Is the era of AI butlers approaching, and will there be a major reshuffle of jobs? A well-known scholar predicts the top eight AI trends for 2026.

On September 24th, well - known futurist Bernard Marr recently released his predictions for the development of AI: By 2026, artificial intelligence will no longer be a hot - topic on everyone's lips. Instead, it will quietly integrate into every aspect of our lives, just like electricity and the Internet.

Marr is a globally renowned futurist and a best - selling author. He has published over 20 award - winning best - selling books, including Practical Applications of Generative AI. He is also a strategic consultant, providing advice and guidance to many world - famous organizations. He has been ranked among the top five business influencers on LinkedIn.

Will AI experience a bubble burst? Perhaps. But Marr believes that even if there is a "bubble" in the AI field similar to the one in the Internet industry in 2000, it won't stop its spread. Economically, the market will keep an eye on companies that pour large amounts of money into AI to see if they can truly bring growth and profits.

For most of us, the most tangible feeling will be how AI gradually changes our daily lives bit by bit.

Based on the above considerations, Marr has listed the following eight trends that will be crucial in determining the development of AI in 2026 and the next few years:

Trend 1: AI Agents: From "Assistants" to "Stewards"

2026 will be the year when AI agents are truly popularized. Simply put, AI will no longer be just a tool that answers your questions. Instead, it will be a "steward" or "colleague" that can proactively handle things for you.

For example, in the future, ChatGPT will not only be able to answer questions and generate content but also directly handle daily tasks for you, such as ordering groceries, arranging trips, and even controlling smart home devices. At work, AI will no longer be a simple auxiliary tool but will be able to independently coordinate complex projects, communicate with the outside world on your behalf, and complete long - term tasks.

Trend 2: Hard to Distinguish between Real and Fake: 90% of Online Content Will Be AI - Generated

By 2026, 90% of online content may be generated by AI. This will bring two problems: First, the spread of false information may threaten social stability. Second, a large amount of homogenized content lacking genuine emotions will drown out high - quality content created by humans. By then, the core challenge for all creators will be how to make their works stand out in the "AI assembly line".

Trend 3: Drastic Changes in Work Patterns: Accelerated Replacement of Old and New Jobs

In 2026, the impact of AI on the job market will be more obvious. On the one hand, many new jobs will emerge, such as prompt engineers, AI inheritance experts, and AI ethics consultants. Knowledge workers need to hand over routine tasks to AI and agents and focus on more creative and strategic work. On the other hand, some companies will use AI to reduce labor costs, and lay - offs in some industries may continue.

Trend 4: AI Enters the Physical World

AI is "stepping out" of mobile phones and computers and entering our physical world. Self - driving cars, humanoid robots that carry heavy objects in warehouses and hospitals, and ubiquitous Internet of Things devices are all manifestations of the combination of AI and reality. In 2026, AI will no longer be just the driving force behind mobile apps or computer software. As regulations and safety mechanisms mature, AI will be deeply integrated into homes, factories, and offices, changing the way we interact with everything around us.

Trend 5: AI Becomes a New Bargaining Chip in Great - Power Games

Governments around the world have realized that AI is a strategic technology crucial to national competitiveness, as important as nuclear weapons. Nowadays, AI - generated content has been used to influence elections, and trade restrictions on AI hardware have become an economic means to suppress rivals. Except for nuclear weapons, few technologies can affect the global power balance like AI. In 2026, global competition around AI technology, core data, and supply chains will become more intense.

Trend 6: The "Invisibility" of AI: Everywhere but Unnoticed

When a technology becomes widespread enough, people will no longer talk about it all the time. Just as we don't discuss "electricity" every day now, as AI integrates into every aspect of life, it will gradually become "invisible". For children born after 2010, having a natural conversation with machines will be a perfectly normal thing. AI will no longer be a "new thing" to be discussed but will become "a part of life".

Trend 7: The Popularization of AI in the Medical Field

In 2025, we have already seen intelligent stethoscopes that can assist in diagnosing heart diseases. By 2026, AI will no longer be a "cutting - edge experiment" in the medical field but will become a regular tool for doctors. Whether it's diagnosing diseases, monitoring patient recovery, or researching and developing new drugs, AI will fully enter the stage of clinical application and become part of the basic medical process.

Trend 8: The "Electricity Bill" That Can't Be Avoided in AI Development

The huge energy consumption of AI has become an unavoidable problem. The U.S. Department of Energy predicts that the power consumption of data centers will rise sharply. By 2028, the power consumption of data centers will account for 12% of the total electricity consumption in the United States. Therefore, "energy conservation" will become one of the core issues in AI development in 2026. By 2026, the AI industry will be committed to finding more efficient and greener solutions, such as using AI to optimize the power supply and heat dissipation of servers, and even developing new energy sources like micro - nuclear power plants.

Conclusion

In summary, as AI continues to evolve at a high - speed, 2026 will be a crucial year for this technology to completely reshape our lives. From transforming various industries to bringing new ethical challenges, future changes will bring both opportunities and challenges. Whether it's companies, employees, or individuals, keeping up with AI trends will be the key to survival and success in the next decade.

This article is from "Tencent Technology", author: Jin Lu. Republished by 36Kr with permission.