4 Tech Trends That Will Shape 2026 And The Breakthroughs Powering Them

It has been an honour and a privilege to spend a year as Futurist in Residence at Nokia, getting access to their Bell Labs research facilities, meeting brilliant scientists and engineers pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, and learning from the people driving genuine innovation at the technological frontier.

This experience has given me a clear view of four technology trends that will really matter in 2026 and beyond. From AI that understands the physical world to quantum technologies with the potential to transform science, to networks that perceive their environments, and even the beginnings of communications infrastructure in space, the foundations of the next era are being built right now.

Each trend has enormous momentum, but what has struck me most is how closely they are intertwined. AI is moving into the real world, sensing technologies are giving our infrastructure new kinds of awareness, quantum breakthroughs are changing what computation and security can mean, and space systems are becoming part of the mainstream connectivity landscape.

With 2026 approaching, let’s explore four developments that excite me and the impact they could have on business and society.

AI That Understands and Acts in the Real World

For years, AI has mostly lived in digital spaces. It learned from text, images, and data. That era is expanding rapidly into something far more ambitious: AI that can interpret the physical world and act within it. In Nokia’s research labs, I have seen early versions of AI models that merge language capabilities with spatial awareness, almost like giving machines a sense of context like how humans read a room before making a decision.

These large world models can ingest real-world data, map it to the environment, and respond with reasoning that adapts to changing conditions. The potential impact is enormous. Factories could operate with fleets of autonomous machines that understand their surroundings and work safely alongside people. Logistics systems could coordinate robots, vehicles, and sensors with fewer errors and delays. Even infrastructure, such as energy grids or transportation networks, could optimize themselves more intelligently when AI is able to interpret what is happening in the physical environment.

Nokia’s work in this space is especially important because AI at this scale needs the right connectivity foundation. Real-world AI cannot function well if networks are slow or fragile. It needs real-time communication, reliable data flows, and strong security. That is where Nokia’s expertise in industrial networks, private wireless systems, and AI-optimized infrastructure allows these AI capabilities to move from impressive concepts to something that can transform business operations.

What excites me most is the human impact. AI that operates in the real world is not simply about automation. It opens new possibilities in areas like healthcare, clean energy, and transportation, where smart systems can respond more effectively to human needs. Think of robots that support hospital staff, or city infrastructure that adjusts traffic flows to improve safety. We are entering a phase where AI becomes less of a digital assistant and more of a real-world partner.

Quantum Technologies That Expand Our Scientific Reach

Quantum computing has often been compared to a sleeping giant. Powerful, unpredictable, and occasionally misunderstood. What I have seen at Nokia Bell Labs convinces me that this giant is beginning to stir. The research into topological qubits is particularly compelling. Traditional qubits lose their state very quickly, which limits the scale and usefulness of quantum computers. Nokia’s work on topological qubits aims to store quantum information in more stable structures, which could allow systems to remain coherent far longer than today’s devices.

The implications are profound. If qubits become more stable, quantum computers could eventually simulate materials, molecules, and biological processes with extraordinary accuracy. This could accelerate breakthroughs in drug discovery, battery chemistry, and climate modelling. Scientists could explore scenarios that are currently impossible to compute, almost like adding new lenses to a scientific microscope.

Alongside this, Nokia’s focus on quantum-safe networks is one of the most practical and urgent areas of innovation in use today. Even before large-scale quantum computers arrive, organizations need to protect long-lived data on the move from future decryption. Nokia’s quantum-safe networking strategy combines new cryptographic algorithms with flexible systems that can evolve as standards and discoveries advance. That kind of adaptability is essential, since the quantum landscape will continue to shift.

For businesses, the message is clear. Quantum has moved from theory to engineering. It may not be fully mature, but its momentum is undeniable, and the organizations preparing today will be better positioned for tomorrow. In my conversations with Nokia’s researchers, the sense of possibility is enormous. Quantum may reshape entire industries, and it is encouraging to see a company investing so deeply in both the computing research and the connectivity aspects of the technology.

Sensing Technologies That Give Infrastructure New Awareness

One of the most surprising discoveries during my time with Nokia has been how far sensing innovation has come. If AI represents the brains of future systems, sensing technologies provide the senses that allow infrastructure to understand real-world conditions.

Nokia’s research teams are exploring advanced methods for detecting movement, vibration, environmental changes, and even subtle patterns in radio signals or fibre optic cables. What stood out to me is how these technologies can transform everyday infrastructure into intelligent systems. Fiber optic sensing could detect early signs of earthquakes or shifts in underwater conditions. Radio-based sensing could improve safety in industrial settings without requiring intrusive cameras. Real-time environmental awareness could allow cities to respond more effectively to emergencies or congestion.

The beauty of these innovations is that they build on networks and systems already in place. They add intelligence rather than replacing physical infrastructure. That is a powerful concept for businesses that want to modernize without rebuilding entire systems from scratch.

In many ways, sensing is the quiet revolution. It may not attract as many headlines as AI or quantum, but it unlocks capabilities that could change how we manage risk, productivity, and sustainability. As the climate, energy demands, and global supply chains become more complex, sensing infrastructure could help organizations stay one step ahead rather than reacting after the fact.

Space Communications That Extend Connectivity Beyond Earth

Space is becoming more intertwined with our connectivity landscape than ever before. Once the domain of government agencies, space is now a critical platform for commercial communication, scientific observation, and even industrial activity. Nokia’s work in this area, including the first cellular network on the Moon, demonstrates how familiar technologies can be adapted for extreme environments.

I find this incredibly compelling because it signals a shift in how we think about connectivity. Space communication will not sit apart from terrestrial networks. It will extend them. Satellite links will provide high-quality connectivity to remote regions, enable new kinds of exploration, and support early versions of a space economy. Optical links between Earth and orbit could move data at speeds that open new possibilities for science and industry.

For businesses that rely on global connectivity, space systems will play an increasingly important role in resilience and coverage with other technologies. For researchers, they create opportunities to monitor environmental shifts or coordinate missions beyond Earth. And for society, they expand the boundaries of what is possible. The idea that a future lunar base or space-based data centre could operate on familiar communication technologies shows how close this vision has become.

Where The Trends Converge

The most exciting part of exploring these technologies has been recognizing how they reinforce each other. AI needs better networks to operate in the real world. Quantum advances require secure and adaptable communication systems. Sensing infrastructure creates data that improves AI performance. Space systems extend networks into new environments that support global connectivity.

The companies that understand these connections will shape the defining technologies of the next decade. Nokia stands out because it invests deeply in research while also building the industrial-grade networks that make innovation usable at scale. That combination of vision and practicality is what turns breakthroughs into real-world progress.

A Future Built on Intelligent Infrastructure

As I look ahead to 2026 and beyond, I see a future shaped by intelligent infrastructure that can understand, compute, communicate and adapt. This infrastructure will support AI systems that operate in the real world, quantum systems that expand scientific discovery, sensing technologies that provide awareness, and space-based communications that stretch the boundaries of human reach.

We are building the foundations of that future today. The organizations that start preparing now, by strengthening their networks, investing in secure architectures, and experimenting with emerging technologies, will be ready to thrive in a world where intelligence is everywhere.

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