Larry Magid: Where we’ve been, where we’re headed in tech as year ends

As we ring in 2026, I’m looking back at last year and forward to what might come in 2026.

AI was and will remain the big story

Although it was no longer a novelty, generative AI, including services such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Claude and Meta AI, came into its own in 2025. An Elon University survey found that about half the adults in the United States had used such a service. The most common tasks were research (80%), writing (75%), tutoring and learning (67%), lifestyle and hobby activities (66%), designing creations (59%), and computer coding (42%).

It was also the year that AI became embedded nearly everywhere including phones, search, productivity tools and even cars.

As I look forward to 2026, I’m confident that usage will continue to grow, and people will find even more uses for a technology that can seemingly do almost anything. We will also see the growth of “agentic AI,” where the systems don’t just advise you on how to do something, but do it for you.

Skepticism about AI will persist, and we’ll continue to hear warnings about its potential dangers. Still, for most people, the benefits will increasingly outweigh the risks. That will be especially true in education, where schools that once banned AI are likely to find practical ways to incorporate it into their curriculum.

We’ll also see more specialized applications built on models trained by expert sources, helping reduce, although not eliminate, errors such as false or misleading information. It wouldn’t be surprising to see medical clinics begin offering AI tools as a supplement to a doctor’s advice, rather than a replacement. I’m already using it to help me interpret medical test results while always consulting my doctor before taking any actions based on what it says.

Tech deals
There were plenty of deals around AI including Google’s $32 billion acquisition of cloud-security firm Wiz, Meta’s $14 billion investment in Scale AI, which brought its founder and CEO Alexandr Wang into Meta, along with a U.S. government stake in Intel to bolster domestic chipmaking and a massive $500 billion AI infrastructure joint venture involving OpenAI, Oracle and SoftBank, according to Business Insider.

Santa Clara-based Nvidia, saw its market capitalization surge in 2025 on the strength of the AI boom, briefly becoming the world’s most valuable public company as demand for its AI chips drove its valuation into the $5 trillion range before some volatility later in the year.

AI in everyday gadgets

Apple’s 2025 iPhone 17 upgrade was mostly modest, though its voice assistant, Siri, now passes some inquiries off to OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Google, now a leader in AI, added some impressive features to its Pixel 10 Pro, including on-device AI for photography, voice functions and everyday automation. Amazon rolled out a new version of Alexa, called Alexa+, powered by large language models that can answer almost any question you might ask a smart speaker. I’ve been testing it, and although its answers are often impressive, the assistant has become a bit too chatty. A new feature lets you ask follow-up questions without repeating the wake word, which can be convenient, except that Alexa sometimes listens and responds when you’re talking to another person rather than the smart speaker.

Legislation coming in 2026

I don’t have an AI-powered crystal ball, but I do have a sense of what may be coming in 2026, including a wave of state legislation around the country aimed at protecting children online. Many of these proposals are likely to mirror Australia’s social media ban, along with bills requiring parental controls and, in some cases, monitoring of teens’ social media use. Not all of these state measures will pass, and those that do are almost certain to be challenged in court, largely on First Amendment grounds.

In 2025, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a wide-ranging package of privacy and artificial-intelligence bills into law, tightening oversight of fast-moving technologies. The measures include SB 53, requiring developers of powerful AI systems to disclose safety practices; AB 853, expanding transparency and labeling requirements for AI-generated content; and SB 243, setting safety and disclosure rules for companion chatbots.

However, in October, President Trump signed an executive order stating, “It is the policy of the United States to sustain and enhance the United States’ global AI dominance through a minimally burdensome national policy framework for AI,” and established a task force “to challenge State AI laws inconsistent with the policy.”

There were lots of state laws passed in 2026 to protect children online but none as bold as Australia’s social media ban for teens under 16, which went into effect in late 2005.

Much of the action is likely to come from the states, but at the federal level, I expect the Kids Online Safety Act to resurface in Congress in 2026, although its fate remains uncertain. Despite bipartisan support, concerns about free speech, over-moderation and unintended harm to vulnerable groups have repeatedly stalled the bill. If I had to bet, I’d say it’s unlikely to pass, even as pressure continues to grow nationwide to protect children and teens from both the real and imagined dangers of social media.

Possible upcoming products and closing thought

As for products, 2026 could bring a radically redesigned iPhone, possibly including a foldable model, along with a wave of devices with embedded AI meant to make technology simpler and more practical. Some of that AI will inevitably get in the way and annoy users, leading to plenty of gripes but no major backlash as AI continues to creep into many everyday devices.

My plan for 2026 is to continue to closely follow how personal technology impacts our lives and look at products that, hopefully, can make us more productive. But as I look back and forward, I’m reminded that although tech can bring some joy to our lives, it’s no substitute for friends, family and personal fulfillment. Wishing you a happy, healthy and productive New Year.

Larry Magid is a tech journalist and internet safety activist. Contact him at larry@larrymagid.com.