Autonomous AI Is on the Rise
The first AI tools to penetrate the broader technology market were rather like a bicycle with training wheels. They could assist with various tasks, but couldn’t be trusted to work alone. Here in 2026, that’s starting to change. Today’s agentic and AI‑native systems can handle far more than that — and they’re going mobile, too. For example, take the Rabbit R1. It’s a purpose‑built portable AI assistant device built around a custom‑designed large action model (LAM). This means it can theoretically act proactively on your behalf, handling tasks such as scheduling appointments, purchasing event and flight tickets, and more.
It’s worth pointing out that the Rabbit R1 and others of its kind are still early in their developmental cycles. However, they are opening a window into a near future where almost everyone will have an AI‑powered assistant that can actually do useful things, not just answer random questions. That makes agentic AI — along with the devices and solutions it powers — worthy of inclusion on this list.
Solid‑State Energy Storage and Smart Grid Technology Go Commercial
Tech evangelists have been talking about the smart grid and next‑generation energy storage, such as solid‑state batteries, for years. In 2026, it appears there’s more to those things than just talk. A handful of Chinese EV manufacturers already have solid‑state battery‑powered EVs in the late stages of testing, and well‑known global automakers like Toyota aren’t far behind. The new batteries promise to change the game for EVs and green energy generation. Solid‑state batteries are safer, last longer, retain capacity after countless charge cycles, and recharge in a fraction of the time of lithium‑ion batteries.
The emergence of solid‑state batteries will also accelerate efforts to build next‑generation smart power grids. They can allow renewables such as wind and solar to provide base‑load capacity, which they presently cannot. Plus, solid‑state battery storage should help make small solar systems far more capable of off‑grid performance. Expect to see them appearing in residential and commercial applications soon, too.
The Beginnings of 6G Networks
It seems like only yesterday that wireless companies began shifting towards 5G networks. There were headlines about it virtually everywhere — including more than a few covering moronic conspiracy theories about 5G — making it hard to miss. In 2026, however, the beginnings of 5G’s successor, 6G, are already starting to take shape, with far less fanfare.
Although active 6G networks won’t begin appearing until around 2030, the standards that will make them possible are coming into focus in 2026. Experts believe the finalised standard will include some remarkable capabilities, including:
- Integrated terrestrial and satellite connectivity
- Data transmission rates up to ten times faster than 5G
- Support for connection densities as high as 100 million devices per square kilometre
- Reliable connectivity at speeds up to 1,000 kph
- Latency as low as 0.1 microseconds
When you consider the implications of increasingly capable AI‑powered systems paired with a blazing‑fast 6G network, it’s difficult to imagine what smartphones will be able to do within the next few years.
Starlink Gets Some Competition
Speaking of satellite connectivity, SpaceX’s Starlink service continues to grow in popularity. According to SpaceX, the service already has nearly 12 million active subscribers, and the number keeps rising. However, they won’t have the high‑speed, low‑latency satellite internet market to themselves for much longer. That’s because Project LEO, Amazon’s satellite internet service, will go live in 2026.
Amazon LEO appears to have some key advantages over Starlink. For one, it has a target top speed of 1 Gbps — more than double Starlink’s current real‑world maximum performance. It should also offer better latency, a functional satellite‑to‑satellite OISL mesh network, and a unified satellite and terminal chipset capable of up to 1 Tbps throughput. And Amazon can offer the service as part of its Prime bundle, which some 240 million people already pay for. Expect 2026 to mark the beginning of a fierce battle between satellite internet titans.
The Arrival of Holographic Display Technology
If you remember watching the original Star Wars trilogy and wondering when holographic projection would become a reality, your wait is nearly over. Multiple companies are bringing devices capable of holographic display to market in 2026. One example is the Hololuminescent™ Display range by Looking Glass, with the first model set to launch in May 2026. Sony is also building upon its groundbreaking line of Spatial Reality Display (SRD) screens with new models arriving in 2026. You can expect to see them first in high‑end retail spaces, with the technology soon making its way into consumer‑oriented hardware.
The Takeaway
Everywhere you look, new technology is reshaping the world around us. The advancements covered here are only the most prominent examples. There will almost certainly be far more breakthroughs during 2026 that aren’t even on our radar yet. So, keep checking back to learn about them as they happen. We’ll continue bringing you the latest news, views, and stories about the technology you need to know as it emerges.
By Radoslav Jokic
Updated on 12th May 2026