Futurists never shied away from voicing their predictions on how innovating with AI a decade long effect on society will have, setting new definitions for business battles that are no longer a vision but a fight for platform dominion.
In 2026, Silicon Valley giants are setting the first building blocks for new AI Operating Systems (OS) and Chinese giants want to commercialize the first generation of physical AI devices to be released into the real world, as showcased at the CES 2026 tech event.
Behind the launch of the products there is a silent alteration in AI’s functionality for societies, not just businesses. AI is no longer a software, or support feature in apps, but the addition that decides, acts, and connects services. Quite literally controlling digital experiences.
From Tools to Decision Makers
AI speculative capacity to maneuver competition is mobilized on two main fronts: the Western world and the Asian world.
In the West, Big Tech giants, Amazon, Meta, and OpenAI are innovating with AI to build a foundational AI OS that will behave as an intermediary between users and other apps. For US tech giant, 2026 and what goes beyond is just about creating a new AI-centric platform that has app developers worried about being disintermediated.
These systems will deliver outcomes, not clicks, where AI driven innovation reduces any need to open apps or browse websites.
For app-based companies, such as Uber and DoorDash, his redirection the AI sector is taking is disturbing as they need users engaged inside their platforms. As AI agents handle tasks directly, companies will be adapting to AI innovations that may weaken brand loyalty and limit sales.
Now, some companies are resisting this new form of AI driven innovation. Rabbit, the company behind the R1 device that debuted at CES 2024, struggled to gain cooperation from large platforms.
“They sell fucking advertisements. That’s where many of them make money,” CEO Jesse Lyu told WIRED.
DoorDash, Instacart, and Expedia are some of the very few companies showing interest and signed up to build AI apps within ChatGPT, balancing innovation and ethics in AI. The acceptance testifies through action that AI powered digital innovation is not all doom and gloom, even if adoption remains limited.
2026: The AI Innovator
Chinese firms joined US rivals in innovating with AI at CES in Las Vegas. From investing robots to smart glasses, AI innovators will focus on building systems based on embodied AI innovation, with a mix of software and physical machines.
Automotive, energy, and robotics companies demonstrated embodied AI innovation through charging robots, inspection systems, and humanoid components.
These products reflect AI driven innovation aimed at industrial use, not just consumers.
Asian firms are now among the most innovative AI companies on a global scale.
“We’re deeply grateful for Jerry’s research leadership and pushing the frontier of reasoning,” OpenAI’s Chief Research Officer, Mark Chen told WIRED.
Ans OpenAI VIP of research, Jerry Tworek, informed his staff about his departure to pursue work that is “hard to do at OpenAI”. Despite the momentum, challenges remain.
Only a small share of user shops through chatbots today, pushing companies to keep adapting to AI innovations while exploring ads and new revenue models, including AI retail innovation.
An important question remains: can Tech firms keep innovating with AI while building trust, fair access, and sustainable business models in an AI driven world?
Beyond the 2026 AI trends, and advanced devices and platforms, the AI shift is tackling areas that rarely make product headlines. Advances in privacy computing, such as federated learning and encrypted data processing, will protect sensitive information as AI expands into healthcare.
2026 will prove futurists’ AI predictions are real, no longer a distant vision. As for the next phase, well, it will be less about trends, and more about how innovating with AI improves societies, and manages resources.
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