole between corporations that use AI and people who don’t will widen. It additionally expects to see the rise of bodily AI because the instruments we’re utilizing on-line will make their presence felt in the actual world.
Claude
As far as workplace dynamics go, Claude predicted an increase within the four-day work week with Gen Z staff pushing for extra flexibility and purpose-driven work.
It additionally picked up on digital-detox tendencies and mentioned we will anticipate to “see the primary main social platform implement utilization discount options as a aggressive benefit quite than resistance.”
Claude anticipates that almost all main AI techniques will seamlessly combine textual content, voice, picture, and video capabilities as baseline options quite than particular additions in 2026.
Satirically, since Claude can’t generate its personal photos, I requested it to draft a immediate that I’d move on to one in all my favourite AI picture era instruments, Leonardo. It will deal with the remaining.
Final thoughts
The full responses of the four AI assistants were far too long to reproduce here, but I compared them side by side.
The one thing there seemed to be unanimity on was that we can expect to see a shift in how we use AI. Our current prompt-based interactions with chatbots will make room for AI that’s more autonomous as it becomes integrated into more parts of our lives.
I then also pulled out predictions for 2026 that at least three of the chatbots had in common. These were:
- Employers will prioritize human-centric traits like strategy and emotional intelligence over technical skills
- Verified sources will become premium assets
- Traditional web browsing and search engine usage will decline
I found it interesting to observe the predictions of the four AI assistants seem to point to a defining tension of 2026: where AI becomes an invisible co-pilot of our lives, while we simultaneously retreat into offline sanctuaries to take a break from it all.
We could be heading into an interesting year. See you on the other side!
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